(Minghui.org) The 53rd Sakai Festival (Sakai Matsuri) was held at the Civic Plaza in front of the Sakai City Government office in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on October 17 and 18, 2026. Falun Dafa practitioners played the waist drums and demonstrated the exercises on stage. The audience imitated the practitioners movements as they did the exercises.
The Sakai Festival, which began in 1974 (the 49th year of the Showa era), has become a significant event that showcases the history, culture, and charm of Sakai City. As early as the beginning of the Edo period—some 400 years ago—the people of Sakai would don exotic, foreign-style attire and hold lively parades during the Sumiyoshi Festival, reflecting the city’s open and diverse character.
Today, the Sakai Festival integrates history and culture, traditional performances, parades, local cuisine, and various activities for the public. It offers a vibrant, festive atmosphere in which visitors can experience the city’s profound historical roots and unique appeal.
The auditorium, with over 300 seats, was packed to capacity, and some audience members even stood in the back row to watch the practitioners’ perform.
After introducing Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, practitioners invited audience members to go on stage to learn the exercises. Three young girls raised their hands and joined the practitioners.
After they did the exercises the children selected the origami lotus flowers they liked and returned to their mothers, who were delighted to see the handmade keepsake.
Mami-chan was disabled due to a car accident two years ago. She writes and draws with her left hand, and she designed the pink outfit she was wearing. She is a member of an international civic theater troupe.
She saw practitioners demonstrate the exercises on stage, and even though she is in a wheelchair, she imitated their hand gestures. She learned about Falun Dafa and knew the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that practitioners follow. She was especially excited and tearfully shook hands with practitioners.
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