Theatre Yearbook

The Japanese Centre of ITI has published ‘Theatre Yearbook’ since 1972.

The annual publication is available in two volumes: Theatre in Japan (an English-language book aimed at overseas readers, covering developments in the Japanese performing arts) and Theatre Abroad (a Japanese-language book about overseas performing arts for Japanese readers).

The ‘Theatre Yearbook’ is globally distributed to various performing arts organizations, cultural departments of embassies, culture centers, university libraries, etc., free of charge.

From 2011, the Japanese Centre of ITI has also edited and published scripts of the plays featured in the Theatre Born in Conflict Zones series.

The Japanese Centre of ITI welcomes new subscribers, suggestions of topics related to performing arts that you would like to covered in Theatre in Japan, and inquiries from writers in other countries who can contribute to Theatre Abroad. Please contact us at mail@iti-j.org.

文化庁
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan

●Contents of ‘Theatre Yearbook’

➣ Theatre Yearbook 2024 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2023〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2023〉
Noh and Kyogen / Oda Sachiko
Kabuki / Kodama Ryuichi
Bunraku / Kameoka Noriko
Musicals / Nakamura Masako
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre / Ota Akira
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Kimura Takashi

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas in 2023〉

« The Theatrical Experiments of Abe Kobo on the 100th anniversary of his birth »
Abe Kobo and the Theater / Takahashi Nobuyoshi
The Abe Kobo Studio and Its Western Contemporaries / Gianluca Coci

Mokuami and the West – On the 130th anniversary of Kawatake Mokuami’s death / Yanai Kenji

〈Special Feature〉
“Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 15” The Murder of Isaac in October 2023 / Murai Hanayo

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2024” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief: Niino Morihiro

Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)

Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs,
Government of Japan, through the Japan Arts Council

Published in March, 2024

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2023 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2022〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2022〉
Noh and Kyogen / Oda Sachiko
Kabuki / Yanai Kenji
Bunraku / Kameoka Noriko
Musicals / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre / Ota Akira
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Ota Shoichi

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas in 2022〉
Creating stages amidst war: Interviews with the directors of three Ukrainian theatres / Interviewer: Marina Kotelenets
Continuing Creating After Leaving My Homeland: An interview with director Timofey Kulyabin / Interviewer: Uchida Kensuke
A Retrospective on the Fiftieth Anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan: The Rich World of Uchinaa Shibai, a Theatre Reflecting Okinawa’s Turbulent History / Hosoi Naoko, Kinjo Shinji, Senaha Takako, Kakihana Rieko
What We Learned Digging Through Rare Materials from the Early Days of the ITI Japanese Centre: 2023, the fiftieth anniversary of the first issue of the Theatre Yearbook, as a gateway / Sota Shuji
〈Special Feature〉
“ Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 14” Director’s notes: Doubting what you know, relating indistinguishability / Ikuta Miyuki

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2023” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief: Niino Morihiro

Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)

Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2022 under the Program for Nurturing Upcoming Artists Leading the Next Generation

Published in March, 2023

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2022 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2021〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2021〉
Noh and Kyogen / Oda Sachiko
Kabuki / Yanai Kenji
Bunraku / Kameoka Noriko
Musicals / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre / Ota Akira
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Okamuro Minako

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas in 2021〉
At Our Posts, Ten Years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami / Kuramochi Hiroyuki, Onobu Pelican, Shibahara Hiroshi, Hatasawa Seigo
The 160th Anniversary of Mori Ogai’s Birth and the Centenary of His Death—Ogai and the Performing Arts / Itoda Soichiro
The 2.5-Dimensional Musical: An Audience-Creating System / Suzuki Kunio

〈Special Feature〉
“Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 13” Five Highly Dense Short Films / Tanioka Takehiko

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2022” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief: Niino Morihiro

Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)

Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2021 under the Program for Nurturing Upcoming Artists Leading the Next Generation

Published in March, 2022

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2021 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2020〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2020〉
Noh and Kyogen / Oda Sachiko
Kabuki / Yanai Kenji
Bunraku / Kameoka Noriko
Musicals / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre / Ota Akira
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Nakamachi Ayako

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas〉
Japanese Theatre in the Time of Spanish Influenza 100 Years Ago/ Goto Ryuki
Plurality of Senses — for Dumb Type / Uchino Tadashi
Obituary: Betsuyaku Minoru “Under the Influence of Beckett: Betsuyaku, Pinter, Stoppard” / Tanioka Takehiko
Appendix: Translations and Overseas Presentations of Works by Betsuyaku Minoru / Editorial Team

〈Special Feature〉
“Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 12” A Staged Reading Performed Full Out / Kono Takashi

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2021” (Japanese)
Editor-in-chief: Niino Morihiro
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2020 under the Program for Nurturing Upcoming Artists Leading the Next Generation
Published in March, 2021

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2020 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2019〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2019〉
Noh and Kyōgen / Oda Sachiko
Kabuki / Mizuochi Kiyoshi
Bunraku / Kodama Ryuichi
Musicals / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre / Ota Akira
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Nakamachi Ayako

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas〉
A Theatre that Continues to Challenge—The Rebirth of PARCO Theatre / Sugiyama Hiromu
“The-Show-Must-Go-On”—In Memory of Johnny Kitagawa / Hayashi Naoyuki
The Era of Okada Toshiki—Performing Arts in the 2010s / Uchino Tadashi

〈Special Feature〉
‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 11’ A Girl’s Struggle Reflect Our Current World—The Dramatic Reading of Liberian Girl / Hamada Motoko

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2020” (Japanese)
Editor-in-chief : Niino Morihiro
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute
(ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2019 under the Program for Nurturing Upcoming Artists Leading the Next Generation
Published in March, 2020

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2019 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2018〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2018〉

Noh and Kyōgen / Nishi Tetsuo
Kabuki and Bunraku / Mizuochi Kiyoshi
Musicals / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre and Puppet Theatre / Yokomizo Yukiko
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television Dramas / Nakamachi Ayako

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas〉

Remembering Asari Keita:
A Master Living in the Irrational Contradictions of Art and Business / Uchida Yōichi
An Interview with Mr.Kobayashi Yasuhiro of the Performing Arts Section, Secretariat for Japonismes, The Japan Foundation
On the influence of Japonismes 2018 in Presenting Traditional to Cutting-Edge Performances / Katsura Mana

〈Special Feature〉

A Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 10’
Two Plays from Germany and Canada Linler to Conflict Zones – Common Ground and This is War / Niino Morihiro

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2019” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Tanokura Minoru
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute
(ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2018 under the Program for Nurturing Upcoming Artists Leading the Next Generation
Published in March, 2019

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2018 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2017〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2017〉

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas〉

The Birth of Shingeki / Ozasa Yoshio
Creating the New Kabuki The Wars of Mahabahrata / Aoki Go
Thirty Years On, Remembering Ninagawa and Macbeth / Rosalind Fielding
Talk Event “Theater Reviews and Theatrical Journalism”
― Theatrical Criticism as an Instrument to Raise Theater to the Level of Culture / Uchida Yoichi

〈Special Feature〉

A Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 9’
― Two Arab Playwrights Cutting ¬rough the Darkness of Night / Goto Ayako

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2018” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Tanokura Minoru
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2017
Published in March, 2018

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2017 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2016〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2016〉

〈Developments in Japan and Overseas〉

100 Years of Russo-Japanese Cultural Exchanges in Ballet : The First Ballet Performance at the Imperial Theatre in Japan / Kawashima Kyoko
Fujairah International Arts Festival Report / Sota Shuji
Bunraku : Recent Challenges & Developments / Kameoka Noriko
Ninagawa Yukio: From 1960s Theatre Artist to Global Star / Takahashi Yutaka

〈Special Feature〉

A Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 8’ ― Theatre Standing Against The Time of Peril / Hayashi Hideki

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2017” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Tanokura Minoru
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2016
Published in March, 2017

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2016 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2015〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2015〉

Noh and Kyôgen / Nishi Tetsuo
Kabuki and Bunraku / Mizuochi Kiyoshi
Musical / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theater and Puppet Theater / Yokomizo Yukiko
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television and Radio / Kotaki Tetsuya

〈Developments in Japan〉

Recitation of These Children’s Summer ― Hiroshima & Nagasaki 1945 ― Interviewing Shimoju Akiko (author) and Obayashi Nobuhiko (film director) / Moderated by Taeko Nagai
APP (Asian Producers’ Platform): Attempting to Create a Network of Producers in Asia/ Yokoyama Yoshiji

〈Developments Overseas〉

How Can the Performing Arts Survive in Dystopia? — Freedom of Expression and Performing Arts / Teerawat Mulvilai

〈Special Feature〉

A Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 7’ / Niino Morihiro

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2016” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Tanokura Minoru
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2015
Published in March, 2016

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2015 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2014〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2014〉

Noh and Kyôgen / Nishi Tetsuo
Kabuki and Bunraku / Mizuochi Kiyoshi
Musical / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theatre and Puppet Theatre / Yokomizo Yukiko
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet / Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television and Radio / Kotaki Tetsuya

〈Developments in Japan〉

Kabuki’s Tours Abroad / Iizuka Misa
The History of Takarazuka Revue Company’s International Tour / Ishii Keifu
Hosting the Vietnam Performing Arts Specialists Middle Term Invitation Program / Yokobori Fumi
Report on the 1st ITI World Theatre Workshop : Peking Opera and Nihon buyô / Hishinuma Yoshiaki

〈Special Feature〉

A Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 6’ / Yoshiiwa Masaharu

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2015” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Tanokura Minoru
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2014
Published in March, 2015

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➣ Theatre Yearbook 2014 – Theatre in Japan

〈Shots from the Performing Arts in Japan in 2013〉

〈The Japanese Performing Arts in Japan in 2013〉

Noh and Kyôgen / Nishi Tetsuo
Kabuki and Bunraku / Mizuochi Kiyoshi
Musical / Hagio Hitomi
Contemporary Theatre / Yamaguchi Hiroko
Children’s and Youth Theater and Puppet Theater / Yokomizo Yukiko
Japanese Classical Dance / Hirano Hidetoshi
Ballet Urawa Makoto
Contemporary Dance and Butoh / Tsutsumi Hiroshi
Television and Radio / Kotaki Tetsuya

〈Developments in Japan〉

New Developments in Co-Productions, Growing from Networks of Regional Theatres and Producers / Ogura Yukako
Report on the Traditional Japanese Performing Arts Workshop on Noh / Odagiri Yoko

〈Developments Overseas〉

GATS Festival and ATEC Festival / Hishinuma Yoshiaki

〈Special Feature〉

Report on ‘Theatre Born in Conflict Zones 5’ / Goto Ayako

Contents of the Companion Volume “Theatre Abroad 2014” (Japanese)

Editor-in-chief : Ozasa Yoshio
Published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI/UNESCO)
Commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2013
Published in March, 2014

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