Introduction

Stimulated by the distinctive power of the performing arts and the abundant imagination of the artists, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture launches a new performing arts festival, the Festival/Tokyo, together with the Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee (Toshima City, Toshima Future Cultural Foundation and NPO Arts Network Japan), as part of the Tokyo Culture Creation Project, a platform for strong communication and “real” experiences.

The first Festival/Tokyo will be held from February 26 to March 29 in three main venues in the Ikebukuro and Toshima area, namely the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Owlspot Theater and the Nishi-Sugamo Art Factory. We bring you 19 of the most cutting-edge performances from Japan and abroad, adding to a total of 130 stage performances. 9 of these are new creations, and 6 works are produced or co-produced by Festival/Tokyo.

Various other projects are scheduled in addition to the performances. In the Nishiguchi Park at the west exit of Ikebukuro station an informal place of exchange will be created as an F/T station will be installed in cooperation with the locals. Adding to the many symposiums and talk sessions that will also take place under the festival, this will contribute to make the festival a very special time shared by all the participants.

With the effort of our contemporary artists and everyone involved, we seek to pioneer a new era of performing arts through the inauguration of our festival. With its new values and creations in hand, Festival/Tokyo will break new grounds as it launches from the international city of Tokyo to the world.

Festival/Tokyo organizers

The Tokyo Culture Creation Project

The Tokyo Culture Creation Project aims to create and transmit the distinctive art forms and culture of Tokyo and educate children through introducing them to the arts and culture. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, in collaboration with various arts organizations, provide cultural events in various areas, including theater, music, traditional performing arts, and fine arts. Tokyo has been approved its candidacy to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics. This provides us with an opportunity to make it known, both at home and abroad, that Tokyo is a “city for the creation of art and culture” through creating and promoting the products. We hope you will join us in the Tokyo Culture Creation Project to experience and create Tokyo culture.

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