Images (c), from left: AIKAWA Hiroaki, SATO Shun, TANAKA Aki, GOTANNDADAN, HORIKAWA Takashi

The Japan Foundation is publishing Japanese theatrical plays in collaboration with publishing houses outside Japan.

Five-Language Translation and Publication of Theatrical Plays

The Japan Foundation will be publishing translations of theatrical works by five Japanese playwrights (ICHIHARA Satoko, KUWABARA Yuko, MAEKAWA Tomohiro, MAEDA Shiro, YOKOYAMA Takuya) who are expected to develop an international profile in the future. The works will be translated and published in five languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented hiatus in live theater right across the world, and audiences are no longer able to attend venues as easily as they once could. This has led to a loss of opportunities for artists to present their work both in Japan and internationally, and a drastic decline in possibilities for showcasing Japanese plays to international audiences.
We expect that when theaters across the world finally regain their former vitality, the Japanese plays translated into multiple languages and presented in this volume will be performed in readings and stage productions right across the world.

Works to be Published

• The Bacchae—Holstein Milk Cows by ICHIHARA Satoko
• One Night by KUWABARA Yuko
• The Sun (2016) by MAEKAWA Tomohiro
• Isn’t Anyone Alive? by MAEDA Shiro
• Carcass by YOKOYAMA Takuya

(Playwrights listed in Japanese alphabetical order)

Publication Details

Publisher	Methuen Drama, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (U.K.)
Publication Date	April 2022

Publisher	Dar Al Maaref (Egypt)
Publication Date	September 2022: One Night, Isn't Anyone Alive?, The Sun (2016), Carcass

Publisher	Satori Ediciones (Spain)
Publication Date	November 29, 2021: The Bacchae—Holstein Milk Cows, The Sun (2016) January 2022: Isn’t Anyone Alive? February 2022: One Night, Carcass

Publisher	Qingdao Publishing House (China)
Publication Date	August 2022: One Night, Isn't Anyone Alive?, The Sun (2016), Carcass

Publisher	Hyperion Publishing House (Russia)
Publication Date	February 2022

Japonismes: Translation and Publication of Theatrical Plays

In 2018, to commemorate 160 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and France, a festival titled Japonismes 2018: les âmes en resonance was held nationwide in France. More than three million people in total attended the 300-plus events and other activities held as part of this festival across the month of August. To mark the success of this celebration of Japan-France relations, the Japan Foundation had selected three Japanese playwrights—TANINO Kuro, MAEKAWA Tomohiro and MATSUI Shu—from among those featured at Japonismes 2018, and over a three-year period will be publishing four of their plays in French translation through the Editions Espaces 34 publishing house.

Plays to be Published

• Avidya – The Ignorance Inn and The Dark Master by TANINO Kuro
• Strolling Invader by MAEKAWA Tomohiro
• PROUD SON by MATSUI Shu

(Playwrights listed in Japanese alphabetical order)

Publisher	Editions Espaces 34 (France)
Publication Date	November 2021: Strolling Invader May 2022: PROUD SON November 2022: Avidya – The Ignorance Inn June 2023 (scheduled): The Dark Master