A Profile of U-Stage Chairman Shimazaki Yasushi

Born: July 1955, Tokyo

U-Stage: Based in Nakano, he has been in charge of gRegional Dramah for twenty years. Japanese Directorsf Association, Performers Group, Member of Kazori Pottery Group; previously, Instructor-Elect at Japan Film School (Teacher of Acting Class)

As an instructor appointed by the Ministry of Culture, he lived in Exeter and London from September 1998 to August 1999. Requested at the time by local Englishmen, he wrote, produced, and performed in The Country Far Beyond the Moon for English Amateur Haiku. In England, this project was awarded the Japan Festival Award.

As head of U-Stage, he toured England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern England, performing such routines as The Seven Gods of Fortune, Traditional Marching Band (Chindon), Lion Dance, and Japanese Drumming (Taiko) for four months beginning in May 2001. While in Scotland, he teamed up with a local troupe to write and perform gMyths from the Kojikih

In 2001, he received the Foreign Ministryfs gDiplomacy Awardh

A column has appeared in the Foreign Ministryfs Blue Papers

At the Toyama Traditional Marching Band Competition, he received Special Judgefs Award (2000), and Second Place (2002)

In 2002, he toured England (Plymouth) and America (Portland, ME). While in Plymouth, he was presented with a gCommemorative Shieldh by the mayor after a successful performance. Furthermore, he ran a workshop for twelve schools in the surrounding area, winning high accolades among students and teachers alike.

In America, he has performed in museums, street corners, and the Rose Festival. He has been asked to perform in next yearfs activities as well.

Exciting Performance ? An Introduction to the Workshop

This year, U-stage wrapped up its two-year successful tour abroad. We brought a Japanese marching band (Chindonya), and a lion-dance outfit to promote the gSeemingly Peaceful Japanh all over this dangerous world. Though unable to speak much English, our lodgings, travel, meals, and performances were all organized on the grassroots level, and carried out without a hitch.
@ We scored a great success with this trip: we were flooded with requests to perform, and built up a wide network of personal connections for the future. Thus we were awarded the Ministry of Foreign Affairsfs gForeign Embassyfs Award,h and were also honored with a column in the Government Blue Papers of 2001.
@ We would like nothing more than to share these valuable experiences with all of you, and so have prepared this introduction to the workshop. Our performances regularly mix previous experiences on the street, marching bands, and taiko drumming, thus it is only natural that we should blend English and Japanese.