Western-style theatre is relatively new in Japan as it started being developed at the turn of the 20th century. In fact, it came to be called Shingeki (New Theatre) in 1913. Japanese theatre practitioners of today create a wide variety of performances while many continue to produce centuries-old theatres, such as Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku. In contemporary Japanese theatre, despite the heavy western influence, there are still traditional methods practiced during the creative process.
The panel members consisting of a few of the most respected designers and directors will discuss how such traditional practices and cultural traditions and deeply rooted Japanese aesthetics influence the collaboration between a designer and a director. All of the panel members studied stage design or directing in the West at one point in their lives. They will compare and contrast the Western and Eastern theatre practices and discuss how Japanese theatre will go forward in and outside Japan in the future.