Yoko Morishita, Olivier Awards winner and legendary Japanese ballerina, from 
the Matsuyama Ballet Company, along with her husband Tetsutaro Shimizu, the 
company's director and chief choreographer, have joined China in Stories, a 
variety program ("the show") produced by China Media Group, for a unique 
performance of "The White-Haired Girl". 

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-a 
("The White-Haired Girl" Performance led by Yoko Morishita and Shi Zhongqin)

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-b 
(Mr. Masao Shimizu and Mrs. Mikiko Matsuyama)

The White-Haired Girl premiered in Tokyo in 1955 and was staged in China in 
1958. During the show, Yoko Morishita is joined by Shi Zhongqin, the first 
Chinese ballet dancer to perform a section of the white-haired girl 65 years 
ago. Costumes and hair accessories worn by Yoko Morishita during the 
performance are gifts from her first visit to China 61 years ago. 

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-c 
(Mrs. Yoko Morishita and Mr. Tetsutaro Shimizu shared their stories with "The 
White-Haired Girl")

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-d 
("The White-Haired Girl" ballerina Mikiko Matsuyama and Yoko Morishita from the 
Matsuyama Ballet Company)

Inspired by the Chinese movie The White-Haired Girl released in 1952, the 
Matsuyama Ballet Company produced its ballet as a social movement. Set in the 
1940s in China, it tells the story of a poor young woman, Xi'er. Unable to pay 
her debts, Xi'er escapes from her oppressive landlord, only to be beaten to by 
her father and forced into hiding for several years. During her time in hiding, 
her long black hair turns white, before soldiers save her and reunite her with 
her lover, Wang Dachun. 

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-e 
(A Classic Clip of "The White-Haired Girl" Performance led by Yoko Morishita 
and Shi Zhongqin)

"The story of The White-Haired Girl is a Chinese story, but as people of the 
world, we like to show its universal value and remind others of the pain, and 
suffering women and underprivileged people continue to suffer," said Tetsutaro 
Shimizu in the show.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191111/2638491-1-f 
(Group Photo: China’s first Premier Zhou Enlai, Chinese Singer Wang Kun, 
Japanese ballerina Mikiko Matsuyama and Chinese ballerina Tian Hua)

Strong cultural ties between Japan and China are a feature of several other 
shows too. Such as National Treasure, an artistic exploration and reality show 
that tells the stories of national treasures by interpreting their historical 
mystery and connection to ordinary people. National Treasure, filmed at a 
concert hall in Tokyo National Museum, brings Chinese and Japanese relics to 
life through stories centred on the history of the two nations. 

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SOURCE  CCTV.com