TOKYO, Japan—Japanese lawmakers have spoken out to condemn Beijing’s harassment and intimidation campaign targeting Shen Yun Performing Arts, following a series of false bomb threats this year that disrupted performances in multiple countries and caused some theaters to cancel shows.
After attending a Shen Yun performance at the Shinjuku Culture Center in Tokyo on April 4, Japanese politicians stated that these transnational suppression efforts reflect the fear within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and will not succeed.
Japanese House of Councillors member Hiroshi Yamada said the campaign stems from a deeper issue of legitimacy.
“Ultimately, Shen Yun’s cultural revival effort would cause the CCP to lose its legitimacy,” Mr. Yamada said. “The current system does not stem from historical continuity, and in fact does not value—or even denies—the past. If people come to recognize this, its legitimacy may be questioned. For this reason, it is natural that the Chinese authorities would take a negative stance toward such efforts.”
“China once had a rich and enduring cultural tradition,” he said. “But under the current regime, much of that has disappeared. Communism, by nature, is a political movement that denies the past and overturns tradition—it is harmful to history and humanity. I hope that China, with its long history, can one day be revived.”
He also called for a coordinated international response to counter such interference.
“First, it is important to raise awareness and share this information with more people,” Mr. Yamada said. “The media has a responsibility to report these facts accurately to the world. Politically, we must continue to speak out strongly against the CCP’s actions.”
He added that legal measures should also be considered, particularly regarding the organ harvesting crime in China.
“It is necessary for the international community to move forward with laws to restrict or prohibit organ transplants in China,” he said. “Without such steps, the number of victims will only increase.”
“When I was in the National Diet, I received calls saying Shen Yun might be obstructed and unable to perform,” Mr. Nakatsugawa recalled. “I contacted as many people as I could, and in the end, the performance went ahead.”
He expressed confidence that such efforts cannot suppress fundamental values.
“Doing such things will not succeed,” he said. “In the end, freedom, democracy, and human rights will prevail—and so will the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners.”
Both lawmakers emphasized that attempts to silence artistic expression and cultural revival only underscore the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms.
