October 1 saw the visit to Japan of the Chinese Disabled Person's Art Troupe to coincide and celebrate the 30th anniversary of peaceful Sino-Japanese relations, the International Disabled Peoples' World Assembly and the summary year for an Asia-Pacific Regional Decade of Disabled People that opened in Sapporo. The performance by the disabled group conveyed feelings of friendship and love to the Japanese people as well as promoting Chinese culture through art and tradition. The audiences were deeply moved by these performances.

Anticipation for the visit by the Chinese Disabled Person's Art Troupe created great enthusiasm for the performances with tickets selling out in Nagoya and Tokyo two-weeks ahead of time. The show included some very special acts. First on stage was the dance of Dunhuang's Bodhisattva with 1,000 hands, performed by 12 deaf and hard of hearing girls that attracted sustained applause throughout the performance. The Wings of Life, a prize-winning dance at the World Dance Contest in Japan, received 15 ovations during the six-minute performance as well as six curtain calls that lasted 20 minutes. Afterwards, the audience expressed their delight and enthusiasm through the written word. Moriyama Yumiko, a young Japanese girl, wrote: "Your performances were stirring. In them I saw the dignity of your lives." A blind audience responded with affection to the performance of physically disabled dancer, Huang Yangguang, and said, "Although we can't see you, we can feel the heart-felt communication between us."

The Chinese Disabled Person's Art Troupe performed at the International Disabled Peoples' World Assembly and for the Asia-Pacific Regional Decade of Disabled People summary year that took place on October 15.

In a telephone interview from Japan, Vice-president of the Chinese Disabled Person's Federation Liu Xiaocheng said:

"The performance art of the Chinese Disabled Troupe deeply moved the Japanese audiences. The effect of these special performances, that comprise life and art, is seen by the applause received, no matter in what country, and shows its extraordinary charm and influence and capacity to remove the borders between countries and bring people together in a spirit of great happiness and purpose."

One 42-year-old Japanese man expressed his feeling by writing: "I just can't help my tears."

Liu Xiaocheng said that the performances at the Nagara International Conference Center of Gife by the Chinese Disabled Person's Art Troupe were very warmly received with a local disability organization making cars available to collect the audiences. While many Japanese women were dressed for the festival in traditional welcoming Kimonos, the atmosphere was lively with disability volunteers not wishing to miss the performances instead watching from the aisles.

These performances promoted great friendship and standards of excellence between Chinese and Japanese people. A member of the audience, Ms Tekkaman expressed this feeling and wrote:

"Wings of Life was excellent. You showed great vitality. This told us that as long as one can work hard, despite the body's condition, life can be great. After watching your performances, I think I really felt more love for China."

The Japanese audiences expressed a wish to see more of the art troupe. A 42-year-old mother from Nagaro, and her three children who came to the performance at Gifu each wrote:

"I'm very happy to see this." (Seven-year-old)

"You're so great!" (Eleven-year-old)

"Thanks." (Fourteen-year-old)

"I can't believe that you're all disabled. It is not possible to over-praise these excellent performances. I do hope that you can continue to stay in good health." (Mother)

(china.org.cn by Chen Lin, October 21, 2002)