Kanagawa Next Vol.1 A theater festival born in hopes of promoting the development of performing arts in Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa Next was launched as an initiative to support young and mid-career artists and companies based in Kanagawa, with the hope of ensuring the continued growth of performing arts in Kanagawa Prefecture in the future.

From the many groups that have performed in the past, two groups have been selected to hold the first "Kanagawa Next Performance."

The two groups selected for Vol. 1 are theater 045 syndicate, which will perform "Farewell, Mister Charlie," set in a run-down movie theater along the Ooka River in the port city of Yokohama, and the theatre production Spiral Staircase, which will perform "Lighting a Fire in Silence," which gives a glimpse into the life of a man through the stories of his family and friends at a 49th day memorial service after the death of the son of a Michinoku confectionery company.

So this time, we spoke to Nakayama and Midori, the group's leaders, about their aspirations on being selected as "Kanagawa Next" and what the highlights of the performance will be.

Making "Kanagawa Next" a breakthrough for the development and dissemination of culture and the arts in Yokohama

Theater 045 Syndicate Director: Tomofumi Nakayama
theater 045 syndicate
A theater unit formed by director Tomofumi Nakayama and actors Katsunori Imai and Masaka Masa. They create works based on the concept of "Broadcasting from Yokohama", and are committed to promoting culture and the arts in Kanagawa, including through collaborations with many groups active in Kanagawa and creating a place for groups to interact within the prefecture. Their style is characterized by a hard-boiled yet light-hearted and humorous feel.

Nakayama: We are a theater company based in Yokohama. We are honestly happy that our first project for "Kanagawa Next" was evaluated for both our ability and content. Mr. Atsuhiro Hadano, who wrote the script, is also a comrade who runs his own theater company called Gekidan 820 Seisakusho, so we are happy to be able to work together this time.

Apparently, there are about three graduates of the Magcal Performing Arts Academy in this performance. He says it is also significant that graduates who were unable to perform due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now perform at Kanagawa Next.

Nakayama-san: I think it's meaningful for people from Kanagawa to perform in their hometown. Nowadays, there are more and more groups in Yokohama who are working hard in their 20s and 30s, so I hope that our two groups, which were selected as the first wave, will be a breakthrough and continue to lead the Yokohama art scene.

Currently, I am mainly active in Tokyo and Yokohama, but I try to bring back new techniques and knowledge I have gained in Tokyo and put them to good use in Yokohama. I am always working with the desire to give back to my hometown.

By having the works of theater companies active in Yokohama (Kanagawa) performed at Kanagawa Next, we hope to create a foundation for culture and the arts in Kanagawa, and it would be great if we could help each other improve so that the works presented in this way can eventually be recognized nationwide.

From the 3rd theater performance "Yokohama Yataro - Nostalgia Chapter"

"You can change the story of your life." The gradation of reality and dreams woven by time and human relationships.

The nominated work is a revival of a performance that was held three years ago. It was a time when the era changed from Heisei to Reiwa and the world situation changed dramatically due to COVID-19, so it was a very emotional experience.

-What are the highlights of the play?

theater 045 syndicate: Rehearsal scene from "Farewell, Mr. Charlie"

The story of this work is set in an old movie theater in downtown Yokohama. Based on a film being screened at a movie theater along the Ooka River in Isezakicho, the surface and the dark, dreams and reality, intertwine in a big wave. In the midst of this chaos, various human dramas unfold.

One of the highlights of the film is the intersection of reality and dreams, depicted on both sides of the screen. This conveys the message that "you can change the story of your life."
After seeing a play in Yokohama, a city where the past and the future are constantly intertwined, the view you see on your way back down Momijizaka will surely be different from the view you saw before the play. I hope you will enjoy experiencing the air and smells of Yokohama, whether that be going to Chinatown or strolling through the streets of Noge.

A story of a family that feels life through death and conveys the joy of being alive

Theater producer "Spiral Staircase" Director: Shinichiro Midori

Theatre production "Spiral Staircase"
The group was formed in 2006 to perform theater productions based in Odawara. They perform twice a year, in Odawara in the fall and in Yokohama in the spring. They continue to create sweet, sad, funny and tearful theater productions that use the land, era and satire to their advantage.

Midori-san: We are a theater company based in Odawara, active in Yokohama and Odawara, and this year is our 16th year. We are very honored to have our achievements recognized and selected for Vol.1 of "Kanagawa Next". We would like to continue this endeavor with Vol.2 and Vol.3.

From the 29th performance "Dreaming on a Rotating Chair"

Many theater companies have been forced to postpone or cancel performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Midori says that her theater production "Spiral Staircase" has had to postpone the show three times. She says she can't let her guard down this time either, but is taking proper precautions to prevent infection and is working hard at rehearsals to ensure the show is a success.

-What are the highlights of the play?

Theater production "Spiral Staircase": "Lighting a Fire in Silence" rehearsal scene

Midori: The story begins with the death of Tohoku Tomoaki, the founder of Michinoku Confectionery, a company that sells the popular online snack "Umineko Sable." At the 49th day memorial service, friends and family members talk about the protagonist's life in memory of the deceased.

Through episodes revealed in conversations with family and friends, the main character's character emerges, and while it's fun to laugh at, there are also some touching moments in the middle, so there are plenty of highlights to enjoy. In a good way, I think you'll enjoy the feeling of being betrayed by the plot you imagined from the flyer.

After watching the play, Midori recommends buying some sable cookies as a souvenir, in reference to the story of the Umi-neko Sable that appears in the play, and enjoying sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Both performances by the two groups are interesting and memorable, so I recommend both. In particular, this time the event will be held twice, with Golden Week in between, so why not go to both performances and spend your holiday enjoying the culture and arts of Yokohama?