Kaso Jogi (Theater Company)

Kaso Jogi (仮想定規), which translates in English to "Virtual Ruler," is a theater company company based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 2016 by Japanese theater director, Saori Aoki. Kaso Jogi creates original musicals, which blend traditional aspects of Japanese culture with elements of musical theater. Their style is somewhat experimental, encouraging actors to take risks and break the rules of western theater. Saori Aoki has said that her goal is to have her musicals preformed internationally as much as possible. 
== Members ==
==== Saori Aoki (Founder and Director) ====
Saori Aoki was born in Kitakyushu Japan in 1970. She previously belonged to another theater company, Ryuzanji Company, from 1990 to 2014, but left to start Kaso Jogi. In addition to directing most of the works at Kaso Jogi, she is also in charge of the art direction, design, makeup, and choreography for the works she directs. She states that her specialization is in making music that comes from the bodies of the Actors.
==== Makoto Honda (Composer and Music Director) ====
Makoto Honda was born in Tokyo in 1967. In his productions, he often plays music directly on stage, and will incorporate traditional japanese instruments, and unique handmade instruments into these performances. 
==== Claire Tanaka (Translator) ====
Claire Tanaka was born British in Columbia, Canada, and is responsible for interpreting and translating Kaso Jogi’s plays into English. In order to be as accessible as possible, Kaso Jogi tries to have English subtitles for all their performances, even in Japan. They also did a performance fully in English at the University of New Hampshire in February of 2020. 
==== ROMA (Lighting Designer) ====
==== Yoko Takeuchi (Costume Designer) ====
== Productions ==
=== Japan ===
==== Tokyo ====
* November 23 -20, 2016: Virtual Ruler at Nakano Studio Actre
* August 10-13, 2017: The Gate at the Arena Shimokitazawa
* December 14-17, 2017: The Gate at Wakabacho Wharf
* January 18-20, 2019: Yaminabe Concert at Stage Cafe Shimokitazawatei
* October 30 - November 4, 2019: After Ever Happily Ever After at Stage cafe Shimokitazawatei
==== Senmaya ====
* November 27 2019: After Ever Happily Ever After at Senmaya Elementary School
=== UK ===
==== Scotland ====
* August 23-28, 2017: The Gate at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
* August 2-11, 2018: The Gate at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
=== USA ===
==== New Hampshire ====
* February 19 - 23, 2020: The Gate at Johnson Theatre (UNH)
==== New York ====
* March 4-8, 2020: After Ever Happily Ever After at HERE Arts Center
== Original Musicals ==
=== The Gate ===
The Gate is a black comedy musical that explores Japanese views of the world and the afterlife. It tells the story of several spirits who are stuck at the gate between life and death as they try to let go of unfinished business in the mortal world and move on. Kaso Jogi performed The Gate twice at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, in the summer of 2017 and 2018, and once in February of 2020 at the University of New Hampshire. The performances at Edinburgh Fringe were in Japanese with English subtitles, and the one in New Hampshire was translated completely into English, and performed by students at the University.
=== After Ever Happily Ever After ===
After Ever Happily Ever After is a dark comedy musical that tells the stories of traditional fairy tale characters, once their fairy tales are over and they’re grown up. In early March of 2020, they performed this musical in Japanese at HERE Arts Center in NYC. To encourage as many people as possible to come, admission was free. 
==In the media==
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== References ==
==External links==
* Kaso Jogi twitter page
* Kaso Jogi - Alamy
* The Gate - Edinburgh Festival - The List
* Kaso Jogi (Japan) - CtheFestival.com
* Kaso Jogi - LINE STORE
* Here and There: Calendar: Japan Society
Category:Theatre companies
Category:Theatre companies in Japan
Category:Companies established in 2016
Category:Musical theatre