Toyota City, Japan: Introducing Falun Dafa at the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival

(Minghui.org) Japanese practitioners joined the 31st Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival at Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture on April 5 and 6 to introduce Falun Dafa. Many attendees were impressed by their exercise demonstration, waist drum, and other performances at Suigen Park. They stopped to take pictures and asked where they could learn Falun Dafa.

With a population of over 420,000, the city was formerly known as Koromo and later renamed Toyota due to several Toyota manufacturing plants in the area. The weather was fine both days and practitioners did the exercises under the cherry blossoms next to the banners with words: “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” The scene was peaceful and eye-catching.

Many people learned about Falun Dafa during the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival in Toyota City.

“Keep It Up”

One man in his 40s stopped and watched for a long time as practitioners did the exercises. He told a practitioner he knew Falun Dafa very well and about what is going on in China.

He said that it’s unfortunate that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is so brutal to Chinese citizens. The terror includes the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen Square Massacre, and the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners such as forced organ harvesting. He said many Japanese politicians and news media that side with the CCP are its accomplices, and this is why the suppression isn’t widely reported.

The man encouraged practitioners and said, “I support you. Please keep it up!”

Children and Adults Like Falun Dafa

Children and their parents at the Falun Dafa booth

In addition to the group exercises, practitioners also distributed materials to passersby along with lotus flowers which had: “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” on them.

Children led their parents to the practitioners’ booth for Dafa flyers and lotus flowers. The adults learned what Falun Dafa is and why the CCP suppressed the practice. The children were also excited to receive the lotus flowers and some parents fastened the flowers to the children’s clothing.

Learning the Exercises

In addition to demonstrating the exercises, practitioners performed the waist drums on the stage. Both were well received by spectators.

The waist drum performance was composed of several melodies including “Falun Dafa Is Good.” Many people near to the stage followed the movements to learn during the exercise demo.

Performances on the stage

“Please Make Sure You Come Next Year”

On man in his 70s stopped at the booth in the afternoon on April 6 and ask if there would be Falun Dafa exercise demo on the stage. When he was told the exercise demo was over, he was disappointed and said he came for the exercise demo. He was late because it was hard to find a parking spot. He was happy to receive Falun Dafa materials from the practitioner and said, “Please make sure to come next year!”

A woman in her 60s walked by the booth and told a practitioner that she watched the Falun Dafa exercise demonstration both days. “I also tried the exercises following the movement and it was amazing – I had difficulty lifting my arms and there are no problems now. Thank you so much!” She said she hoped to meet practitioners again.

Group photo with Mr. and Ms. Anto, organizers of the event

Close to the end of the festival, the event’s organizers Mr. and Ms. Anto, thanked practitioners for participating and invited them to the event next year.