SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Japanese Lawmaker Praises Shen Yun’s Dynamism and Cultural Value

Apr 20, 2026

4/20/2026Updated: 4/23/2026

KAMAKURA, Japan— On the evening of April 18, Keiichiro Asao, a member of the Japanese House of Councilors, attended the third performance by Shen Yun New York Company at the Kamakura Performing Arts Center. Following their performance, he praised Shen Yun for its grace, energy, and cultural insight.

“I thought it was very good,” Mr. Asao said. “It’s vibrant, and there’s a lot of movement.”

He spoke highly of both the male and female dancers. “The Mongolian dance had very dynamic movement,” he noted, adding that the performers demonstrated strong jumping and spinning ability. “The women’s dances felt very graceful, with those long sleeves.” Overall, he said the movements were “solid and precise—graceful and full of vitality.”

Seated close to the stage, Mr. Asao also appreciated the live orchestra, known for its unique blend of Eastern and Western instruments. “It produces a very good sound,” he said. “The tones of the Chinese instruments also seem to blend very well.”

He noted that “the music and dance achieved a really excellent match,” and praised the digital backdrop. “The new digital projection is used very effectively,” Mr. Asao said. He also commended the singers for their extraordinary performance.

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.

Rooted in Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist values, this culture emphasizes reverence for heaven and moral values such as mutual respect, kindness, and tolerance. However, it was nearly destroyed by decades of communist rule.

Mr. Asao said he found Shen Yun’s mission of cultural revival to be especially meaningful and educational. “Taoist immortals also appeared,” he said. “Taoist thought differs from Christian thought, so I think this was a good opportunity to learn about various ideas and beliefs.”

He added that he would recommend the performance to friends, describing it as “interesting to watch.”

Reporting by Niu Bin and Olivia Li.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.