Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

TO better tell the story of Shenzhen and showcase its innovation to the world, influencers Chico Manna, from Brazil, and Pooneh Dabiri, from Iran, both residing in Shenzhen, joined EyeShenzhen and Shenzhen Daily during Shenzhen Week, which ended yesterday at the China Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka in Osaka, Japan.

Daichi Araki, from Japan, who used to live in Shenzhen and a founder of a website sharing extensive information about Shenzhen with the Japanese community in the city, also participated in the event.

Over the course of three days, a diverse range of events took place, highlighting Shenzhen’s dynamic growth.

The trip by the three expats was a highlight of the Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors and Z10 Club programs. They aimed to explore the wide array of activities combining cutting-edge technology and intangible cultural heritage during Shenzhen Week and share insights about Shenzhen’s technology, innovation, and culture with audiences, especially within their respective country communities.

At the dedicated Shenzhen exhibition zone at the China Pavilion, over 60 enterprises gathered to present their latest innovations, including AR virtual fitting mirrors, smart foldable mobility scooters, bionic robotic hands, high-precision robotic arms, and more. The influencers spent a fully immersive day experiencing the future of Shenzhen’s community.

Manna was particularly excited to discover a laser printing machine that allowed him to create and print his own design on leather. Developed by Shenzhen-based Makeblock Co. Ltd., the machine offered a unique interactive experience.

Holding the customized card he made, Manna shared enthusiastically, “This laser printing machine provided me with this little card with my name on it. This is a pretty good souvenir that I’m definitely going to keep.”

Dabiri interacted with Shenzhen ZHAOWEI Machinery & Electronics Co. Ltd., which was showcasing its mechanical hand capable of tracking human movements. According to the company’s Japanese sales manager, they developed this dexterous hand using core components, including motors, electronic controls, and the entire transmission system, each element utilizing their proprietary technologies.

Araki was impressed by an 86-inch screen provided by Shenzhen-based Horion, where he wrote “EyeShenzhen.” He found it a useful tool for meetings with clients, noting its flexibility to display images and videos, and its smooth electronic blackboard functionality.

On the afternoon of May 12, Araki attended the Shenzhen-Osaka Innovation Cooperation Conference at the Imperial Hotel, Osaka, which was a sideline event of Shenzhen Week. The event attracted nearly 150 Chinese and Japanese government and business representatives.

After the meeting, Araki shared with Shenzhen Daily, “I came to this event because it connects Shenzhen and Japan. Shenzhen leads in many technologies, like drones, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and smartphones. We cannot separate Shenzhen’s technologies from the Japanese market. Japanese companies need Shenzhen.”

On May 13, the influencers enjoyed a show of a segment from Shenzhen-produced dance drama “Wing Chun.”

After the performance, they had the opportunity to learn and mimic some of the dance moves from the performers.

“It really touched my heart. Honestly, I wish I could join them, but I don’t know the moves,” said Dabiri, who noted that the performance became one of her favorite topics to share about Shenzhen Week on her Instagram.

By sharing their experiences during Shenzhen Week on various social media platforms, the creators appreciated the opportunity to present Shenzhen from diverse perspectives, especially during such a high-profile event.

“It’s really great to be able to showcase all the wonderful things Shenzhen has to offer to the entire world,” said Manna.