I first came to China to perform the White Haired Girl in 1976
Premier Zhou Enlai watched my performance
He sent costumes to all our actors and actresses
We’ve been using them until now
Matsuyama Ballet Company was found in 1948
It’s been 70 years so far
Masao Shimizu and Mikiko Matsuyama were the founders
They are my father and mother
I and Yoko got married and inherited the ballet company
And created the current version of White Haired Girl
In 1951 the movie White Haired Girl spread to Japan
Before that Japan did a lot of bad things to China
My parents were deeply touched by the movie
So they thought of adapting it into ballet
The ballet group visited China for the 1st time in 1958
To express Japanese’s regrets and grief to Chinese people
And to apologize to Chinese people
“Thank you, China”
So they called themselves the Japanese who love China the most
And they didn’t care at all how other Japanese see them
I sat in the auditorium and watched the White Haired Girl performed by Mikiko Matsuyama
I was so moved that I cried
Since then I began to learn performing the White Haired Girl
Yoko started ballet at the age of 3
She was known as a talented ballet dancer in Japan when she was just a girl
I’ve been tough since childhood and I never give up easily
For example, when the whole class were practicing together
The teacher taught a new movement
And I was always the last one to learn it
Then I practiced and practiced until “Wow, I made it!”
The white haired girl Xi’er is an optimistic and great woman
She doesn’t retreat easily facing any difficulty
So she’s able to help people
And wins a new life
It’s the 67th year of my dancing career
I’ve never thought of giving up
Unconsciously I make this so far
I feel really happy to be able to finish the whole performance
Yoko is still performing Xi’er at such age
It’s something she has never thought of herself
I think it’s providence
Her parents told the God of Ballet, “Please bring this child with you”
She was born to dance
I used to practice from morning to 11 o’clock at night
I kept such intensity for over 30 years
Now I practice for 5 to 6 hours a day
Although I’m often asked
“How many years are you going to dance for”
“When will you stop”
I never think about those questions
I know clearly that I will say goodbye to the stage one day
But just because I know it
So I only want to live in the world of ballet
It will not change until I die