Following an open call for artists to participate in Performing Arts Exchange Program in Singapore and Bangkok, which we jointly organized with the Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting (YPAM) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/project/culture/perform/exchange_perform/2025/06-01.html), we are pleased to announce the four Japanese artists selected for the exchange program in Singapore.
The artists will participate as speakers in talk event at YPAM and share their experiences at da:ns LAB, CAN (Connect Asia Now), and Vector, as well as introduce their own artistic practices.
For more details about this event, please refer to: YPAM Talk Event (Meeting Point)
Program Outline
| Selected Artists |
KIGAWA Sei (Dancer, Choreographer)
NAKAYASHIKI Minami (Dancer, Choreographer)
MUKAI Wataru (Composer, Artist)
YAMAGUCHI Akane (Playwright, Director) |
| Program Period |
Wednesday, September 24 – Monday, September 28, 2025 |
| Program Details |
The artists selected for the program are scheduled to participate (observe) in the following programs with the cooperation of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Dance Nucleus:
- da:ns LAB: Presentation on the artist development program organized by Esplanade and produced by Dance Nucleus
- Vector: Presentation program run by Dance Nucleus with the cooperation of Esplanade that will combine dance and installations
- CAN (Connect Asia Now): Platform organized by Esplanade to commission Asian contemporary dance pieces and present them to audiences in and outside Singapore
- Showcase/activity sharing by Singaporean artists (dance, theater, and music): part of the International Presenters Visit Programme (IPVP) organized by Esplanade
- Workshop for the participating artists facilitated by Dance Nucleus, etc.
- * Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay
- * Dance Nucleus
- Singapore’s national performing arts center. Located in Marina Bay. It has a total of eight theaters and studios.
A choreographic center based in the Goodman Arts Centre in Singapore. It also runs several educational programs for young artists with ongoing support from the National Arts Council, Singapore.
|
| Credits |
Organized by the Japan Foundation, Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting Executive Committee
 
|
Biographies of Selected Artists
KIGAWA Sei
Dancer/choreographer
Photo：manimanium
Born in the southernmost part of Wakayama Prefecture. Active both in Japan and overseas as a dancer/choreographer. Has worked on a wide range of projects from commercial pieces to performing arts. This includes providing choreography for Sony Assurance commercials and Nogizaka46. In recent years, has explored the adaptability of the body to its environment. For example, mimicking animals in handmade masks under the theme of “Quit humanism.” Also involved in education as a part-time lecturer at Tama Art University. Since 2020, has been working on international co-productions with Asian artists. In 2025, was invited to FESTIVAL BANTARGEBANG in Indonesia. Presented a piece at Asia’s largest garbage dump. Exploring the intersection of art and society in a practical manner via agricultural work and live-in labor.
NAKAYASHIKI Minami
Dancer/choreographer
Photo: Tetsuo Tanaka
Born in 1989. Active as a dancer/choreographer based in Japan. Graduated from the Yokohama Graduate School of Culture (Y-GSC), Institute of Urban Innovation, Yokohama, YOKOHAMA National University (2014). Serves as a studio assistant at Y-GSC, YOKOHAMA National University (since 2022). Won the Yokohama Dance Collection Outstanding New Artist Prize (2015) and Encouragement Prize (2021). Won the Grand Prize at the ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE FUTURE SCAPE PROJECT 2021 (2021). Invited to the Shanghai Contemporary Dance Exhibition (2016). Participated in the BankART AIR 2021 SUMMER residency. Served as the artist in residence for the FY2021 Dance Base Yokohama.
MUKAI Wataru
Composer/artistr
Composer and performer. Received the 33rd Yasushi Akutagawa Suntory Award for Music Composition for “DANCING QUEER.” Other major awards include First Place at the 8th Croatia International Composition Competition, the German Federal President's Prize at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition, Second Place in the Composition Category and the Iwatani Award at the 86th Music Competition of Japan, the Acanthus Music Award, and the Ataka Prize. A MUNETSUGU Tokuji Fund Scholarship student and a Rohm Music Foundation Scholarship student. After graduating head of class from the Department of Composition, Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, graduated with distinction from the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany. Completed doctoral studies at Anton Bruckner University and is now currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of Arts.
YAMAGUCHI Akane
Playwright/director
Playwright, director, and representative of Safari P. Graduated from the Department of Japanese Language/Literature, Faculty of Letters, Ryukoku University. From 2007, lived in Finland as a trainee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists. In 2012, received the New Artist Award at the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ National Art Festival. In 2015, won first place in the Best Director Award at the Toga Director Competition. From 2015 to 2017, was an Associate Artist at atelier GEKKEN. From 2016 to 2018, was a Saison Foundation Fellow. Artistic Director of Menicon Theater Aoi since 2023.
[Contact Us]
Performing Arts Section, Arts and Culture Dept., The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6063
E-mail: pa＠jpf.go.jp
(When sending an e-mail, please replace the full-width "＠" character with a half-width character.)
