Japan: Falun Gong Practitioners' Parade During EXPO 2005 Touches the City of Nagoya

On March 27, 2005, the first Sunday after the opening ceremony of the world-famous 2005 Exposition Aichi, Japan, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference at a park in Nagoya, condemning the Chinese Communist Party's and the Jiang Zemin faction's persecution of Falun Gong. After the press conference, in order to help more people learn about Falun Gong, practitioners paraded through downtown Nagoya for over two hours, led by a Japanese police escort. The parade had a big impact on this busy modern metropolis.

When the procession passed the Nagoya City government and other major busy sections, many Japanese citizens stopped to watch. The procession consisted of five parts: walking at the front were dancers who danced elegantly while waving long coloured silks, like fairies. After them came practitioners in Chinese Tang Dynasty Costumes walking gracefully. Next came a huge banner reading "Falun Dafa is good."

Following this section were banners and photos exposing Jiang's faction's persecution of Falun Gong. The photos showing the brutal persecution touched people's hearts. Falun Gong practitioners have been silently persevering and have maintained their great compassion and tolerance in the face of brutal persecution. Numerous people along the parade route were touched by the messages in the parade. Banners bearing the message that Jiang Zemin has been sued in 14 countries for persecuting Falun Gong showed that those who have done evil deeds will ultimately be punished by law.

The waist-drum troupe was the last part of the procession. The vigorous drumbeats were so inspiring and the drummers were impressive to all.

Japan has inherited numerous aspect of Chinese culture, reflected in the Chinese written characters, language, dress and customs, music and art. Besides the people who watched the parade from their windows and doors along the streets, many pedestrians hurrying by on the street also stopped to watch, and even Japanese youth, who are sometimes indifferent to the world's affairs, also accepted Falun Gong information materials.

A young Japanese man took photos of the procession with his mobile phone camera, and an elderly man followed the procession to videotape it. After watching the parade for a while, a Japanese woman talking to her friend on mobile phone said, "Ah, it's really beautiful!"

An elderly man took a leaflet and said, "I understand what the procession means. It is to say that Jiang Zemin caused the deaths of so many people; he is too cruel!" Another gentle and kind Japanese woman said, "I know this Falun Gong, the movements are very graceful." Several women stood in front of their doors and exclaimed, "Really beautiful! Why persecute them?"