The recent turmoil in Japan caused by a tsunami and earthquake was particularly close to home for two of the dancers on the Birmingham Royal Ballet's tour as they both hail from the country.

Nao Sakuma, whose family live in Fukuoka in the south, was visiting Tokyo to promote the tour with fellow principal Chi Cao when terror struck.

Meanwhile, guest principal Miyako Yoshida, who now lives in Tokyo, was visiting Birmingham.

Nao told me how she ran out of the building and saw the earth shaking when the quake hit on March 13. And she thought the tour, which kicked off on Saturday, would be another casualty of the upheaval.

“When Chi and I left to come back to Birmingham two days after the earthquake it was so chaotic here. The convenience stores were totally empty, you couldn’t buy anything. I had never seen anything like that in Japan before.

“Lots of the theatres were closed and some companies who were coming cancelled. I didn’t think we would be able to come.

“It is two months since the earthquake. I am so happy to see that everything is back to normal in Tokyo.”

Nao’s family were untouched by the quake and tsunami – and the ensuing concerns over the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant.

She says being asked to play the part of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty for the opening performance of the nine-date tour is very important for her.

“I have always loved Sleeping Beauty,” she says.  “Once I was on stage I couldn’t stop to think about what had happened and about being here back in Japan, I just had to concentrate on performing.

“But it is important for Japan that companies like Birmingham Royal Ballet are still prepared to come here.”