CV
Shoko Ito
Playwright, actor, theater and film director
Performed in over 40 years in 85 countries.
(Note: Unless otherwise noted, all theater productions are written, directed and performed by Shoko Ito)
1986: Founded the theater company ITO-GUMI.
Began creating manga and stories from an early age.
1969-1976: Received 6th dan in calligraphy from the Shogenkai.
1976-1982: Received Sogetsu-ryu flower arrangement master's degree.
1982: Studied under Japanese painter Matazo Kayama.
1983: Debuted as an actor in "Golden Triangle," the opening of the Tama Art University graduate school Angel's Temptation House. (Tokyo)
1986: Founded ITO-GUMI and became its representative. Graduated from the Department of Japanese Painting at Tama Art University in the same year.
1987: Studied under contemporary dancer Saburo Teshigawara.
1991-92: World's first mapping theater performance, performed continuously for one year, and achieved a performance in the front garden of the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris (provided by Sharp Corporation).
1992: Performed "Ame Musume ~ Yoko, la fille de la pluie" at the Japanese Embassy in Paris, sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in France.
Performed continuously for one month at the Theater des Mathurins in Paris, France.
Performed continuously for two months at the long-established Theater de la O'bec in Paris, France.
2001: Performed at the Edinburgh Theater Festival as part of "Japan 2001" invited by the Japanese Embassy in the UK, and performed "Onna Nobunaga" by Shoko Ito at THE STAGE in the UK, which won great acclaim.
2001-04: Exchange with German dancer Pina Bausch. (Tokyo, Japan)
2012: "A Geisha Samurai" performed at the Avignon International Theater Festival (Avignon, France)
2013: "Onna Nobunaga" performed at Kinokuniya Hall, Tokyo, sponsored by Kinokuniya Hall and Tokyo Ginga-do.
Shoko Ito's short film "MOMENTUM" (directed by Boris Seewald),
selected for 100 film festivals around the world and won 10 film festival awards.
http://www.borisseewald.de/portfolio/momentum
2014: "Master Shoko and Margarita" (collaboration with choreographer Kei Takei) performed at Shinjuku Bunka Center, Tokyo.
2015: Performance at the Delhi Japan Foundation Building, sponsored by the Delhi Japan Foundation, India.
Performed at the Edinburgh International Theater Festival, UK.
2016: Performance in Kathmandu, Nepal, sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Japan and Theater Village.
"Samurai Grandma" performed at the Japan Foundation Building in Delhi, New Delhi, in cooperation with the Japan Foundation.
"Samurai Grandma" performed at the Marian Theatre in Yerevan, Armenia, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Armenia.
Invited performance to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia and performed at the Lolly International Theater Festival in the Republic of Armenia, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Armenia. "Samurai Grandma" won the Ars Voskanian Award.
2017: Performance sponsored by the Consulate in Mumbai, India. "Samurai Grandma" performed at the Japan Festival in Ahmedabad, India.
Invited performance at "BUNKASAI" in Mumbai, India. Performance sponsored by the Japanese Consulate in Mumbai. Ambassador Ito attended and praised the performance.
Performance and workshop "Samurai Grandma" for the 50th anniversary of Japan-Maldives diplomacy commemoration project sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives and invited by Maldives National University, sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka and invited by University of Kelaniya (Colombo, Sri Lanka).
2018 "Samurai Grandma" performance and workshop sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Ireland, Dublin City University, Ireland.
Performance of "Master Shoko and Margarita" at NTV and Kunja Theater, sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Nepal and Theater Village, Nepal.
Performance of "Dog and Cat" and "Bale Kendan" at the Lowry International Theatre Festival, invited by the Republic of Armenia. Winner of the "Fairy Tales" Award.
Performance sponsored by the Culture Institute and Club der Polnischen Versager in Berlin, Germany.
Performance of "Master and Margarita" for the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sweden. Organized by Orsa Miss Church.
In cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in China, the performances "Dog and Cat" and "Barekendan" commemorating the 40th anniversary of Japan-China Peaceful Friendship were performed at four locations in three cities in China. Performances were invited to be hosted by Beijing Foreign University, Shanghai Theatre Academy (performances and workshops), Shanghai Foreign Studies High School, and Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
In 2019, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Finland, the performances and workshops of "Dog and Cat" and "Barekendan" commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland, and an invited performance hosted by Polvo Art School were performed.
In cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Poland, the Matsuri Festival "Dog and Cat" commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Poland was performed in Warsaw, Poland.
In cooperation with the Yamato Poland Foundation, performances were held in three castles in Poland.
In cooperation with the Japanese Embassy in Latvia, Japanese theater performances were held at the Spikeli Concert Hall and Rezeknegorz Theatre in Riga, Latvia.
Hosted by the Republic of Armenia, Armenian Lori International Theater Festival "150th Anniversary Hovhannestumanian", "Dog and Cat" and "Balekendan" plays. Winner of Hovhannestumanian Award.
Official event for the 10th anniversary of the Mekong region supported by the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, Japan-Mekong 10th Anniversary Theater Performance "TANABATA-Festival" hosted by Combidia Japan Coopration Center (CJ CC) (Phnom Penh, Cambodia).
Hosted by University of Laos/Laos-Japan Center and supported by the Japan Foundation in Laos, Japan-Mekong 10th Anniversary Performance, Vientiane, Laos.
Official event for the 10th anniversary of the Japan-Mekong region supported by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, hosted by Konkan University. Performances and workshops (Konkan, Thailand)
2020 Sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, hosted by Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall. Lithuania. Kaunas University, Chiune Sugihara 80th Anniversary Performance "TOKYO LOVE SONG" Kaunas, Lithuania.
2021: Performance sponsored by Theater Kai, with support from dancer Kei Takei, and performance of Shoko Ito's "Onna Nobunaga" (Tokyo, Japan)
Performance sponsored by Institut der club Polnischen Versager in Germany. Performance of "Yoko, la Fille de la pluie ~Rain Girl" and screening of the film "Sora ni Kaku ~Draw in the Sky" (directed, produced, and performed by Shoko Ito).
Performance at the Peach moon festival, an official event in Nishi Ward, Saitama City (Saitama, Japan)
2022: Official performance to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Japan-Germany exchanges, sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Germany, and performance sponsored by Institut der club Polnischen Versager. (Berlin, Germany)
Performance sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in the Maldives to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Maldives. Ambassador Takeuchi attended. (Male, Maldives)
Performance/Organise at the Peach Moon Festival, an official event of Nishi Ward, Saitama City. (Saitama, Japan)
2023
Performance commemorating the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation, hosted by the University of Laos/Laos-Japan Center（Vientiane, Laos)
A film produced by Borderless Art ITO-GUMI and written, directed and starring Ito Shoko will be screened. Selected for screening at international film festivals in 30 countries, and won awards at 10 international film festivals.
Awarded at 9 film festivals
USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, North Macedonia, India, Canada, etc.
Selected at 26 film festivals
France, Mexico, India, Italy, US, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Spain, etc.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dcu7am7RFhsGvv0Z5ZpnL1MldoCOHI13 OxrNB1UiRA/edit?usp=sharing
2024
Selected at 6 film festivals
Greece, Switzerland, Germany, etc.
Awarded at the London International Film Festival (UK). !! Link attached !!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mw5afJF50yoF1N2hNELhIbaN8mAc8Ayo4yqYoCrfS-g/edit?usp=sharing
2024: Official event for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Macedonia, sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in North Macedonia. Organized by Blaze Koneski" Faculty of Philology" University in North Macedonia, performances of "Dogs and Cats" and "Balekendan" in February and "Samurai Grandma" in June. Received a letter of appreciation from the university.
Official event for the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Turkey, performance sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Turkey. (Ankara, Turkey)
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The Choreographer Kei Takei CV
Dancer and choreographer. Head of Kei Takei's Moving Earth Orient Sphere. Studied under Kenji Hino and Kiyoe Fujima.
1969
New York debut with "LIGHT, Part 1". To date, he has produced 39 Parts and given lectures around the world. In 1978, he performed at the Netherlands Dance Theater, and in 1982, he performed at Inbau I in Israel. To date, he has produced 39 Pans and choreographed for companies. Lecturer at the American Dance Festival from 1980 to 1983. In 1979 and 1985, he was invited to perform in Japan (invited by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan-US Foundation). He first performed "24 Hours LIGHT" in Minneapolis, USA in 1990. After returning to Japan in 1992, he performed in Tokyo Theater X-Odaiba in 1995, and in Berlin and Wales in 1997. He performed in Israel, San Francisco, and New York in 2001, India in 2002, and the Netherlands in 2007. He performed at the 75th anniversary of the American Dance Festival in 2008. He often collaborates with various artists. He restarted the "LIGHT Series" in 2009 and has been actively creating works. He has received the Dance Critics Association Award, Meet the Composer Award, and Nimura Dance Award, as well as the 29th Eguchi Takaya Award and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award in 2012. He was the choreographer for the Nagano Olympics. He is currently studying under Noh performer Okaniwa Zen.
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Review
The Stage ,UK ［Onna Nobunaga］
Shoko Ito is undoubtedly talented and to make audience refreshing original show.
(Edinburgh International Theater Festival)
The STAGE Edinburgh ［KOI］
Shoko Ito's dramatized story-telling with music, laced with delicate dance, is unusual solo performance...
Ito swiftly creates a very special atmosphere, enthralling the audience with her original Buddhist idiom story of death and rebirth over a millennium.
Ito flowing red gown, silvery fish costume or flowery kimono, Ito invests her unusual drama with rich poetic feeling, graceful movement and engaging audience rapport.
- BRIAN G COOPER
The STAGE Edinburgh [TOKYO LOVE SONG]
There is no doubt that Shoko Ito is a skilled and technically accomplished performer. Behind the backdrop of a photographic slide show, Ito attempts almost every performance genre in her range from sci-fi and psychological thriller via dance, cabaret and comedy to confessional theatre and tragedy. Ito's energetic performance certainly leaves a strong and memorable effect.
— Duska Radosavljevic
Avignon International Theater Festival
“Shoko Ito is an UFO, she is a most refreshing
Theater performer that I have ever seen in my life. “
~ Provence Journal French Theater Magazine
Andrzej T. Wirth (America/Gremany)
A letter of recommendation
Dear shoko,
Your performance made me happy: I haven't seen something comparable from the time of Marcel Marceau; he was a mime, you are vocal. But you both are in the same class of achievement.
Andrzej T. Wirth"
"Translation from Wikipedia about Andrzej T. Wirth:
Andrzej Tadeusz Wirth (born April 10, 1927 in Wodawa) is Polish-German theater Scientific, theater critic and university teacher. He founded in 1982 in Giessen, the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies, the first time theoretical, humanities and creative reflection, practical action linked in training. Graduates of this program have significantly affected the flow of post-dramatic theater.“
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