Japan’s largest theater and dance event, Festival/Tokyo, has announced details of its 2015 edition, including this year’s theme – “Border Fusion.” Often abbreviated to F/T, the festival is staging its eighth edition from October 31 to December 6, with a line-up of contemporary performing arts performances from international and domestic artists, held at a variety of venues across the city, indoor and outdoor.The “Border Fusion” theme is aimed at straddling the boundaries between countries and artistic categories, as well as the border between artist and viewer. According to F/T, “Globalization continues to accelerate and we live within this turmoil. And yet, the existing frameworks, as represented by the nation state, still obstinately retain their influence in politics, economics and culture. People, resources and information are enclosed within the territories surrounded by borders and the powers attempting to control these remain strong. Needless to say, art too struggles to exist within this.”The festival this year will include a host of satellite events such as screenings, talks, and lectures, at venues including the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Owlspot Theater, Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory, Asahi Art Square, Saitama Arts Theater and Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park.With a main program including many co-productions between Japanese and overseas artists, a large body of work will be presented that is inspired by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima disaster. One such work, which will open the festival on October 31, will be “Festival Fukushima! @Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park” by Project Fukushima! + Seinoshin Yamagishi.The project opened the same festival last year with a giant colorful sheet laid out on the ground of the park, upon which various free folk culture, music, and dance were performed. This year, the collective promises special Bon dancers donning vibrant costumes, and a new Bon dance song of Ikebukuro-inspired lyrics.Elsewhere, “Blue Tarp” by Norimizu Ameya will be performed on November 14th – November 15th and December 4th – December 6th at the former Toshima City 10th Junior High School. Described as “a story of trauma and hope, told by Fukushima high school students,” it was developed by 10 students from Fukushima Prefectural Iwaki Sogo Senior High School in 2013. When first performed in the grounds of their school inside a temporary structure, the destruction from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami was still visible behind the stage. It was awarded Japan’s top drama prize in 2013.The main program at F/T features 12 productions in all, including pieces by Spain’s Angélica Liddell, and Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, one of the leading playhouses in Europe. The Asia Series section will focus on Myanmar with three showcase pieces from artists from the country. And an additional 18 productions will be staged as part of F/T’s Affiliated Program.“International interest in Tokyo continues to grow ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Against this backdrop, Toshima City is also aspiring to be a safe and energetic community as an international artistic city,” said Yukio Takano, Festival/Tokyo Honorary President of the Executive Committee and Mayor of Toshima City.“Through the previous seven festivals, F/T has established itself as a theater festival that creates new artistic values and presents them to global audiences. At F/T15, the eighth festival, the lineup features a wide range of works that transcend nationality, generation and genre. Project Fukushima! [will] join with local businesses and partners to create an exciting opening event. We are working to raise the appeal of Ikebukuro as a theatre district through this international festival and build a theatre city for everyone,” Takano added.
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