Support for Collaborative Creations between Japanese and International Artists
Observer - International Creations in Performing Arts 2024

What is the Observer System?
This is a new method in which third parties from various backgrounds follow the production process of a particular project as observers and publicize their observations through reports etc. By sharing this process, the international collaboration in performing arts can be widely communicated to the general public, at the same time, promoting international collaborations by more performance groups and artists in the future. In addition, we aim to promote awareness of new forms of international exchange by showing behind-the-scenes of creation process that people normally do not encounter.

Observers

photo of FUKUOKA Minako

FUKUOKA Minako

Project Covered: “Maître Obscur” by TANINO Kuro & T2G Théâtre de Gennevilliers, Centre Dramatique National (France)

Born in Toyama Prefecture; resident of Toyama City. After working at a travel agency, she joined the Toyama City Cultural Foundation, which operates Aubade Hall (Toyama City Theater for Performing Arts), in 1996. Since then, she has been involved in self-produced, citizen-participation-type, and overseas/domestic artist-in-residence performances in various genres including opera, musicals, drama, and dance. Her recent work includes “Museum on the Stage in Aubade Hall,” “Tanino Kuro & All-Toyama,” “Theater Yoga,” and “Rakuichi Rakuza.” She currently serves as head of the foundation’s administration and planning division.

photo of HIYAMA Maaru

Photo by OKU Yuji

HIYAMA Maaru

Project Covered: “Kyoto Experiment 2024 Sticky Hands, Stitched Mountains” by MATSUMOTO Nanako & Anchi LIN / Ciwas TAHOS (Taiwan)

Curator born in 1994 in Osaka. She joined the Recruit Art Center in 2023 and currently (2023–2026) serves as the guest curator for a special exhibition series at the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari MonET. Her recent curation projects include the TANAKA Ai solo exhibition Reverse String (Museum on Echigo-Tsumari MonET, Niigata, 2024) and the AMEMIYA Yousuke solo exhibition A Q & I (BUG, Tokyo, 2023).
She also explores curation methodologies beyond exhibition practices, such as by designing and running the online program for art workers “CRAWL” (BUG, 2024).

photo of ICHIKAWA Aki

ICHIKAWA Aki

Project Covered: “Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey” by KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre & Vanishing Point (UK)

Writer and editor. She graduated from the Faculty of Letters of Keio University with a degree in philosophy. After working for a theatrical journal, she now edits, researches, and writes for performance programs and theater public relations magazines and works on personal interviews. She has edited and written programs for Kafka on the Shore directed by NINAGAWA Yukio and based on the novel of the same name by MURAKAMI Haruki since it premiered in 2012. Present at the scenes of many creative endeavors, from classic works to contemporary plays both foreign and Japanese, she delivers the words of people involved in expression and creation. The works she has authored include Kato Takeshi Talks about Acting: Whatever Karma Gave Me This Able Body (Chikumashobo Ltd.).

photo of DOMON Ran

(c) OKAYASU Itsumi

DOMON Ran

Project Covered: Work-In-Progress Performance "K-TTR" by KANAYAMA Sugatsu & S. LEE (US)

Writer. Born in 1985 in Hiroshima; resident of Kyoto. She writes literary works such as novels and poems as well as interview articles. The works she has authored include On the Day 100 Years from Now When Neither of Us Exists (coauthored with TERADA Mayumi), Loneliness of the Manager, War and Five Women, and Somosomo Exchange Diary (coauthored with SAKURABAYASHI Naoko). In April 2023, she published the essay Diary of Living until I Die recording her own counseling sessions. It won the first-ever “Living Book Award.”

photo of OISHI Hajime

OISHI Hajime

Project Covered: “Kuroshio Current Project Taiwan-Yonaguni-Jeju 'Then Dance with Souls' 'Eurasian Opera Op.4 SHIO - Song of diaspora” by Music and Poetic Drama Laboratory (KAWASAKI Jun) & JEONG Wonki (Korea)

Writer born in 1975 in Tokyo Metropolis. He is the president of B.O.N, an organization dedicated to travel and festival writing and photography. After working for the editorial department of a music journal, he became a freelance writer in 2007. Since then, he continues to research and write about themes related to local culture. The main works he has authored include Encountering Other Worlds (Sangyo Henshu Center Co., Ltd.), The South Sea Songline (Kilty Books), A Postwar History of Bon Festival Dances (Chikumashobo Ltd.), Going to Meet Residents of the Deep Tokyo (Shobunsha), Japanese Matsu-rhythm (Artes Publishing), and Nippon Dai-Ondo Jidai (Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers). The works he has edited include An Exploration of South Korean Rock (DU BOOKS).

photo of MORI Mariko

MORI Mariko

Project Covered: “Asian Object Theater: Laos-Japan Collaboration among Deaf and Hearing Performers” by SHIRAGA Momoko & Lattanakone INSISIENGMAY (Laos)

After working at the Performing Arts Research Center of Kyoto University of Art and Design and other institutions, she became a freelance producer in the fields of theater, dance, music, etc. Since 2009, she has been developing art projects in Maizuru City, Kyoto, involving local governments, welfare facilities, special needs schools, etc. In addition to working as a program director for Roppongi Art Night 2014 and Saitama Triennale 2016, she has worked as producer of the True Colors Festival at The Nippon Foundation DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS since 2017. In 2022, she assumed a position at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as an Officer for Advancement of Cultural and Art Plans for Persons with Disabilities.

[Contact Us]

Performing Arts Section, Arts and Culture Dept., The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6063
E-mail: pa@jpf.go.jp
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