To mark the 30th anniversary of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, a Chinese Cultural Year celebration was held in Japan. The China Songshan Shaolin Monastery Martial Arts Delegation staged two public shows on the afternoon of April 3 at Tokyo's Ikebukuro Sunshine City's fountain square.

The audience was struck dumb with surprise at the superb skills of these brave men from Shaolin Monastery, in particular at the performance of two eight-year-olds.

The martial arts delegation is to give two more public performances on April 4 and 6 at Tokyo and Yokohama respectively.

(April 3, 2002, from www.sina.com)