The splendid news about two Japanese high school students' outstanding achievement swept around the world this month.
Not only did 17-year-old Haruo Niyama from Nagano Prefecture win first prize at the super-prestigious annual Prix de Lausanne competition for young amateur classical ballet dancers, but 15-year-old Sae Maeda from Yokohama came second among the 20 finalists.
In so doing, Niyama posted a joyous landmark in Japan as the first home-grown male dancer to win at Lausanne since Tetsuya Kumakawa's historic pioneering triumph there in 1989, 25 years ago. And, well aware of the significance, Kumakawa immediately commented: "I was thrilled to hear the news as it shows the potential of Japanese dancers has finally blossomed."