The opening ceremony of the "Culture City of East Asia 2025 Kamakura" cultural exchange activity was held on May 20 in Kamakura, Japan, featuring a captivating Deqing silkworm flower dance by performers from Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The silkworm flower dance, also known as saocanhuadi, is a traditional dance rooted in Deqing county's sericulture customs, now recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage item. Originating from an ancient festival ritual, it has evolved into a dance performance passed down orally for over a century.

On stage, young "Silkworm Flower Maidens" performed with grace, showcasing the charm of Chinese sericulture through traditional dance movements that portrayed things like mulberry picking and silkworm feeding.

The traditional Deqing silkworm flower dance takes to the stage with style and grace in Japan. [Photo/Tide News]

The craft of sericulture and silk weaving carries millennia of cultural heritage. The Deqing County Cultural Center, as the custodian of this national heritage, has continuously innovated traditional performance styles, breathing new life into its preservation.

The cultural exchange event featuring a number of traditional performances helps foster ties among Kamakura, South Korea's Anseong, China's Huzhou, and China's Macau, enhancing mutual appreciation and friendship.

Since its inception in 2013, the Culture City of East Asia initiative has been a key cultural exchange platform for China, Japan, and South Korea.