ITI Japanese Centre has been issuing "Theatre Yearbook" in both Japanese and
English language, which delivers trends and activities of theatre around the Globe
to Japanese readers, for the past 39 years. In addition to this annual publication,
since 2009 we have launched hosting "Theatre Born in Conflict Zones" as special
project, which includes introducing scripts and conveying lectures by experts, and
has been creating a meeting place for directors, actors, theatre critics, theatre
administrators, and audience.

Through integrating theatre activities with various social and political events, and
through heightening critical power of theatre, we intend to raise the awareness of
theatre professional and to foster the power of critical thinking.

To pursue these objectives, in the fiscal 2011, we took up "Ngapartji Ngapratji"
from Australia, in addition to two other plays from China and Cameroon. The play
was about Aborigines who were irradiated by a long term nuclear tests by UK in
Australia in 1950s, utilizing their traditional storytelling styles. It clarified
continuous problems associated with irradiation, which has been concealed from
the history.

 

The theme for this year in December 2012, we are planning to undertake 3 plays
including "Dritte Generation"(Israel, Palestine, Germany), which was performed in
Schaubuehne Berlin. It will consist of drama rehearsed reading and a series of
lectures with guests from abroad. The project is totally non-profit activity with
objective of research and studying, and will be held in an alternative small space
which enables two-way communication.