The Saison Foundation
2022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs(as of April 2022)
Contact: The Saison Foundation
4F Kyobashi Yamamoto Bldg
3-12-7 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3535 Fax:+81 3 3535 5565
foundation@saison.or.jp
https://www.saison.or.jp/

TOKYO (April 2022) – The Saison Foundation* of Tokyo, Japan, announces grants totaling
65,000,000JPY awarded to the following thirty-nine individuals and organizations, in addition
to its Independently Organized and Co-Organized programs. All grants are for activities taking
place between April 2022 and March 2023.
Please note the information listed below is based on applications as of January 27, 2022, and is subject to change without notice.

1. Direct Support to Artists① Contemporary Theater and Dance: Saison Fellows I / II

(25 Recipients / 40,000,000JPY)

Saison Fellows I

two-year grant 1,000,000JPY each per year
Newly Selected First-Time Grantees (for fiscal 2022 and 2023)
Kentaro Otsuka (theater)
https://gekidanawai.com/
A Tokyo-based playwright and director of gekidan awai established in 2017.

Ayaka Nakama (dance)
https://ayakanakama.wixsite.com/official
A Hyogo-based dancer creating multi-disciplinary works including dance, theater, and performance art.

Reisa Shimojima (dance)
https://www.kedagoro.com/blank
A Tokyo-based dancer and choreographer who founded kedagoro in 2013.

Masamitsu Araki （performance）
https://www.masamitsuaraki.com/
A Kyoto-based Artist and sound designer who constructs unique soundscapes based on acoustic

experiences and fieldwork.
Jang-Chi (performance)
https://olta.jp/
A Tokyo-based director and producer of OLTA, an artist collective formed in 2009, who develops physicalexpression from collective archiving and images.

Romance Hashimoto (performance)
http://pumpmgmt.tokyo/artist/hashimoto-romance/
A Tokyo-based choreographer and director. Utilizes pop /street culture within her work.

Newly Selected Second-Time Grantees (for fiscal 2022 and 2023)
Shinichi Anasako (theater)
http://buru-egonaku.com/
Director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Egonaku based in the city of Kitakyushu inFukuoka Prefecture. S/He received a grant under the Saison Fellows I program in 2020-21.
Yuta Hagiwara (theater)
https://www.kamomemachine.com/
A Tokyo-based Director who founded Kamome Machine in 2007. S/He received a grant under the Saison
Fellows I program in 2019-20.
*The Saison Foundation was established in July 1987 by its founder and president, Seiji Tsutsumi (1927–2013), and supports activities involving contemporary Japanesetheater and dance by awarding grants and priority use of its studio facilities and guest rooms in Tokyo to professional, private, and nonprofit individuals/organizations
working in these fields. The Foundation owns Morishita Studio—a facility comprising two buildings with four studios and three guest rooms in Tokyo—which award
recipients may rent at minimal rates for rehearsals, workshops, creative work projects, symposia, lectures, and residencies.

2022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs

Koichiro Tamura (dance)
https://danceprojectrevo.wixsite.com/dance-project-revo/profile
Choreographer and dancer based in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kobe who established DANCE PJ REVO in
2011. S/He received a grant under the Saison Fellows I program in 2020-21.
Second-Time Continuing Grantees (for fiscal 2021 and 2022)
Midori Kurata (dance)
https://akakilike.jimdofree.com
A Kyoto-based director, choreographer, dancer, and founder of the dance company akakilike.
S/He received a grant under the Saison Fellows I program in 2019-20.
Shuntaro Matsubara (theater)
http://matsubarashuntaro.com/
A Kyoto-based playwright and novelist. Works with various theater directors and musicians. S/He received
a grant under the Saison Fellows I program in 2019-20.
Continuing Grantees (for fiscal 2021 and 2022)
Masashi Nukata (theater)
http://www.nukata.tokyo https://nuthmique.com
A Tokyo and Kanagawa-based director and composer who established Nuthmique in 2016.

Nagara Wada (theater)
http://shitatame.blogspot.jp
A Kyoto-based director who founded shitatame in 2011 who collaborates with artists from other fields such as
visual art, photography, and music.

Ayano Yokoyama (dance)
http://yokoyamanaa.com
A Tokyo-based choreographer and dancer, who launched the female dance company lal banshees in 2016.

Akira Nakazawa (performance)
http://spacenotblank.com
A Tokyo-based theater artist, director, choreographer, and performer who founded Spacenotblank with Ayaka
Ono in 2012.

Saison Fellows II

2,500,000JPY per year
Newly Selected Grantee (for fiscal 2022 to 2024)
Yudai Kamisato (theater)
https://okazaki-art-theatre.com/en/
A Tokyo based playwright and director of Okazaki Art Theatre, founded in 2003. S/He received a grant
under the Junior Fellows program in 2016-17, 2018-19.
Kenichi Tani (theatre)
https://www.dcpop.org/
A Tokyo based Playwright, Translator and Director of DULL-COLORED POP, founded in 2005. S/He
received a grant under the Junior Fellows program in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16.
Suguru Yamamoto (theater)
https://www.hanchuyuei2017.com
A Tokyo- and Kanagawa-based playwright and director, who founded the theater company HANCHU-YUEI.
S/He received a grant under the Junior Fellows program in 2015-16, 2017-18 and Saison Fellows I
program in 2020-21.
Pijin Neji (dance)neji&co.WEB (nejiandco.com)
A Kyoto-based dancer, choreographer who recently founded his own company neji&co. in 2020. S/He
received a grant under the Junior Fellows program in 2015-16.

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2022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized ProgramsContinuing Grants(for fiscal 2021 to 2023)
Kaori Seki (dance)
2,500,000JPY per year
http://www.kaoriseki.info/enA Tokyo-based choreographer and dancer, who founded KAORI SEKI Co. PUNCTUMUN in 2013. S/He
received a grant under the Junior Fellows program in 2014–15 and 2016–17.
Takuro Suzuki (dance)
http://chairoiplin.net/videos.html
A Tokyo-based choreographer and director, who formed CHAiroiPLIN in 2007. S/He received a grant
under the Junior Fellows program in 2016–17 and 2018–19.
(for fiscal 2021 to 2024)
Megumi Kamimura (dance)
2,000,000JPY per year
http://kamimuramegumi.info
A Tokyo-based choreographer and dancer. Director of Kamimura Kikaku and forms several art collectives.
Ruri Mito (dance)
http://rurimito.com
A Tokyo-based director, choreographer and founder of Co. Ruri Mito.

(for fiscal 2020 to 2022)
3,000,000JPY per year

(for fiscal 2020 to 2023)
2,000,000JPY per year

Masako Yasumoto (dance)
http://yasumotomasako.net
A Tokyo-based director and choreographer.

(for fiscal 2019 to 2022)
3,000,000JPY per year

Tetsuya Umeda (performance)
https://www.siranami.com
A Osaka-based performance artist.

② Contemporary Theater and Dance: Sabbatical Program[I Recipient / 1,000,000 JPY]
This program awards fellowships up to 1,000,000JPY to individual artists who wish to travel abroad andexperience intercultural encounters. Applicants must have: (a) a working base in Japan; (b) more than ten
years of professional working experience in one of the following occupations: playwriting, directing, orchoreography; and (c) plans to travel abroad for more than one month.

Yoji Sakate (theatre): to support a sabbatical by the playwright and director of Rinkogun who will travel tothe United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Indonesia, from April to May 2022.

32022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs

2. Partnership Programs
This category includes programs in which The Saison Foundation provides up to three years of support
to individuals and organizations whose aims are to improve the infrastructure of contemporary
performing arts in Japan or to conduct international exchange projects and thus enhance the visibility ofJapanese performing arts around the world.
① Contemporary Theater and Dance: Creative Environment Innovation Program
Grants and studio/guestroom awards are given to individuals and organizations conducting projects aimed at
improving the infrastructure of contemporary performing arts in Japan.
(5 Recipients / 8,000,000JPY)

Organization / Representative
The Smaller Theatre Initiative / Masashi Nomura
A Project to create creative environment in the regions in collaboration with local smaller
theaters.
https://shogekijo-network.jp

Japan2,000,000JPY
Support for Startup Projects: from 2021
Open Network for Performing Arts Management (ON-PAM) / Mariko Tsukaguchi
Lecture Series on Sustainable creative environments of Performing Arts 2022 (tentative title)
http://onpam.net

This is a year-long series of lectures offering participants the opportunity to learn about foundational
knowledge and thinking in relation to contracts in the inaugural year.
Online 1,000,000JPY
Pacific Basin Arts Communications / Hiromi Maruoka
YPAM Fringe: Establishment and Actualization of “Fringe Society” and “Fringe Center”
https://ypam.jp/
This five-year project will reorganize the current TPAM Fringe into a festival capable of running by itself.
The project aims to spread recognition of the fringe festival both nationally and internationally.
2,000,000JPY
Support for Startup Projects: from 2020
Tatsuya Ogino
Performing Arts Experience Gift Ticket Scheme
http://fringe.jp/gift/This grant supports the Performing Arts Gifting Project, which aims to expand audiences. In order to create
opportunities to attract even people without particular interests in the performing arts, the project hasestablished a gift ticket scheme for people to give tickets to others.
1,000,000JPY
Toshiki Kamiya
Haisen Work Space and Rehearsal Studio Renovation Project
https://haisen8100.tumblr.com
This grant supports the ongoing preparations at HAISEN, a facility in the city of Otsu, Shiga Prefecture,that anyone can use as a professional-standard rehearsal and work space, as well as stay overnight.
1,000,000JPY

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2022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs② Contemporary Theater and Dance: International Project Support ProgramThis program is designed to support long-term international projects in which contemporary Japanesetheater or dance artists/companies are involved for more than two years until completion.
(5 Recipients / 5,500,000JPY with Studio and Guest Room use at Morishita Studio)
Newly Selected Grants
The Crossing Text: Between Mystery and Mystical (theater)
Theatre Company shelf and Jakarta based Lab Teater Ciputat will collaboratively work on a project inwhich literary texts from each other’s countries 『Rintrik』 『卒塔婆小町(SOTOBA KOMACHI)』are firsttransformed into plays, and create a new single piece in the second year while intersecting thecultural backgrounds of Indonesia and Japan.
Online, Tokyo, Jakarta
1,000,000JPY with Studio and Guest Room Awards at Morishita Studio
Research and Creation: RUWATAN and MAYOKE (theater)
Theater Director Chiharu Shinoda and dance dramaturg/curator Nia Agustina and other collaborative
members will conduct a research project together with Minomartani that will be followed by a theater
production.
Online, Kyoto, Yogyakarta

1,000,000JPY with Studio and Guest Room Awards at Morishita Studio
Engeki Quest Southern Africa Project (theater)orangcosong is an art collective founded in 2019 by Chikara Fujiwara and Minori Sumiyoshiyama incollaboration with The National Arts Festival and local partners in Makhanda and other locations.
Makhanda, Dar es Salaam
1,000,000JPY
Continuing Grants
Tabaimo Theater Project / Tabaimo (performance)
Visual artist Tabaimo and juggling artist and dancer Jörg Müller collaboratively developed a newproduction in their respective locations of Japan and France, with the intent of touring the finished work
to France. The work explores the theme of fear.
Toyama, Tokyo, Yamaguchi, Okinawa (Japan) and France
1,500,000JPY
Wayla Amatathammachad (theater)
Parallel Normalities: Empowering regional cities with performing arts
This is the second year of a three-year project. In the Thai province of Loei and the Japanese city ofShizuoka, the Thai arts manager Wayla Amatathammachad and Japanese playwright Natsuki Ishigami aredeveloping a for a theater venue as an extension of people’s lives while interacting with local people andthe land.
April-November, 2022
Shizuoka(Japan), Loei (Thailand)
1,000,000JPY5

2022 Grant Awards
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs③

Artistic Exchange Project Grant Program (designated fund program)Grants and other awards are given to activities and projects by non-profit organizations outside ofJapan that have an ongoing relationship with The Saison Foundation with the aim of making Japaneseculture and art known in their respective countries and areas. (Applications to this program are notpublicly invited.)

Asian Cultural Council (ACC)
To support the thiry-third year of the Japan Program of the Asian Cultural Council, headquartered in New York
City, which includes fellowship awards to Japanese artists, scholars, and experts who wish to do creative work,
research, or study in the U.S., and their American counterparts coming to Japan. (6,000,000JPY with Studioand Guest Room Awards at Morishita Studio)

Japan Society, Inc. (New York)This grant supports the second year of another three-year series of the Japan Society’s Play Reading
Series: Contemporary Japanese Plays in English Translation that began in 2005. The 2022 grant will
support the staged reading of a play written by Yuri Yamada, translated into English and directed by an
American theater artist. (500,000JPY)
3. Contribution Program:Research Grants for Activating the Next Generation of Artistic Creativity
This grant program was launched 2020. It supports research and survey activities aiming to propose
policies for activating the next generation of artistic creativity.
(1 Recipient / 500,000JPY)
Takao Terui
Recommendation for the extending use of cultural crowdfunding in Japan
4. Contemporary Theater and Dance:
Flight Grant (open only to applicants based in Japan)
This program supports those in immediate need for outbound travel funds from Japan to abroad.
(3,500,000JPY)
NOTE Artists based in Japan are eligible to apply to this program through our website in Japanese.

The Saison Foundation
Independently Organized and Co-Organized Programs 2022
As part of its work to support and enhance creative development for contemporary theater and dance andto boost the performing arts scene in Japan, The Saison Foundation also independently organizes and coorganizes programs and projects with not-for-profit organizations.
Saison Artist in Residence (AIR)Residency exchange program with international partners
This program offers residency and research opportunities in Japan to artist-in-residence (AIR)organizations and other art-related establishments based outside of Japan, whom we expect to become
our international partners inviting Japanese artists to their residency programs and sending artists to The
Saison Foundation’s residency program in the future.

For more information, please see the following link,
Saison Artist in Residence
https://www.saison.or.jp/en/air＃＃＃6