Peking Opera artist Wu Rujun says Nanjing inspires his performance

2023-05-21 10:23:00

Among the participants of the 3rd Jiangsu Development Conference, which will open on May 20, is Wu Rujun, who as a Peking Opera artist living in Japan has been dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between the two countries.

Born in Nanjing in 1963, Wu grew up in a family rooted in the performance art. He began learning theatrical performance at the age of 4 and guqin, a plucked instrument, at 9 before becoming a student at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts when he was 15. Wu’s family background and years of professional training have fostered his deep fascination with Chinese opera.

As the head of Japan Institute of Peking Opera, Wu likes drinking Yuhua tea, a unique green tea favored by the local people in Nanjing.

“I have vivid memories of growing up in my hometown of Nanjing, and my heart has always been tied to the city, Jiangsu, and China," he said. This nostalgic sentiment towards his birthplace has inspired his creative works over the years. In his words, Nanjing’s historical and cultural heritage provides a multitude of stories and a lasting bond.

In 1989, Wu moved to Japan, embarking on a challenging yet rewarding journey to promote traditional Chinese culture. Peking Opera, as the national art of China, faces the difficulty of gaining favor among Japanese audiences. Consequently, Wu decided to innovate the art form to make it more accessible and appealing internationally.

"To keep up with the times, Peking Opera needs to be innovative in content and form, while we continue to inherit and promote values such as truth, kindness, beauty, peace, and friendship,” explained Wu.

Wu will be attending the development conference for the second time. He said he hopes to reconnect with the people from his hometown during this special gathering. Wu is eager to personally witness and experience the province’s changes in recent years. While expressing his wish for the province to make more achievements, he emphasized his commitment to serving as an envoy for cultural exchange.