“This is my third time coming, and it is always incredibly dynamic,” said Akihiko Maeda, an electrical company director. “This kind of production style has not really existed much in Japan before. So when I first saw it, I thought, ‘Wow, this is incredible. This is really interesting.’”
“Because it is an art form and a technique, being able to follow the techniques and culture through five thousand years of history was very educational for me,” said hospital director Haruaki Yamamoto.
"Wonderful and incredibly beautiful,” said his wife, Shinobu Yamamoto, a soprano. "Also, I could feel the depth of the history cultivated by the people and culture."
“The live orchestra is truly excellent. It doesn’t just reach your ears—it really resonates deeply, as if you are feeling it throughout your entire body,” said Nakayama, an architect and company president. “The sound is not something you can reproduce on a CD. I was really looking forward to it, and it turned out to be far more enjoyable, interesting, and wonderful than I expected.”
“Every single dance was performed with great passion. I could tell that it wasn’t just about physical ability. But each performer danced with tremendous heart and soul,” said Haruaki Yamamoto.
Shen Yun also tells stories of the faith and resilience people have shown in the face of persecution in modern China. Audience members said they were moved to tears.
“My tears fell—it naturally happens, especially in the final performances. I learned about it (the persecution) in China. I just wish that kind of situation would improve sooner,” said Nakayama. “It feels like the dancers are not just performing for themselves, but with a much larger purpose in mind. As the emcee just mentioned, Shen Yun is currently based in the United States, but its performers likely come from different countries. But the fact that they come together like this shows they are united by a shared purpose. I think that is truly admirable.”
“If I have the chance, I would definitely like to see it again,” said Yamamoto. "I also want to know how the story unfolds. I feel it is a historical performance that revisits and reenacts history, so I would truly love to watch it again in the future."
