“Dance of Freedom” in Japan: How Oleksandra Paskal Represented Ukraine in Toky
10-year-old Ukrainian gymnast Oleksandra Paskal arrived in Tokyo as part of the international Dance of Freedom tour. In Japan, she will present her “Dance of Freedom,” which has become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian children. Through every movement, she tells a story of strength of spirit, struggle, loss, and hope.
At the airport, Sasha was warmly welcomed by representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora. They greeted the girl and wished her a memorable experience in Japan. Her fellow Ukrainians also supported her desire to tell the world about the war in Ukraine through the language of sport and dance.
Sasha’s schedule in Tokyo is packed with events. Oleksandra has already visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, where she spoke with diplomats and shared her story. She told them about the challenges that millions of Ukrainian children are facing today because of the war unleashed by russia against Ukraine.
Despite her busy schedule, Sasha is finding time to explore Japanese culture. During a walk around the city, she tried on traditional Japanese attire – a kimono, which became a special and vivid experience for her.
Overall, this trip holds special significance for Oleksandra. Seeing Japan was a long-held dream of hers, which she had mentioned more than once during her travels to different countries around the world. Symbolically, Tokyo became the final stop of the international Dance of Freedom tour and the place where this dream came true.
“I am incredibly happy to be in Japan. I have always dreamed of this, and now it has become a reality. Everything is different here, very clean and beautiful,” Sasha shares her impressions.
In two weeks, the young gymnast has already visited five continents and five of the world’s major cities – Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, and Tokyo. During her journey, Sasha discovered different cultures, spoke with peers from different parts of the world, made new friends, and inspired many people with her story, strength of spirit, and love of life.
The Dance of Freedom project is implemented by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation with the support of FC Shakhtar to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence. Its goal is to draw the international community’s attention, through Oleksandra’s story, to Ukrainian children whose lives have been forever changed by the war, and to show their strength, resilience, and determination to live.
