Cheng Yonghua, the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Japan, who is about to leave office, said emotionally to all the staff of the National Ballet of China, after watching the Japan premiere of Raise the Red Lantern at Tokyo Festival Hall.

At 7:00 pm on May 10th, 2019, Tokyo time, the National Ballet of China performed Raise the Red Lantern at the Tokyo Festival Hall for the first time. This is the first large-scale visit to Japan since the founding of the Company 60 years ago. On the night of the premiere, the performance of Raise the Red Lantern was witnessed by a number of Chinese and Japanese dignitaries, including Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Japan, Fukuda Yasuo, former Prime Minister, and Tomoko Ukishima, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, as well as Japanese celebrities from all walks of life, including Tetsutaro Shimizu, General Representative of Matsuyama Ballet, Ms. Yoko Morishita, Director of Matsuyama Ballet, Shunji Iwai, the famous Japanese director and writer, Soichi Noguchi, Japanese astronaut, together with more than 2300 audience, who were completely conquered by Chinese ballet!

With great expectations to Chinese ballet, Japanese spectators, from all directions, entered the Tokyo Cultural Hall in Ueno, Tait, Tokyo.

In the front hall of Tokyo Festival Hall, the photo exhibition of celebrating the 60th anniversary of the National Ballet of China attracted Japanese audiences.

Feng Ying, Director of National Ballet of China, introduced the development of the troupe during the past 60 years to Ambassador Cheng Yonghua and Mr. Yasuo Fukuda.

"Second Concubine" by Wang Qimin

"Peking Opera Acor" by Ma Xiaodong

"First Concubine" by Lu Na

"Wife" by Shi Liyang

"Peking Opera Actress" by Jia Tingxin

Tomoko Ukishima, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, expressed congratulations and gratitude to the Chinese artists after the performance.

Mr. Tetsutaro Shimizu, General Representative of the Matsuyama Ballet, and Ms. Yoko Morishita, Director of the Matsuyama Ballet, expressed congratulations to the dancers of National Ballet of China.

Shunji Iwai, Japanese famous director and writer, expressed his love for the National Ballet of China and their performance of Raise the Red Lantern in interval.

Feng Ying and Wang Quanxing, on behalf of the Company, presented exquisite photos to Ambassador Cheng Yonghua and Ms. Ms. Tomoko Ukishima for gratitude.

After the performance, hundreds of Japanese audiences lined up in the front hall of Tokyo Festival Hall for the autograph session and communication with the Chinese artists.

Text by Eva

Photo by Shi Ren