Festival/Tokyo
Newcomers, Towards a Big Place
The international performing arts event Festival/Tokyo (F/T) aspires to pioneer new possibilities by presenting the multifaceted appeals of theatre and dance, and offering stimulating encounters with diverse values that transcend nationality, generation, and artistic style.
F/T17 is the tenth festival and its theme is “Newcomers, Towards a Big Place” Staging a broad spectrum of superb performances from Japan and around the world, the festival also includes talks, film screenings and many other events.
Until now, F/T has regarded the most important mission of an international festival as creating exchange through art, which is effective at breaking through the various boundary lines laid down by political conflicts and the mass media. From this year, the festival will turn its gaze to the cultural movers and shakers in the as-yet unknown future, aspiring to build a base for international exchange so that they can achieve the mission of the festival when they assume the lead in 10 or 20 years’ time.
The festival program includes premieres by major directors in the performing arts scene in Japan as well as co-productions developed through international partnerships and, once again, performances born out of the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Asia Series, which showcases one nation from Asia each year, continues with China, the largest nation in Asia whose presence today is increasingly important, not least politically and economically. The program features a presentation of music, theatre, fashion and subculture from China’s millennial generation. Following its launch last year, the F/T in the City Performance Series returns with an even more ambitious scale and scope.
Moreover, the F/T Affiliated Program introduces 12 productions happening in the Tokyo region around the same time as the festival, demonstrating the diversity of the city’s performing arts scene.
Festival Outline
| Name: | Festival/Tokyo 2017 (F/T17) | |
| Period: | September 30th (Sat) to November 12th (Sun), 2017 | |
| Venues: | Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Owlspot Theater Minami Ikebukuro Park PARADISE AIR, and more |
|
| Programs: | F/T Main Program (14 productions) F/T Affiliated Program (12 productions) |
|
| Organizers: | Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee, Toshima City, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation, NPO Arts Network Japan (NPO-ANJ),, Arts Council Tokyo & Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) |
|
| Opening production co-organized by the Japan Foundation Asia Center | ||
| Sponsored by Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Shiseido Co., Ltd. | ||
| Endorsed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GEIDANKYO, J-WAVE 81.3 FM | ||
| Special cooperation from SEIBU IKEBUKUROHONTEN, TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE IKEBUKURO, TOBU RAILWAY CO., LTD., Sunshine City Corporation, Chacott Co., Ltd., HUMAX CINEMA INC. | ||
| In cooperation with Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima, Toshima City Shopping Street Federation, Toshima City Federation, Toshima City Tourism Association, Toshima Industry Association, Toshima Corporation Association, Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Shopping Street Federation, NPO Zephyr, Ikebukuro West Gate Park Management, Neighborhood of the Minami Ikebukuro Park, Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo, Hotel Grand City, Ikebukuro Hotel Association | ||
| PR Support: | Poster Hari's, Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, UPLINK | |
Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2017
| Name: |
|---|
| Festival/Tokyo 2017 (F/T17) |
| Period: |
| September 30th (Sat) to November 12th (Sun), 2017 |
| Venues: |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Owlspot Theater Minami Ikebukuro Park Paradise Air, and more |
| Programs: |
| F/T Main Program (14 productions) F/T Affiliated Program (12 productions) |
| Organizers: |
| Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee, Toshima City, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation, NPO Arts Network Japan (NPO-ANJ), Arts Council Tokyo & Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) |
| Opening production co-organized by the Japan Foundation Asia Center |
| Sponsored by Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Shiseido Co., Ltd. |
| Endorsed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GEIDANKYO, J-WAVE 81.3 FM |
| Special cooperation from SEIBU IKEBUKUROHONTEN, TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE IKEBUKURO, TOBU RAILWAY CO., LTD., Sunshine City Corporation, Chacott Co., Ltd., HUMAX CINEMA INC. |
| In cooperation with Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima, Toshima City Shopping Street Federation, Toshima City Federation, Toshima City Tourism Association, Toshima Industry Association, Toshima Corporation Association, Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Shopping Street Federation, NPO Zephyr, Ikebukuro West Gate Park Management, Neighborhood of the Minami Ikebukuro Park, Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo, Hotel Grand City, Ikebukuro Hotel Association |
| PR Support: |
| Poster Hari's Company, Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, UP LINK |
Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the fiscal 2017
Festival/Tokyo 2017 is organized as part of Tokyo Festival 2017.
- Festival/Tokyo 2017 is organized as part of Tokyo Festival 2017.
<
- >
| Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee | ||
| Advisors: | Man Nomura (Chair, Japan Council of Performers Rights & Performing Arts Organizations; Noh actor) | |
| Yoshiharu Fukuhara (Honorary Chair, Shiseido Co., Ltd.) | ||
| Honorary President of the Executive Committee: | Yukio Takano (Mayor of Toshima City) | |
| Chair of the Executive Committee: | Shigeo Fukuchi (Advisor, New National Theatre Foundation, Senior Alumnus, Asahi Breweries, Ltd.) | |
| Vice Chair of the Executive Committee: | Sachio Ichimura (Adviser, NPO Arts Network Japan; Director, Festival/Tokyo) | |
| Koichi Ozawa (Director, Culture, Commerce and Industry Division, Toshima City) | ||
| Akira Touzawa (Secretariat Director, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation) | ||
| Committee Members: | Motoki Ozaki (President, Association for Corporate Support of the Arts; Corporate Advisor, Kao Corporation) | |
| Sumiko Kumakura (Professor, Department of Musical Creativity and the Environment, Tokyo University of the Arts) | ||
| Toshihiro Tanaka (General Manager, Corporate Culture Department, Shiseido Co., Ltd.) | ||
| Atsuko Suzuki (General Manager, CSR Department, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.) | ||
| Masami Suzuki (Chair, Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima) | ||
| Taeko Nagai (Chair, Setagaya Arts Foundation) | ||
| Tomohisa Higuchi (Director, Cultural Design Section, Culture, Commerce and Industry Division, Toshima City) | ||
| Masato Kishi (Manager, New Theater Opening Preparation Room, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation) | ||
| Naoko Hasuike (Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation; Executive Director, Owlspot Theater) | ||
| Akiko Yonehara (Representative, NPO Arts Network Japan) | ||
| Madoka Ashihara (Administrative Director, Festival/Tokyo) | ||
| Chika Kawai (Vice Director, Festival/Tokyo) | ||
| Supervisor: | Mitsuko Sasaki (Director, General Affairs Section, General Affairs Division, Toshima City) | |
| Legal Advisors: | Kensaku Fukui, Hisato Kitazawa (Kotto Dori Law Office) | |
| Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee Secretariat | ||
| Director: | Sachio Ichimura | |
| Vice Director: | Chika Kawai | |
| Administrative Director: | Madoka Ashihara | |
| Production Coordinators: | Akiko Juman, Mayuko Arakawa, Shiori Sunagawa, Toshifumi Matsumiya, Ayano Misao, Takako Yokoi, Yuko Takeda, Yumiko Okazaki, Yuuri Fujii, Hironobu Hosokawa, Takashi Osada, Shogo Shinomiya, Masao Yamagata, Chiho Yokoo | |
| Public Relations: | Akiko Ogura, Mami Kaminaga | |
| Accounting: | Kumiko Tsutsumi | |
| Administrator: | Aiko Yonehara, Saki Hirata | |
| Ticket Administration: | Kazumi Takei | |
| Technical Director: | Eiji Torakawa | |
| Assistant Technical Director: | Chizuru Kouno | |
| Lighting Coordination: | Makiko Sasaki (Factor Co., Ltd.) | |
| Sound Coordination: | Akira Aikawa (Sound Weeds Inc.) | |
| Art Direction: | Yoshio Ujiie (Ujiie planning office) | |
| Illustrations: | naomi@paris,tokyo | |
| Website: | Masaya Takeshita (Ujiie planning office) | |
| Booklet: | Takeshi Furihata (FLAGS) | |
| Overseas Public Relations, Translation: | William Andrews | |
| Merchandise: | Jun Watanabe | |
| Japanese Writing (Production Pages): | Rieko Suzuki | |
| Chinese Program Coordinator: | Hitomi Oyama | |
| Online Magazine Editor: | Taisuke Shimanuki | |
Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee
Advisors:
Man Nomura
(Chair, Japan Council of Performers Rights & Performing Arts Organizations; Noh actor)
Yoshiharu Fukuhara
(Honorary Chair, Shiseido Co., Ltd.)
Honorary President of the Executive Committee:
Yukio Takano
(Mayor of Toshima City)
Chair of the Executive Committee:
Shigeo Fukuchi
(Advisor, New National Theatre Foundation, Senior Alumnus, Asahi Breweries, Ltd.)
Vice Chair of the Executive Committee:
Sachio Ichimura
(Adviser, NPO Arts Network Japan; Director, Festival/Tokyo)
Koichi Ozawa
(Director, Culture, Commerce and Industry Division, Toshima City))
Akira Touzawa
(Secretariat Director, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation)
Committee Members:
Motoki Ozaki
(President, Association for Corporate Support of the Arts; Corporate Advisor, Kao Corporation)
Sumiko Kumakura
(Professor, Department of Musical Creativity and the Environment, Tokyo University of the Arts)
Toshihiro Tanaka
(General Manager, Corporate Culture Department, Shiseido Co., Ltd.)
Atsuko Suzuki
(General Manager, CSR Department, Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.)
Masami Suzuki
(Chair, Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima)
Taeko Nagai
(Chair, Setagaya Arts Foundation)
Tomohisa Higuchi
(Director, Cultural Design Section, Culture, Commerce and Industry Division, Toshima City)
Masato Kishi
(Manager, New Theater Opening Preparation Room, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation)
Naoko Hasuike
(Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation; Executive Director, Owlspot Theater)
Akiko Yonehara
(Representative, NPO Arts Network Japan)
Madoka Ashihara
(Administrative Director, Festival/Tokyo)
Chika Kawai
(Vice Director, Festival/Tokyo)
Supervisor:
Mitsuko Sasaki
(Director, General Affairs Section, General Affairs Division, Toshima City)
Legal Advisors:
Kensaku Fukui, Hisato Kitazawa
(Kotto Dori Law Office)
Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee Secretariat
Director:
Sachio Ichimura
Vice Director:
Chika Kawai
Administrative Director:
Madoka Ashihara
Production Coordinators:
Akiko Juman, Mayuko Arakawa, Shiori Sunagawa, Toshifumi Matsumiya, Ayano Misao, Takako Yokoi, Yuko Takeda, Yumiko Okazaki, Yuuri Fujii, Hironobu Hosokawa, Takashi Osada, Shogo Shinomiya, Masao Yamagata, Chiho Yokoo
Sales & Planning:
Rie Nagahara
Public Relations:
Akiko Ogura, Mami Kaminaga
Accounting:
Kumiko Tsutsumi
Administrator:
Aiko Yonehara, Saki Hirata
Ticket Administration:
Kazumi Takei
Technical Director:
Eiji Torakawa
Assistant Technical Director:
Chizuru Kouno
Lighting Coordination:
Makiko Sasaki(Factor Co., Ltd.)
Sound Coordination:
Akira Aikawa(Sound Weeds Inc.)
Art Direction:
Yoshio Ujiie(Ujiie planning office)
Illustrations:
naomi@paris,tokyo
Website:
Masaya Takeshita(Ujiie planning office)
Booklet:
Takeshi Furihata(FLAGS)
Overseas Public Relations, Translation:
William Andrews
Merchandise:
Jun Watanabe
Japanese Writing (Production Pages):
Rieko Suzuki
Chinese Program Coordinator:
Hitomi Oyama
Online Magazine Editor:
Taisuke Shimanuki
Greetings from the Organizers
Japan’s largest international performing arts event, Festival/Tokyo (F/T), once again returns this year. F/T has now firmly established itself as one of the regular features of the Ikebukuro autumn calendar and in 2017 celebrates reaching its milestone tenth festival. This landmark edition includes a striking and varied program that exemplifies the Toshima aspiration to be an all-encompassing theatre district where anyone can play a leading role.
It was recently announced that Hareza Ikebukuro will open on the former site of Toshima City Office. By summer 2020, Ikebukuro will transform into a vibrant and international cultural hub with eight theatres. Concurrent with the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games that are certain to attract the whole world’s attention to Tokyo, Toshima continues to work dynamically towards its vision of being an international artistic and cultural community. Please look forward to seeing how Toshima develops.
Lastly, I would like to extend my thanks to all the individuals and organizations, including local businesses and shops, whose tireless efforts have helped realize the festival.
Mayor of Toshima City
Festival/Tokyo began in 2009 and has now staged over 264 productions, reaching audiences of more than 560,000.
F/T17 is the tenth festival and presents a wide range of performing arts, including co-productions with leading Asian artists as well as a diverse selection of other work from Japan and overseas.
This international festival helps to create new global artistic values as well as strengthen networks with other festivals, theatres, and cultural organizations around Japan and overseas, aspiring to contribute to cultural interchange that transcends regional and national boundaries.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Japan Foundation Asia Center, our corporate sponsors, regional organizations, and the many others who have given us their generous support and cooperation.
Chair, Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee
Advisor, New National Theatre Foundation
Senior Alumnus, Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
Aspiring to create a global cultural city, Festival/Tokyo is organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture in partnership with arts bodies and a non-profit organization.
The festival launched in February 2009 and this year marks the tenth edition. It has attracted attention as an international performing arts festival featuring a lineup of leading artists from Japan and around the world, demonstrating Tokyo as a city where culture and the arts is created.
Since last year, the event has also formed part of Tokyo Festival, a comprehensive city arts festival. It is now diversifying its program as well as progressively developing by expanding participation and interaction opportunities that can cultivate new values.
Please look forward to this year’s Festival/Tokyo as it continues to allow audiences to experience the wonder and explore the possibilities of the performing arts.
Director General, Arts Council Tokyo
(Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)
This year is the tenth Festival/Tokyo. I would like here to express my respect to Chiaki Soma, who steered the festival as the director of its first six editions.
In our work, trust in art is absolutely necessary. “I want the people of the world to imagine themselves in our position,” said a young girl speaking from a Syrian refugee camp. But is it possible to feel what happened to someone else like it is your experience? Can we feel something that happens far away like it is our own experience? Art is able to refine this ability to the greatest extent, without which social welfare, environments, peace and even mutual understanding cannot be realized. In this sense, I believe that art is essential for life and something related to the root of society and humanity.
The theme of this year’s program is “Newcomers, Towards a Big Place” exploring the world that will be created in the future by the younger generation. Please look forward to it.
Director, Festival/Tokyo
