Kanagawa Next Vol. 1: A theater festival created with the hope of promoting the development of performing arts in Kanagawa Prefecture.
"Kanagawa Next" was launched with the hope that performing arts in Kanagawa Prefecture would continue to grow and flourish in the future, and as an initiative to support young and mid-career artists and companies that are based in Kanagawa.
From among the many groups that have performed in the past, we have selected two groups for the first "Kanagawa Next Performance" event.
The two groups chosen for Vol. 1 are "theater 045 syndicate," which will perform "Farewell, Mr. Charlie," set in a dilapidated movie theater located along the Ooka River in the port town of Yokohama, and the theater production "Spiral Staircase," which will perform "Lighting a Fire in Silence," in which the life of a man is revealed through the stories of family and friends at the 49th-day memorial service following the death of the son of the owner of Michinoku Confectionery.
So, this time, we spoke with Ms. Nakayama and Ms. Midori, who run this group, about their aspirations after being selected for "Kanagawa Next" and the highlights of their performance.
Making "Kanagawa Next" a breakthrough for the development and dissemination of culture and art in Yokohama
Tomofumi Nakayama, director of theater 045 syndicate
theater 045 syndicate
This theater unit is led by Tomofumi Nakayama and actors Katsunori Imai and Masashi Masaka. Their concept is "a message from Yokohama," and they frequently collaborate with groups active in Kanagawa Prefecture, contributing to the promotion of culture and arts in the prefecture by creating a platform for exchange among these groups. Their style is characterized by a hard-boiled tone combined with lightness and humor.
Nakayama: We are a theater company based in Yokohama. We are genuinely happy that our first project for "Kanagawa Next" has been praised for both our skills and content. Junko Hatano, who wrote the script, is also a fellow veteran who runs his own theater company, Theater Company 820 Production, so we are delighted to be working together on this project.
Apparently, there are about three graduates of the Magcal Performing Arts Academy in this performance. They say that it is very significant that graduates who were unable to perform due to the COVID-19 pandemic are now able to perform at "Kanagawa Next."
Nakayama: I believe there is significance in people from Kanagawa performing locally. Currently, there are an increasing number of groups in Yokohama with members in their 20s and 30s, so I hope that our two groups, chosen as the first, can be a breakthrough and continue to lead the arts scene in Yokohama in the future.
Currently, I am primarily active in Tokyo and Yokohama, but I bring back new technologies and knowledge I gain in Tokyo and put them to use in Yokohama. I always work with the desire to give back to my local community in various ways.
I hope that by having works by theater companies based in Yokohama (Kanagawa) performed at "Kanagawa Next," we can help create a fertile ground for culture and art in Kanagawa, and that these works, presented in this way, can eventually become nationally recognized, allowing us to mutually inspire and improve each other.
From the 3rd theatrical performance, "Yokohama Yatarō ~Nostalgia Chapter~"
"You can change the story of your life." A gradient of reality and dreams woven from time and human relationships.
The nominated work is a revival of a performance that took place three years ago. The original performance was held during a time when the Japanese era name changed from Heisei to Reiwa, and the world situation changed dramatically due to the coronavirus, so it holds a special place in their hearts.
—What are the highlights of the play?
theater 045 syndicate: Rehearsal scene for "Farewell, Mr. Charlie"
This story is set in an old movie theater in the downtown area of Yokohama. Based on a single film being screened at the theater along the Ooka River in Isezaki-cho, the light and dark sides, dreams and reality, intertwine in a great wave. Amidst this chaos, various human dramas unfold.
One of the highlights is how reality and dreams intersect in the depiction of what's on this side and what's on the other side of the screen. It conveys the message that "you can change the story of your own life."
I'm sure that the view you see when you go down Momijizaka Hill after watching a play in Yokohama, a city where the past and future constantly intertwine, will be different from what you saw before the performance. I hope you'll then go to Chinatown or stroll through the streets of Noge and experience and enjoy the atmosphere and scents that Yokohama has to offer.
A family story that conveys the feeling of life through death and the message, "It's good to be alive."
Shinichiro Midori, head of the theater production company "Spiral Staircase"
Theater production "Spiral Staircase"
Formed in 2006 to perform theatrical productions based in Odawara, the group performs twice a year, in Odawara in the fall and Yokohama in the spring. They continue to create sweet, poignant, and emotionally resonant plays that explore themes of place, era, and satire.
Midori: We are a theater company based in Odawara, and we are now in our 16th year, performing in both Yokohama and Odawara. We are very honored that our achievements were recognized and that we were selected for "Kanagawa Next" Vol. 1. We hope to continue this initiative with Vol. 2, Vol. 3, and beyond.
From the 29th performance, "Dreaming in a Spinning Reclining 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 its shows about three times. She says that they can't let their guard down this time either, but they are taking thorough infection prevention measures and working hard in rehearsals so that the performance will be a success.
—What are the highlights of the play?
Theater production "Spiral Staircase": Rehearsal scene for "Lighting a Fire in Silence"
Midori: This story begins with Tomoaki Tohoku of Michinoku Confectionery, who sells the popular "Umineko Sable" cookies online, losing his life at a young age. At the 49th-day memorial service, friends and family members talk about the protagonist as they remember him.
The protagonist's character gradually emerges through episodes revealed in conversations with family and friends, and while it's entertaining and funny, there are also some touching moments in the middle, making it full of highlights. In a good way, I think you'll enjoy how it defies the storyline you might imagine from the flyer.
After watching the show, Midori recommends buying some shortbread cookies as a souvenir, inspired by the story of "Umineko Sable" that appears in the play, or enjoying some sightseeing in the surrounding area.
Both productions are said to be interesting and memorable, so I recommend both. Especially since this time there are two performances spanning Golden Week, why not go see both shows and enjoy a holiday filled with Yokohama's culture and arts?
