Column

Q1. Impressions of your online distribution

This time, due to the impact of the epidemic against COVID-19, the stage performances I was involved in overseas were canceled. It was during my stay in that country. And I experienced the situation that the performance would be online live streaming distribution. After returning to Japan, I was staying at home. While watching the news of the spread of infections of COVID19 in Europe, I remembered the artists and people involved in the European Capital of Culture. And I also received the report from friends of the medical NGO that I support, fighting in the medical field. I had a strong desire to help those who struggle with COVID-19 and those who are staying home through our works. Under such circumstances, the call of the support from EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee arrived, and I was able to take the initiative and proceed to online distribution. I sympathized with the project’s wish “we want to send a strong heart of solidarity to many European citizens and artists, and to all the people in Japan and abroad who are now in despair.” Rather, I wanted to be the power of that wish. I am honored to have participated in the project. We were able to deliver the brilliance of the life of our works. I am very grateful for the support of the EU-Japan Fest. By carrying out online distribution, we were able to reconnect with people in Europe and others we could not meet. And we can really feel the power of the message that was stated as “keep going TOGETHER”.

Q2. Fruition and Challenge Acquired through Online Activities

We can share the vibration through the “bodily sensation” concerning the performance in the theater. On the other hand, online distribution is different from the theater and is a form of viewing in a private space. Therefore, people will give us their thoughts carefully. We have the feeling that the “voice of the heart” reaches us. In addition, although it is limited in time for
live performances, this time it was offered on demand, so we were able to provide a wide range of viewing opportunities. Furthermore, regarding the theatrical works distributed this time, we have made every effort to give the viewer the maximum sense of presence in the theater. Specifically, we paid attention to the colors and designs around the movies on the online distribution page to ensure that the sense of presence was not lost. We would like to take advantage of this experience once again to create videos for online viewing and create an environment for the screen to be viewed. We are eager to enhance online distribution.

Q3. Utilization and Development of Online Live Streaming for Forthcoming Activities

We have provided a particular masterpiece of long films. I feel that there is still plenty of room for innovation, such as the provision of chapters. At the same time, along with the restrictions on activities at the theater, there are issues with the approach of training such as workshops both inside and outside Japan. In such a situation, we would like to explore and expand the possibility of providing educational contents as well as using it as the screening of works. On the other hand, even though we are doing that, concerning the art of body expression, we will further realize the non-replacement of the theater, that is sharing one space and living together. However, we were able to realize that “we can connect our hearts” by the initiative of “keep going TOGETHER” to send a strong heart of solidarity. I feel that this will become a valuable foundation for human interaction in the future. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the encouraging speedy support of the EU-Japan Fest for this project, along with all of the support for our activities in Europe.

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TOMOE ONLINE THEATRE

• Date: 14 May – 30 June, 2020
• Contents: We have opened TOMOE ONLINE THEATER to support people who are struggling with COVID-19 and staying at home. This project started with a wish to deliver the radiance of life through the work. Free online delivery of two video works of Music and Butoh by “TOMOE SHIZUNE & HAKUTOBO”.

  Vol. 1 A Marvel of Body Art on The Stage, The World of TOMOE SHIZUNE “THE STORY OF A TREE”

  Vol. 2 “The Body -The Expression of a Creature’s True Nature” TOMOE SHIZUNE & HAKUTOBO, Music & Butoh

  Subsequently, we provided the video works as “WORLD of TOMOE SHIZUNE”.

• Promotion tool:  Facebook, Instagram, website, messenger, LINE, e-mail, mail (post), advertisement in webpage, press release. newsletter
• Distribution tool: Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, website
• Device to get a reaction from the audience: hashtag, messages through Facebook, Messenger. LINE, e-mail
• Number of audience (in total): more than 13000 views (as of 1 June, 2020)