In 1971, the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet came to China to perform and was warmly welcomed by the broad masses of the people. Yoko Morishita, the actor of "White Haired Girl", was fortunate to be personally received by our beloved Premier Zhou, who personally gave her a set of costumes. Since then, as long as Yoko Morishita comes on stage to perform "The White-Haired Girl", she will wear the costume sent by Premier Zhou, which has never changed for more than 40 years. "Every time I perform 'White Haired Girl,' I think of Premier Zhou's smile and the scene of shaking hands with us," Said Yoko Morishita. In fact, this is not the first time that the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet has performed in China, and their previous performances have even been personally received by Chairman Mao, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi and other national leaders. We are not only curious, but Yoko Morishita has been personally received by our leaders many times, what kind of legendary experience she has had?
│Yoko Morishita
The 1945 Atomic Bomb Incident on Long Island in Japan must have been heard by everyone. Yoko Morishita was born shortly after the atomic bomb attack, in 1948. Since Long Island was in ruins at that time, Yoko Morishita grew up in a deserted environment.
In 1951, when Yoko Morishita was three years old, she began to contact ballet, initially because Ofashita was in poor health, and her mother sent her to the ballet studio in order to make her exercise more. But Yoko Morishita was so talented that she not only often became the cover of Japanese girls' magazines at the time, but also completed the full-screen performance of Swan Lake at the age of 15. Therefore, the fame of Yoko Morishita's girls' generation is very high.
But Yoko Morishita has never been a proud and complacent person, and she has been practicing with constant effort and repetition. By the age of 26, she had become a sought-after future star in the Japanese ballet world and one of the few Asian players to win a gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition.
For ballet dancers, the tiptoe is their soul, and although their bodies are very soft, they have a strong heart that no one else can match. Yoko Morishita is a seemingly weak and petite player, but a talented player with incomparable explosive power. Yoko Morishita looks petite and cute, but once on the stage, her aura will fill the entire stage, seemingly soft movements, but with precise jumping and rotation, as well as perfect dance curves. Yoko Morishita can be said to be a ballet dancer who was born for dance.
Pictured │ Yoko Morishita as a white-haired girl
In 1970, when Yoko Morishita was 22 years old, she saw the ballet "The White Haired Girl" by Shuko Matsuyama, the principal dancer of the Matsuyama Ballet at the time. Yoko Morishita was deeply moved after watching Shuko Matsuyama's performance, and since then she has had the idea of joining the Matsuyama Ballet.
Speaking of Matsuyama Shuko and "The White Haired Girl", it has to be said that Matsuyama Shuko and her husband, Masao Shimizu, were the first people to really introduce "The White Haired Girl" to Japan. At that time, "White Haired Girl" was already well-known in China, but foreign countries knew very little about "White Haired Girl".
Photo: Shuko Matsuyama and her husband, Masao Shimizu
In 1950, three Japanese politicians attended the European Conference, and on their way home, they stopped by the Soviet Union and China. A Japanese politician wanted to let Japan know about the culture of new China, so he got the movie "The White-Haired Girl" from Premier Zhou. After returning home with the film "White Haired Girl", the Japanese politician handed it over to the head of the Japanese film and let "White Haired Girl" be released all over Japan.
In 1952, Shuko Matsuyama, a ballet dancer who has become the limitless future of the Japanese ballet world, and her husband, Masao Shimizu, saw the film by chance. The two were deeply moved by the film, and after returning home, Masao Shimizu and Shuko Matsuyama had the idea of adapting it into a ballet.
Pictured: The White-Haired Woman (1950)
In fact, Masao Shimizu is very disapproving of many of the measures taken by Japan against China, and he is very sad about many things. But against the backdrop, many Japanese people were silent about Japan's actions in World War II. Under such circumstances, Mr. and Mrs. Shimizu began to think about what they could do for the current Japan to change the self-deception of the Japanese people. In fact, after seeing this ballet, these two enthusiastic ballet dancers understood that their opportunity might come, and they could use ballet to convey the true voice of the Japanese people to China.
Adapting this Chinese created a very distinctive cultural content "White Haired Girl" in the context of a special era, and let Japanese ballet dancers perform, which they believe is the most direct measure to convey the friendly exchange of hearts of the Japanese people.
Photo│ Shuko Matsuyama instructs Yoko Morishita
In a later interview, the founder of the ballet company talked about the first time he watched "The White-Haired Girl". He said: When I first saw it, I burst into tears, and what deeply touched me was the perseverance of the Chinese people in their pursuit of national liberation. After watching it, I pushed it to Matsuyama, and Matsuyama fell in love with the movie through my introduction.
Xi'er, played by the famous actor Tian Hua, although she has experienced ups and downs, she is strong and does not admit defeat, and when she sees Xi'er's hair, which turns from black to white overnight, the creative inspiration of Masao Shimizu and Shuko Matsuyama gushes out like a spring. In fact, at that time, the two were eagerly seeking new materials for the creation of works, and when they saw "The White-Haired Girl", the two had the same idea, that is, this theme was the adaptation material they wanted, and it was very in line with the social trend of thought at that time.
Photo │ Shuko Matsuyama and Wang Kun, the actor of the opera "White Haired Girl"
In fact, the creation process of the "White Haired Girl" ballet was not smooth. At first, Masao Shimizu could not find any information about the white-haired woman in Japan other than the movie. As a last resort, he could only write a letter to the Chinese Dramatists Association at that time, hoping that the person in charge could send him a set of relevant materials related to the white-haired woman. At the end of 1953, Mr. Tian Han saw the letter, he was the main person in charge of the drama association at that time, and after reading it, he immediately sent all the information related to the white-haired woman to Masao Shimizu.
Finally, in 1955, "The White-Haired Girl" took to the stage in Japan, and this very characteristic play was full of performances every time, and all the audiences who went there would be deeply moved. Shuko, who is also the principal dancer of the ballet, is the protagonist of this adapted ballet, that is, the first Japanese "Ki'er".
Figure│ Tian Han
Domestic artists were surprised to learn that the Japanese ballet had adapted this classic film into ballet, but were then moved by the friendly message from the ballet company. In 1955, Mr. Guo Moruo, the leader of the literary and art circles at that time, knew about it and sincerely invited Matsuyama Shuzi to visit China, so in September Matsuyama Shuzi was invited to come.
On October 1, Premier Zhou Enlai invited Shuko Matsuyama to attend the dinner, and also introduced the famous ballet dancer to all the guests participating in the dinner at that time, Premier Zhou Enlai said: "Gentlemen, we have the honor to invite the famous Japanese ballet dancer Ms. Shuko Matsuyama today, who is also the first 'Xi'er' in Japan. In addition to Japan's "White Haired Girl", our Chinese "White Haired Girl" Tian Hua and Wang Kun are also here, and I solemnly introduce them to you here. Tian Hua and Wang Kun are the "Xi'er" of the film and opera "White Haired Girl", respectively, and Ms. Shuzi is the Xi'er of the ballet "White Haired Girl", they are symbols of Sino-Japanese friendship, and also represent the future friendly exchanges between China and Japan. ”
Photo │ Guo Moruo
Before Matsuyama Shuzi left, Premier Zhou Enlai also issued an invitation to Ms. Matsuyama Shuzi: Next time, come back with all the members of "White Haired Girl".
In 1958, when Sino-Japanese relations were at a freezing point, the ballet resolutely decided to perform in China despite the opposition from the country.
At that time, the ballet troupe was founded by Masao Shimizu, so the representative was him and his wife Shuzi Matsuyama, and after arriving in Beijing, 46 people in the troupe were personally greeted by Tian Han, Guo Moruo and many other celebrities in the literary and art circles. The first performance of "The White-Haired Girl" in China began on March 13 at the Beijing Tianqiao Theater, and the first performance was performed by Shuko Matsuyama, as it was a 40-minute ballet solo.
Photo : Premier Zhou watches a performance by the Matsuyama Ballet
Although it was the first performance, the Chinese audience was very enthusiastic, and many Beijing people at that time knew that after Shimizu Masao arrived in Beijing with the new ballet "The White-Haired Girl", the people of Beijing bought tickets overnight to see the style of Songshan Shuzi, the "Xi'er" actor. These actions have touched many balleters of the Matsuyama Ballet.
The theater's signs are full and hung high. In fact, at that time, not only the ballet "The White-Haired Girl", but also the opera and the movie "The White-Haired Girl" were performed in Beijing at the same time. At that time, a very enthusiastic "White Haired Girl" boom was set off.
Pictured │ Ballet "The White-Haired Girl"
Their performances traveled to multiple cities in China and caused a sensation in every location. This time, after the ballet came to China, it not only performed "The White Haired Girl" in China, but also performed "The Nutcracker" and other ballet repertoire in Wuhan, Shanghai, Chongqing and other places. Matsuyama Ballet's performance took two months and was performed 28 times across the country. In fact, this time, matsuyama Ballet's decision not only added new colors to Chinese art, but also the "layer" of Sino-Japanese friendship and diplomacy.
In fact, after the Matsuyama Ballet, represented by Yoko Morishita and Masao Shimizu, returned to Japan, it advocated the slogan of "restoring diplomatic relations with China at an early date." After investigation, it can be learned that this is the first written record of the earliest Japanese civil society advocating the restoration of sino-Japanese diplomatic relations.
In 1964, when the Matsuyama Ballet came to China for the second time, it was received by many national leaders represented by Mao Zedong, and since then, the Matsuyama Ballet has been thoroughly publicized in China.
Photo: Matsuyama Ballet was received by Chairman Mao
In 1971, shortly after watching Shuko Matsuyama's performance, Yoko got the chance to join the ballet, so she became one of them without even thinking about it. At that time, the ballet company was not the largest dance company in Japan at that time, but Yoko's fame was very high, so she suddenly joined a small ballet company that was not proud, which surprised many people.
In the same year, the ballet troupe with the belief of friendly exchange went to China again, and at this time, Matsuyama Shuko had passed on "Xi'er" to the talented Yoko, so she became the second generation of "Xi'er". During the ballet performance, Xi'er's actor Yoko was specially received by Premier Zhou Enlai, after which Yoko Morishita became a well-known figure in China. When Premier Zhou received Yoko Morishita, he also presented her with a full set of "Xi'er" costumes. During her long ballet career, Every time Yoko Morishita danced, she would wear this set of clothes given by Premier Zhou to express her condolences and thoughts about Premier Zhou.
Photo: Fourth public performance in 1971
In fact, in 1971, after Yoko Morishita became the second generation of Xi'er, this visit to China was in an extraordinary period, and Premier Zhou Enlai worked a lot every day. But even so, he still found time to accompany cambodian guests who had visited China, as well as friends such as Nakajima Kenzo and Miyagawa Yinxiong, to watch the ballet of "The White-Haired Girl" and met with all the members. Masao Shimizu and Shuko Matsuyama were very touched to learn of this incident, so they also took the ballet to Shanghai this time, and had friendly exchanges with the local dance school, and established a deep friendship in the exchange.
In a later interview, Yoko Morishita once said that she had the most memorable time in the process of starring in "White Haired Girl", she said: "My most memorable is Premier Zhou, and the whole costume of "Xi'er" was personally customized for us by Premier Zhou, from the head cover to the costume to the props. Because my figure is very thin, Premier Zhou specially asked someone to order a silk performance costume, and I still like this dress very much. This set of clothes contains Premier Zhou's love for the people of the world without discrimination.
Photo │ The ballet "White Haired Girl" performed by the Shanghai Ballet
The following year, the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe took more than 200 people and the ballet "The White Haired Girl" to Tokyo to perform. In fact, The Chinese ballet is a 20-minute medium-length ballet of about 20 minutes in March 1964 adapted by the dance school. In May 1965, after a series of artists' continuous efforts, it was finally adapted into an eight-part large-scale ballet, and this large-scale ballet adapted from Chinese, "The White-Haired Girl", was a great success in the first performance of the Shanghai Spring. It was brought to the big screen in 1972.
China went to Japan because in 1972, Sun Pinghua, the head of the Shanghai Dance Troupe in China, was invited by Mr. Kenzo Nakajima of the China-Japan Cultural Exchange Association. Therefore, Sun Pinghua took the members of the Shanghai Dance Troupe to Japan, which was actually a driving force for promoting the friendship between China and Japan, because Sino-Japanese relations were at a very delicate moment at that time. Moreover, before the Shanghai Dance Troupe arrived in Japan, Japan's new Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka expressed in public that he would conduct peaceful diplomacy with China and normalize the foreign countries of the Chinese and Japanese people.
Photo │ Kakuei Tanaka
This move by China caused a huge sensation in Japan. Ballets performed by Chinese people were extremely successful in Japan, and even set off a singing boom of "the north wind blows, the snowflakes flutter" in the Japanese folk at that time. During the performance of the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, Sun Pinghua, deputy secretary general of the China-Japan Friendship Association, and representatives of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, Socialist Party, Civic Party and other parties who came to watch the performance at that time launched a "diplomatic activity" in the corridor, which was later called "corridor diplomacy".
Since there were still some groups or people in Japan at that time who did not advocate friendly diplomatic activities with China, there were often some outlaws intimidating or harassing around the hotels where the Chinese people stayed and around the training grounds. During the performance of the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, in order to prevent Japanese radicals from throwing incendiary bombs on the stage and affecting normal performances, the young actors of the Matsuyama Ballet, represented by Yoko Morishita, all wore costumes and held soaked towels or blankets in their hands, and some of the actors held water in their hands, ready to extinguish the incendiary bombs thrown on the stage by the lawbreakers.
Pictured: Sun Pinghua in 1966
The Shanghai Dance Troupe arrived in Japan on July 11, and on August 11, when meeting with two Chinese representatives in Japan, Sun Pinghua and Mr. Xiao Xiangqian, Foreign Minister Taihei of Japan said: Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka has decided to visit China to realize the normalization of sino-Japanese foreign negotiations. This represents a direct impetus to Sino-Japanese peace diplomacy by the Shanghai Dance Troupe's visit to China and Japan, and prompted Prime Minister Tanaka to visit China on September 25 and sign a document, and Sino-Japanese diplomacy officially returned to normal.
Under the influence of Masao Shimizu, Shuko Matsuyama, Yoko Morishita and others, the Matsuyama Ballet has become a cultural highland for promoting Sino-Japanese friendship and diplomacy. Shuko Matsuyama, the first generation of "Xi'er", once said: Many of Japan's culture originate from China, and China is the source of Japanese culture, and we must actively learn from China. Yoko Morishita, the second generation of actors of "Xi'er", once said: The grace of the past cannot be repaid.
Photo: Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka (right) visits China
In 1973, Yoko Morishita and Shimizu officially became a family, she married their son, and Shuko Matsuyama changed from her master to her mother-in-law. In fact, in the ballet industry at that time, it was generally believed that the ballet stage was destined to belong to European and American actors who were very dominant in height, and for Japanese actors born in Asia, their height was very unopposed, so the probability of dancing ballet was relatively low. But Yoko Morishita and her husband broke a path on the international ballet stage by winning the gold medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition for their outstanding performances, completely breaking the prejudice of the ballet world against Asians.
In fact, in 1975, an art troupe in Beijing, China, performed in Japan, and the person who accompanied and picked up the Beijing Art Troupe was Mr. Masao Shimizu. At the commemorative party of the Beijing Art Troupe in China, Mr. Masao Shimizu said these three sentences in the opening speech, which shocked the audience at the time, saying: I love China, I also love Chinese culture, but I am also sorry for China. The members of the Chinese Art Troupe who heard these three sentences were all moved to tears.
Pictured │ Two generations of Shimizu couple
Premier Zhou died in 1976, and upon hearing the news, every member of the ballet was shocked and saddened. In order to commemorate Premier Zhou, the ballet company represented by Yoko Morishita came to China again in 1978 and once again staged a very distinctive ballet of "White Haired Girl" on the Chinese stage. Although Premier Zhou was missing from the receptionists this time, Premier Zhou's wife, Deng Yingchao, said to Yoko Morishita: Although Eun Seol is gone, I will replace him.
After returning to China, Yoko Morishita's outstanding performance and huge explosive power quickly occupied a place in the international community. The petite Yoko Morishita was no less popular with the strong Europeans and Americans in time.
In fact, before the official founding of New China, the ballet visited China to perform as many as 16 times, which is a number of times that no Japanese institution can reach. These various actions of the Matsuyama Ballet represent their eagerness to make friends with China, and are also a precedent and beginning for the friendship and mutual assistance of the Chinese and Japanese peoples.
Photo: Premier Zhou
In 1985, Yoko, thanks to her continuous efforts, won the Laurence Olivier Award, Britain's most important theatre and music award. In 1997, due to Yoko Morishita's outstanding contribution to the Japanese ballet industry, she became the youngest woman in Japan to receive the honor of "Cultural Meritorious Person". And in 2001, the 50th anniversary of Yoko Morishita's becoming a ballet dancer, she officially became the head of the Matsuyama Ballet, becoming the leader of the new generation of Japanese ballet.
2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of friendly exchanges between China and Japan, and Ms. Yoko, who is 69 years old, is still active on the stage she loves. In this year, she wore a full costume of the white-haired girl given to her by Premier Zhou Enlai, and once again presented the Chinese people with the "joy" of not succumbing to fate. Yoko Morishita once said in an interview that she would always be active on the stage and would always dance whenever she had the chance.
I am the Phantom of Shi Hai, and I am following me to praise history.