Kanagawa Next Vol.1 A theater festival born in the hope of developing 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 that performing arts in Kanagawa will continue to grow in prosperity into 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, Mr. Charlie," set in a run-down movie theater along the Ooka River in the port city of Yokohama, and the theatrical 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 following the death of the son of a Michinoku confectionery owner.
So this time, we spoke to Nakayama and Midori, the leaders of the group, about their aspirations after being selected as "Kanagawa Next" and the highlights of the performance.
Making "Kanagawa Next" a breakthrough for the development and dissemination of culture and art in Yokohama
Theater 045 Syndicate Director: Tomofumi Nakayama
theater 045 syndicate
This theater unit is led by Nakayama Tomofumi and actors Imai Katsunori 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, often collaborating with groups active in Kanagawa and creating a forum for interaction between groups active in 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 truly happy that our first project for "Kanagawa Next" was praised for both our ability and content. Atsuhiro Hadano, who wrote the script, is also a fellow veteran and heads his own theater company, Gekidan 820 Seisakusho, so we are delighted to be able to work with him this time.
Apparently, there are about three graduates of the Magcal Performing Arts Academy in this performance. He says it is significant that graduates who were unable to perform due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now perform at "Kanagawa Next."
Nakayama: I think it's meaningful for people from Kanagawa to perform in their hometown. There are now an increasing number of groups in Yokohama made up of people in their 20s and 30s, so I hope that our two groups, selected as the first in the series, will be a breakthrough and continue to lead the Yokohama arts scene.
Currently, I am mainly active in Tokyo and Yokohama, but I try to bring back the new techniques and knowledge I gain in Tokyo and put them to good use in Yokohama. I always work with the desire to give back to my hometown.
By having works by theater companies active in Yokohama (Kanagawa) performed at Kanagawa Next, we hope to help 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 Edition"
"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 name changed from Heisei to Reiwa and the world situation was changing dramatically due to COVID-19, so it is said to be a very emotional experience.
-What are the highlights of the play?
theater 045 syndicate: Rehearsal scene from "Farewell, Mr. Charlie"
The story is set in an old movie theater in downtown Yokohama. Based on a film being screened at a theater along the Ooka River in Isezakicho, the story unfolds as a huge wave of intertwining between the public and private, dreams and reality. Amidst this chaos, various human dramas unfold.
One of the highlights of the film is the way reality and dreams intersect, 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 constantly coexist, 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 then go to Chinatown or stroll through the streets of Noge, experiencing the air and smells of Yokohama and enjoy it.
A family story that conveys the joy of being alive through death
Theatrical production "Spiral Staircase" by Shinichiro Midori
Theater production "Spiral Staircase"
The group was formed in 2006 to perform theater based in Odawara. They perform twice a year, in autumn in Odawara and spring in Yokohama. They continue to create sweet, sad, and tear-jerking plays that explore the locale, era, and satire.
Midori: We are a theater company based in Odawara, active in both Yokohama and Odawara, and this year marks our 16th year. We feel very honored that our achievements were recognized and selected for Vol. 1 of "Kanagawa Next." We hope to continue this initiative with Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.
From the 29th performance "Dreaming on a Rotating Chair"
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many theater companies have been forced to postpone or cancel performances, and Midori says that her production of the play "Spiral Staircase" has had to be postponed three times. While they remain vigilant this time around, they are taking thorough precautions to prevent infection and are working hard at rehearsals to ensure the performance 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 young death of Tohoku Tomoaki, the founder of Michinoku Confectionery, which sells the popular online Umineko Sable cookies. At the 49th-day memorial service, friends and family members remember the deceased and talk about the protagonist's life.
The main character's character emerges through episodes revealed in conversations with family and friends, 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 having the plot betrayed, in a way that's contrary to what you might imagine 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, or enjoying sightseeing in the surrounding area.
Both performances by the two groups are highly recommended as they are both entertaining and memorable plays. 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?
