Bridging Cultures: Supporting at the 'The Yangtze River' Screening Event

On April 15, 2024, in the Japan-China Friendship Hall in Tokyo, there was a documentary appreciation and communication event centered around the documentary "The Yangtze River" Organized by the Japan Yunnan Friendship Association, this gathering drew over 130 participants, including notables such as Yang Yu, Minister from the Chinese Embassy in Japan, Toshiko Abe, Japan's Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and Seino Kiyomizu, Chairman of the Japan-China Association. The We Are the Impact team had the privilege of participating as volunteers. 

The documentary, directed by Ryo Takeuchi, who fell in love with China while filming a documentary for NHK in 2011. He put his love in the new documentary, which presents a vivid portrait of the Yangtze River's landscapes and the significant societal changes unfolding in China over the past decade. Released initially in 2022 in China, the film features nine evocative stories from various cities along the Yangtze. A special guest at the event was Tsumu, a young woman from Shangri-La who now runs a hotel but was once a rural villager. Her transformative story parallels the film’s narrative of change.

The event was more than a showcase; it served as a vital platform for grassroots international communication that promote mutual understanding and dismantle cultural barriers. Our volunteer experience underscored the significance of civic engagement in bolstering bilateral relationships through cultural exchanges, enriching our understanding of the power of documentary film to connect and educate.