TOKYO, Japan — After kicking off its 2025 world tour, Shen Yun Performing Arts once again drew packed theaters and resounding praise from viewers of all backgrounds in Japan. With performances spanning multiple cities — including Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tokyo — theatergoers applauded the artistic excellence and authentic Chinese cultural heritage portrayed by the New York-based company.
Many attendees, including politicians, business leaders, and international visitors, expressed how Shen Yun’s portrayal of classical Chinese culture and its spiritual themes — contrasting with the communist interpretation of Chinese culture promoted by the authorities in mainland China — left a profound impact on them. Here’s what they had to say about the global phenomenon.
Sold-out shows and high praise
Shen Yun’s first Japan performance this season began in Nagoya on Dec. 23, 2024, and has since performed over 30 times in various locations across the country. The enthusiasm for the performances has remained strong, with multiple sold-out shows, including back-to-back full houses at the Bunkyo Civic Hall in Tokyo on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Another round of shows are scheduled at the Sky Theater MBS in Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city, between Feb. 6 and Feb. 9.
One such attendee was Harunobu Tozawa, a first-class architect based in Tokyo. After discovering Shen Yun through social media, he was instantly captivated. “I saw an introduction to Shen Yun on Facebook. Just a brief glimpse of its splendor captivated me, and I immediately decided to go see it,” he told reporters.
Tozawa marveled at the precision and harmony of the dancers. “The Shen Yun dancers were absolutely stunning. I was amazed that both the front-row and back-row dancers performed at the same exceptionally high level,” he noted, adding, “Normally, the dancers in the center are the most skilled, while those in the back are slightly less refined. However, on the Shen Yun stage, every dancer moved in perfect synchronization, creating an incredible sense of unity.”
Depicting tradition–and tragedy–in today’s China
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Kikuo Sato, a city council member from Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, was struck by the sophistication of the dance and music, as well as the seamless integration of Shen Yun’s signature digital backdrop. He described it as “an extremely intricate and advanced technique.”
Shen Yun’s performances are notable not just for their artistic excellence but also for depicting the reality of human rights abuses currently ongoing in modern times under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“I do not have a positive impression of the CCP. As someone raised in a democratic society, I find it completely unacceptable that a small group of Communist Party members rule over more than a billion Chinese citizens,” he said. “Under the CCP’s one-party dictatorship, the Chinese people endure immense suffering, and this oppression must be brought to an end.”
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 in upstate New York by practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline, a traditional faith group that has been heavily persecuted by the CCP since 1999. During the 1990s, when Falun Gong was freely practiced by tens of millions, ordinary Chinese and government officials alike had welcomed the faith’s focus on meditation and moral improvement based on its core principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
Jennifer, an employee of the U.S. Navy stationed in Japan, was also deeply moved by Shen Yun’s representation of the CCP’s tyranny, which does not only target Falun Gong but also Christians, Muslims, political dissidents, and anyone else deemed a threat by the auithorities. Ordinary Chinese themselves are subject to the whims of the Party’s dictatorial mandates, such as population control and the strict “zero-COVID” policies during the pandemic.
“No matter the reason, religious persecution should never happen and must be stopped immediately,” Jennifer told Vision Times. Jennifer also praised the skillful combination of traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestral music, calling the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra “an extraordinary fusion of cultures.”
Shen Yun’s performances, which are complemented by a live orchestra that combine both classical Chinese and Western instruments, take audiences on a soul-stirring journey through time and space.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience
Hisako Saito from Saitama Prefecture and her relative, Michiko Akiraku from Chiba Prefecture, both over 80 years old, had been eager to see the performance ever since encountering a Shen Yun advertisement online. “We were captivated by the dancers’ exceptional technique and the breathtaking beauty of the stage production,” they said. Seeing the performance in person was, for them, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Shen Yun has also drawn repeat attendees who see the performance as a profound artistic and cultural experience. Takashi Oya, a Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member, has seen the show three times. “From the first time I watched it until today, this feeling has remained unchanged — it is still beautiful and astonishing,” he shared. He emphasized that Shen Yun’s message transcends national and cultural differences, helping to foster a deeper understanding of shared human values. “This artistic exchange allows us to feel the common traditions and emotional connections shared by humanity.”
Matsumoto Takeshi, a middle school principal in Kyoto, echoed these sentiments. “The traditional virtues presented in Shen Yun remind people to reflect on themselves and cultivate greater tolerance and acceptance,” he said. He particularly resonated with the theme of “the unity of heaven and humanity,” a fundamental principle in Chinese culture. “This idea should exist in everyone’s heart. The belief that ‘divine beings are three feet above our heads’ helps guide us to make better choices.”
‘The Divine brings inner peace’
Business leaders have also found deep inspiration in Shen Yun’s performances. Yukiyo Suzuki, a business owner who has attended Shen Yun for three consecutive years, was particularly moved by its spiritual message. “I have realized that divine compassion is like this. I hope more people can understand and experience this message,” she said. Suzuki noted that while modern society enjoys material wealth, spiritual fulfillment is often neglected. “If we live according to the will of the divine and hold faith in our hearts, everyone can find happiness.”
Hironori Hirabayashi, an IT company president, has followed Shen Yun for four years and was particularly touched by the erhu (Chinese two-stringed instrument) solo performance. “With only two strings, it can produce such rich tones. The flexible fingerwork of the musician and the healing melody deeply touched my heart.” He also reflected on the performance’s lyrics, which conveyed themes of divine origins. “Many people in this world come from the divine realm — this concept resonated deeply with me.”
The erhu is a two-string instrument from ancient China that can depict a wide range of musical sounds and emotions. From the gentle flow of a river, a mist-covered mountain, or the energetic bustle of a market day, the erhu can produce a variety of rich, expressive, and deeply resonant tones.
Hiroshi Nakata, a former executive director at Fujitsu Hokuriku Systems, praised Shen Yun as “a world-class, top-tier production.” He found the orchestration of traditional Chinese instruments within a symphonic setting particularly remarkable. “I frequently listen to symphony orchestras, but I have never heard anything quite like this before,” he remarked.
On a spiritual level, Nakata shared a deeply personal realization from watching the performance. “No matter where in the world, divine beings exist. A heart that respects the divine brings inner peace. Watching today’s performance reminded me of this once again,” he said. “Wealth cannot be taken to the afterlife. The only thing we can do is perform good deeds and follow our faith.”
Shen Yun currently has eight equally-sized companies that tour and perform across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania simultaneously. For ticketing information, including availability and seating, please visit the official website here.
Vision Times Japan contributed to this report.
