(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Hiroshima, Japan, participated in the 11th Hiroshima International Cultural Exchange Event, called the World Festa Hiroshima, celebrated on June 4, 2023. The theme of the event for this year was “Respect Freedom and Human Rights.” They introduced Falun Dafa and demonstrated the exercises to the visitors. The organizer condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) at the event and hoped that China would come to respect freedom and human rights.

The event was organized by the “Hiroshima Twenty One Project” and the Hiroshima International Cultural Exchange Executive Committee. The goal of the event is to promote mutual understanding and exchange among people of different nationalities, religions, and opinions through the arts, including stage performances. Sixteen organizations representing ethnicities from all over the world presented 40 performances, such as the Japanese drums, Sanxian (a three-stringed traditional Chinese lute), Japanese folk songs, shakuhachi, piano, ballet, Spanish and Philippine songs and dances, and so on.

Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrate the exercises.

Practitioners play the waist drums.

Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises and played the Chinese waist drums. Before the exercise demonstration, the emcee said that Falun Dafa has already spread to more than a hundred countries throughout the world and is currently practiced by over 100 million people. The emcee also explained the main points for each exercise. Many in the audience in front of the stage copied the practitioners in doing the exercises. The Chinese waist drum performance garnered a round of applause.

Mr. NaKaMiTu Ken and Ms. Kumiko Kisaka enjoyed watching the practitioners’ exercise demonstration.

After the performances, Mr. NaKaMiTu Ken, who is engaged in welfare undertakings, said, “The Falun Dafa group’s programs are very good. I am very pleased to see them today.”

Seated beside him was Ms. KiSaKa KuMiKo, who said, “I have been copying the movements with everyone just now. They are simple and easy to learn and make me feel very comfortable. We are at one with the practitioners on stage.”

The event organizer, Mr. SuGa EiJi, condemned the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.

Mr. SuGa EiJi, the representative of the “Hiroshima Twenty One Project” and the event organizer, said in his closing remarks, “This is a time of unrest. Not only is there the war between Russia and Ukraine, you all may have heard of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. What is meant by justice? Every one of us has our own opinion. In the face of this reality that is filled with grief and indignation, we long for peace. As long as we work hand in hand, I believe that our wish for a society that respects freedom and human rights will be realized. That is why we chose the theme of this exchange to be ‘Respect freedom and human rights.’”

He also said, “Many Japanese still do not know about the CCP regime’s persecution of Falun Gong. First and foremost, I want to tell them about the atrocities being committed by the CCP. I cannot tolerate such persecution. As a human being, this definitely cannot be permitted—I strongly oppose the persecution.”