(Minghui.org) Practitioners participated in the 49th Ono Festival in Ono, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on August 23, 2026. Many people learned about the benefits of practicing Falun Gong and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance through practitioners’ exercise demonstration and waist-drum dances. Practitioners have participated in this festival for more than ten years and were given a special award.
Practitioners performed the waist drums and demonstrated the exercises. (Minghui.org)
As the largest local festival, the Ono Festival features dances and other stage performances, parades, and fireworks. Approximately 110 groups from throughout Japan participated in the festival this year, which attracted 130,000 people.
Falun Gong practitioners participated in three parades and three stage performances. Their waist-drum team was composed of practitioners who ranged in age from ten to seventy years. Many people who watched the parade took pictures of the Falun Gong practitioners’ procession.
Local resident Mrs. Kubo brought her son and daughter to watch the parades. Her daughter danced to the drum beats, and her son praised the Falun Gong practitioners and said, “Every one of them has such a happy smile! It’s great!”
Mrs. Kubo and her children loved the Falun Gong practitioners’ waist-drum dance. (Minghui.org)
Two local residents said that it was the first time they had heard about Falun Gong. After hearing that every member of the waist-drum team practices Falun Gong, one of them said, “Their movements are really synchronized. They look so happy!” The other one said, “My eyes were brightened as soon as I saw them. It’s great to hear about their principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance! I’ll find out more about Falun Gong.”
When a Chinese family of three heard the song “Falun Dafa Is Good.” Mr. Wu, the husband, gave practitioners a thumb-up and encouraged them, “Great! Keep up with your great job!” He told a Falun Gong practitioner that they were from China. After hearing facts about the persecution in China, the husband, the wife and their child all agreed to quit the Communist organizations they joined. They thanked the practitioner and shook his hand.
While practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises to soothing music on the stage, many people in the audience copied their movements.
After he watched the exercise demonstration, local resident Mr. Taniguchi said, “This is the first time I’ve heard about this practice. I’m interested in learning more about Falun Gong. I’ll look up the information online.”
Mr. Taniguchi was interested in learning more about Falun Gong. (Minghui.org)
Mr. Taniguchi was surprised to know that such a peaceful practice that teaches people to live by Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance has been persecuted in China since 1999. He expressed his support for the practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.
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