SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Inspires Us, Says Fukuoka Audiences

Dec 29, 2022

FUKUOKA, Japan—Beauty can have a positive effect on people. Shen Yun Performing Arts had its first performance in Fukukoka, Japan this season, at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall on Dec. 29, sending positive vibes to its audiences.

Elites from all walks of life in Fukuoka expressed gratitude for Shen Yun’s beauty and cultural presentation. They said that they were touched and inspired by Shen Yun, and wanted to learn more from these artists.

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance company and has since 2006 expanded from one to eight equal-sized touring groups.

A Must-See Show: Chief of Surgery

“All my heart feels very light and bright after seeing Shen Yun,” said Mr. Jozaki Hiroshi, the chief of surgery at Nakagawa Hospital in Fukuoka City.

Mr. Jozaki said that Shen Yun represents the real Chinese traditional culture. He felt lucky that he could see the show in this life.

“The whole show is very beautiful and has high artistic values,” Mr. Jozaki said. “The music is great. The melody brings you back to a long time ago. It’s a must-see show!”

Mr. Jozaki Hiroshi, the chief of surgery at Nakagawa Hospital, and his wife attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. (Niu Bin/The Epoch Times) — Mr. Jozaki Hiroshi, the chief of surgery at Nakagawa Hospital, and his wife attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. Niu Bin/The Epoch Times

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through highly-expressive art forms such as classical Chinese dance, original orchestral music performed live, soloists who sing in the bel canto tradition, animated digital backdrops, and more.

Rhythmic Gymnasts Impressed by Tradition

“The dancers all performed the extremely difficult movements, but they were not short of breath! I really want to know how they made it,” said Ms. Araki Maasa, a former Japanese rhythmic gymnastics athlete.

Ms. Araki was attracted by Shen Yun’s costumes and music.

Ms. Araki Maasa, a former Japanese rhythmic gymnastics athlete, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. (Niu Bin/The Epoch Times) — Ms. Araki Maasa, a former Japanese rhythmic gymnastics athlete, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. Niu Bin/The Epoch Times

“You cannot find the colors [that Shen Yun uses] in Japan. The music and colors are so diverse and very coordinated, I am very moved,” Ms. Araki said. “I believe that the Shen Yun artists can compose these music pieces and can manage the colors so harmoniously because they want to preserve the traditional values.”

Ms. Araki brought more than 30 of her students to attend Shen Yun in Fukuoka on the evening of Thursday.

“I hope my students can remember the traditions by attending Shen Yun,” said Ms. Araki.

Most of Ms. Araki Maasa’s rhythmic gymnastics students attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan on Dec. 29, 2022. (Zhang Ying/The Epoch Times) — Most of Ms. Araki Maasa’s rhythmic gymnastics students attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan on Dec. 29, 2022. Zhang Ying/The Epoch Times

Fantastic to See in Person

Shen Yun’s superb performance inspired Mr. Osato Kuniaki, who is the president of the health and beauty products sales company Blue-Eye in Fukuoka, to work harder in the coming new year.

“I’m still very excited,” said Mr. Osato after attending the Shen Yun performance on Dec. 29. “It’s really the right decision to see Shen Yun. It’s fantastic that I can see Shen Yun in person.”

One of Shen Yun’s unique features is its orchestra. It’s the first in the world to permanently combine classical Western and Chinese instruments within a Western symphony orchestra.

The orchestra vibrated the air of the whole theatre. It’s very powerful!

— Osata Kuniaki

“The orchestra vibrated the air of the whole theatre. It’s very powerful!” Mr. Osato said. “I could identify the Chinese instruments. The sounds are very beautiful.”

This is the first time Mr. Osato saw Shen Yun. He was also impressed by the Shen Yun dancers’ synchronous and accurate movements. He said that the excitement that Shen Yun brought to him would inspire him to work harder in the new year and he would spread this positive energy to all his family and friends.

Mr. Osato Kuniaki, who is the president of the health and beauty products sales company Blue-Eye in Fukuoka, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. (NTD) — Mr. Osato Kuniaki, who is the president of the health and beauty products sales company Blue-Eye in Fukuoka, attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Fukuoka Sunpalace Hotel & Hall, Japan, on Dec. 29, 2022. NTD

‘I enjoyed every moment of Shen Yun’

Japanese audiences said that they admired Shen Yun’s revival of traditional culture and values through the most advanced technologies.

“The animated digital backdrop is indeed very advanced technology. I was very impressed. The dancers’ movements are perfectly coordinated with the backdrop, even in the details,” said Mr. Yamauchi Noriyuki, a president of a construction company in Fukuoka. “The male dancers’ bodies are very soft but full of dynamism. The female dancers danced very beautifully. It’s really amazing.”

Mr. Yamauchi said he felt both Shen Yun dancers and the backdrops are delivering messages about traditional culture and values.

“In our modern society, we must pay attention to our traditions. We should learn from history. Japanese people also cherish tradition,” said Mr. Yamauchi.

A Shen Yun performance consists of nearly 20 vignettes, including story-based dances set throughout history, up to the present day.

Mr. Yamauchi said he was very touched by the value that Shen Yun delivered. Mr. Takahashi Shuji shared the same opinion with Mr. Yamauchi.

“I enjoyed every moment of Shen Yun,” said Mr. Takahashi, owner of Saroru, which is a restaurant chain that has more than 10 restaurants in Fukuoka. “The colors are very bright. The show is very interesting. I have never seen a performance like Shen Yun.”

He said that he was amazed by Shen Yun’s advanced technologies and he understood the traditional values that Shen Yun delivered.

“I feel very happy after seeing Shen Yun,” said Mr. Takahashi.

Reporting by Epoch Times Staff in Fukuoka, Japan.

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