The 5th "Theater King" has been decided! Report on the short drama battle contest "Theater King Kanagawa V" & the winning theater company "Chiractors" and the executive committee chairman talk about the present and future of the 5th year

"The King of Drama Kanagawa V" Finals Report

This year marks the fifth time that "Gekiou Kanagawa" has been held, which is held under unique rules: "Performance time within 20 minutes," "No more than three actors," "Basic stage size is 3 x 4 bays (5.30m x 7.10m)," "Sets are only stationary props that can be changed in a few minutes," and "Winners in both the preliminary and final rounds are decided by votes from the audience and the judges." The preliminary round, which was held at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Multipurpose Plaza, was held from October 14th, with three blocks of four groups, and out of the total of 12 groups, the three top-placed groups from each block and one group with the most points from the second-place groups in each block (= wild card) advanced to the finals held on the 16th.

One of the attractions of this "Gekiou Kanagawa" is that the event is all managed and conducted by volunteers from each organization, giving it a handmade feel. The venue for the finals, packed with enthusiastic theater fans of all ages and genders, had the atmosphere of a small theater, with a quiet, passionate atmosphere.

The finals began at 2pm with a lighthearted opening ceremony hosted by Maruo Satoshi of "Office Project M: Theatre with the World." Following an introduction to the history and rules of the theatre contest "Gekioh," which began as a collaboration between Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, and the Tokai branch of the Japan Playwrights Association, the winner's prize, which has been passed down to successive playwrights who have won the Kanagawa Theatre King award, was introduced. The prize was an original Kanagawa-style sukajan jacket! The Gekioh Kanagawa sukajan jacket, produced by a famous shop on Yokosuka Dobuita Street, the birthplace of the jacket, is an authentic jacket embroidered with the Kanagawa Prefecture mark and the names of past Kanagawa Theatre Kings. Maruo's passionate introduction of the sukajan drew applause and laughter from the audience.

Satoshi Maruo

After the opening ceremony, the performances of each piece began. The first to appear was the 820 Factory Annex (Yokohama), winner of the preliminary round B block. Their piece, Under the Moonlight, is a dark and serious piece about three childhood friends, now in different positions and jobs, who sit around a campfire in a dark forest talking, revealing each of their mysterious pasts and unfortunate presents. The performance took my breath away with its insane acting and mysterious developments, where malice and good intentions intertwine.

820 Theater Factory Annex / Photo courtesy of Gekiou Kanagawa Executive Committee

Coming in second was Chili Reactors (Odawara), winner of the first place in the preliminary A block, with their piece Unknowingly. The title may suggest a serious image, but the main character (?) of this piece is actually a wisdom tooth! (Of course, it's that "tooth"!) A pop, speedy dialogue between a mother-complex man who is afraid to go to the dentist despite suffering from discomfort in his back teeth, and the source of the pain, the wisdom tooth, which keeps warning him, "If you don't pull it out now, it'll get rotten and you'll be in big trouble!" had the audience in a frenzy of laughter before they knew it.

Chi Reactors / Photo courtesy of Gekiou Kanagawa Executive Committee

The third act to appear was 21g-za (Hiyoshi), who came in second in the B block of the preliminary round and participated as a wildcard. 21g-za is a unit derived from a drama club at Keio University, and as they will be ceasing their activities in the future, this is their last chance to challenge for "Gekiou Kanagawa". In "Heisei Hyakki Yakou", which depicts a chase between a writer who doesn't meet a deadline and a female editor, they gave a passionate performance full of youthful energy.

21g Theatre / Photo courtesy of Gekiou Kanagawa Executive Committee

The final performance in the finals was by "Shaggy Head and Fluttering Glasses" (Yokohama), winners of the preliminary round Block C. The piece depicts a woman who is dedicated to dance, dancing wildly to complete a dance while talking to herself in the mirror, who speaks to another inner voice within her. The two actresses paired up and performed a full-scale dance performance, sometimes intertwining with each other, and the audience was drawn in by their serious acting.

Shaggy hair and flip-flop glasses / Photo courtesy of Gekiou Kanagawa Executive Committee

After the four performances had finished, the three judges for the final round - actor, voice actor, director, sound director, and representative of Shonan Teatro dell'Arte, Goda Hozumi, playwright, director, and leader of Minamoza, Setoyama Misaki, and actor and member of Rinkogun, Nakayama Mari, left the stage to cast their votes, and the audience also voted in the auditorium, waiting for the results to be tallied.

Before the results were announced, the judges each gave their comments. The playwrights from each group also appeared on stage. With serious expressions on their faces, they listened intently to the strict yet loving critiques and advice given to each of the judges for their plays.

After the comments, it was time to announce the results. As the scores of each judge for each group and the number of votes from the audience were written on the whiteboard in the center of the stage, cheers and murmurs of "Oh!" rose from the audience. And the final result was... "The Chi Reactors", who won by a large margin and received 76 points out of a total of 173 votes! As soon as the result was announced, writer and director Oshima Hiroshi, who played the role of the wisdom tooth in "Unknown", shed tears and gave a fist pump. He hugged and shook hands with the cast members Iketani Shun and Kimura Suzuka, and commented, "Thank you. After four years of participating and suffering, I'm glad that this year I was able to do what I love. I've been a member of the executive committee since last year, and before that I thought, "It's probably just a setup, isn't it?" But there's no contest that's run so fairly! I'll keep doing my best!" He put on a sukajan jacket as the fifth generation theater king, and the audience gave him a big round of applause.

Furthermore, judge Hozumi Goda commented, "I feel that the level is improving every year. The Chili Actors in particular were one with the audience. I think this is the power of theater." Misaki Setoyama also commented, "There were many wonderful works in the preliminary round. The audience's desire to liven up the event was palpable, and 'Gekiou Kanagawa' was the best." Finally, Tomofumi Nakayama, the executive committee chairman who directed the "820 Theater Factory Annex," called all the contestants onto the stage, and the winner, Oshima, concluded the event with a bang, saying, "If you want to become the 6th Gekiou Kanagawa, come to Odawara to get this Sukajan! Let's do it in Odawara next time!"

The King of Theater Kanagawa V came to a close with tears, laughter, enthusiasm and emotion. The winning group, Chili Actors, will represent Kanagawa Prefecture at the 2nd Kanagawa Kamome Short Play Festival , which will be held at the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater Large Studio from Thursday, March 2nd to Sunday, March 5th, 2017. The Kanagawa Kamome Short Play Festival is a short play festival in which 10 groups selected from all over the country and two groups invited from overseas compete by performing 20 minutes per group. If you missed the fresh laughter and theatrical power of "Unknown," be sure to come to the Kanagawa Kamome Short Play Festival.

Interview with "Chiriacters", winners of "Gekiou Kanagawa V"

--The Chili Actors have participated in "Gekiou Kanagawa II" for four consecutive years. They have finally won the title of the fifth "Gekiou Kanagawa". Congratulations.

Everyone : Thank you!!

From left: Oshima, Ikeya, and Kimura

--The recently announced "Shirazu no Uchi ni" is a delightful human comedy that weaves together the wisdom tooth played by Oshima, the wisdom tooth owner who hates dentists played by Iketani, and various supporting characters played by Kimura. I was also surprised right from the start by the humorous idea of anthropomorphizing the wisdom tooth. Why did you come up with this theme, Mr. Oshima, who wrote and directed the play?

Oshima : This year, I really did get my wisdom teeth removed. The dentist's knowledge that appeared in the film, and the detail of splitting a wisdom tooth that had grown sideways and become rotten in half to remove it, are all real experiences. What's more, the dentist also told me that I should get another tooth removed, which is also an ongoing true story. Of course, I haven't had that one removed yet either! (laughs)

Kimura : Just like in the play, you're constantly running away from difficulties (laughs).

-What did you two actors think when you received such a unique script?

Kimura : Up until now, whenever I've appeared on "Gekiou Kanagawa," there's been a lot of serious stories. Last year's "Touchable Type" and the one before that, "Shiranai, Shitanai, Mou..." were stories about life and death, so I was surprised at first. I said, "Is it okay to be this comical in the important 'Gekiou'? Are you serious?" (laughs).

Iketani : When I first heard the story, I thought, "Teeth?" and was really surprised (laughs). But when the script was finished, it seemed like a fun story to act in, so I was excited to start practicing.

Oshima : Last year, I made it to the finals for the first time, but I was disappointed that I didn't win, so this year I thought it would be my last, and I decided to try a comedy that would be 100% funny, thinking, "I don't care if people call it a skit, but I'll do what I like and have fun with the audience." Even during rehearsals, I consulted with other members of the troupe to brush up on the script, so I think "Unknown" was made by all of the troupe members working together.

Iketani : ...This might be the first time I've seen Oshima express such sincere gratitude to the troupe members (bitter smile).

--The audience was laughing throughout the finals, so did you feel like you had a good chance from the preliminaries?

Oshima : Yes, there was. But during the preliminary round, Setoyama-san told me that it would be better to have a scene with the three of us, including Kimura, in addition to the scene with Ikeya and me. Until last year, I had a strange pride in myself and never agreed with the preliminary round's comments, but this time, for the first time, I thought, "That's right!" and I stayed up until the early hours of the morning on the day of the final round, rewriting the script.

--That must have been difficult. Since the rules for "Gekiou Kanagawa" are so detailed, such as the performance time and the number of performers, it requires a different awareness and sensibility than a regular performance, right?

Kimura : That's right. I don't usually have a chance to do a 20-minute play, so it's fun to lead the show with my acting.

Iketani : In a normal 60- or 90-minute play, there are some parts that you can't see through. Because "Gekiou Kanagawa" is short, it's fun for me as an actor to work on the details more and more with each rehearsal.

Oshima : As a writer, I think it's easier to write if there are restrictions. Because I can change it drastically at my own discretion. However... it's so profound that it's difficult to know how to express it. In that sense, I think it was good that I focused on making a play that would make people laugh for 20 minutes. As an actor, there is a lot more that isn't depicted about the character in a 20-minute play, so it's difficult to use your imagination more than in a normal play.

--And with this "Unknown" you will be representing Kanagawa at the "Kanagawa Kamome Short Play Festival" in March next year. How do you want to compete next time?

Kimura : To be honest, it hasn't really dawned on me yet... (laughs bitterly). However, in the last Kanagawa Kamome Short Play Festival, I was on stage as an MC, but I wasn't able to perform as an actor, so I'm really, really happy!

Oshima : It seems like you've just realized it (laughs).

Iketani : From here on, we will continue practicing towards next year, so I want to keep working hard, never forgetting my original intention of "making a performance that will entertain the audience."

Oshima : Next up is the large studio at KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, so the stage is spacious. I think we'll need to work on things like using sketchbooks for a larger stage. In terms of content, I'd like to make adjustments to enhance the drama by emphasizing the part that was pointed out in the final's comments... the fear of having your wisdom teeth removed. I also hope to be able to deliver a simpler, more physical laugh. I'd be happy if this leads to more people coming to see our plays, so I'd like to work hard to make "Unknown" the Chili Reactors' signature work! (laughs)

Interview with Tomofumi Nakayama (theater 045 syndicate), Executive Committee Chairman of "Gekiou Kanagawa"

-First of all, what do you think looking back on "Theater King Kanagawa V", where a new theater king was born?

Nakayama : The origins of "Gekiou Kanagawa" began in 2012 when Norihiko Tsukuda of the Tokai branch of the Japan Playwrights Association, the creator of "Gekiou" which was held in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, asked us to hold it in Kanagawa. At that time, Mr. Tsukuda said, "It is nonsense to rank plays by score, and there is no superiority or inferiority between works. But if we continue five times, we will surely develop young writers who can win awards."

Mr. Tomofumi Nakayama

--The fifth event has finally arrived this year.

Nakayama : That's right. So what I thought was the best thing about this time was that the audience was watching the play with a very neutral attitude. After five years of running, the unique way of enjoying "Gekiou" and the system have become established among both the audience and the creators. I think that was also reflected in the attendance results, which recorded a full house for the first time this year.

--As Gekiou Kanagawa has taken root in the local community, has there been any change in the theater scene in Kanagawa?

Nakayama : Yes, there is. In fact, as we have continued, more and more young people have joined, and the exchange between theater companies has increased, which is one of the changes brought about by "Gekiou Kanagawa". As one of the participants active in Yokohama, I have received the title of the first and second generation Gekiou Kanagawa, but this year's winner, Oshima-kun, is based in Odawara. If it weren't for this event, we would not have had the opportunity to meet. Deepening regional exchange, especially among the younger generation, is a good thing for the future of Kanagawa theater. We can expect this to lead to developments such as theater companies from different areas performing together in the future.

--The judges' comments also mentioned that the level of the competition is improving every year, but what do you think about the content?

Nakayama : As Hozumi Goda said on stage, the performance system of "Gekiou" has many restrictions, so there is a certain way to fight. In that sense, the participating groups have been able to put in a lot of effort for this event and show their individuality. I think that is what led to the results of Chiriactors and Oshima-kun this time.

-Mr. Nakayama, you have served as an executive committee member for five years. How would you like to see Gekiou Kanagawa develop in the future?

Nakayama : In his closing remarks, Oshima-kun said, "If you want to become the 6th Drama King, come to Odawara to get your Sukajan jacket." Since the event has always been held in Yokohama up until now, I think it would be interesting to hold it in various cities in Kanagawa Prefecture, such as Odawara, Sagamihara, and Atsugi. Personally, I'd love to see it in Hakone. A drama contest using the banquet hall of a hot spring hotel sounds like fun, doesn't it? (laughs)

--That's new!

Nakayama : After five years of "Gekiou Kanagawa", I want to try new things. I also think it would be good if the executive committee that our generation has been running could be run by Oshima-kun's generation in their mid-20s. It's a handmade event, so we don't have any money (laughs), but as a sign of respect for the original "Gekiou", I want to always cherish the feeling that it's an event that we're making.

--As the first and second generation theater king, Nakayama-san, you would also like this event to continue in the future.

Nakayama : Of course. Unfortunately, this time, "Under the Moonlight," which I was involved in directing, did not win, but I would like to reclaim my position as the King of Theater soon (laughs). As a theater fan, I think "Gekiou Kanagawa" is a very interesting event. It can be enjoyed as a showcase for a variety of groups with a wide variety of genres, so I hope that this will encourage people to go see the performances of various theater companies and writers, and liven up the Kanagawa theater scene. There are changes even for the same play in the finals and preliminary rounds, so next time I hope you will come and see the preliminary rounds.