Kishida Kunio Drama Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 64 (2020) award
Kenichi Tani
たに けんいち
Tani Kenichi
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1982-05-11 （Kōriyama, Fukushima, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ishikawa Town, Fukushima (childhood) → Kashiwa, Chiba (grew up) → Tokyo (creative activity base) → Futaba Town, Fukushima (moved in 2022)
Career
- Occupations
- playwright, director, translator
- Active Years
- 2005-
- Affiliations
- DULL-COLORED POP (founder/director), Théâtre des Annales (representative), Seinendan (former directing staff)
- Influenced By
- William Shakespeare, Harold Pinter
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji University | Faculty of Letters | Theatre Studies | Bachelor of Arts | 2001–2005 | Japan |
| University of Kent (Canterbury) | — | Theatre and Drama Studies | — | 短期留学（在学中） | United Kingdom |
Meiji University
Faculty of Letters
/ Theatre Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
2001–2005
Year of Graduation:
2005
Country:
Japan
Studied abroad during university; directed for Meiji University Shakespeare Project while enrolled
University of Kent (Canterbury)
Theatre and Drama Studies
Period:
短期留学（在学中）
Country:
United Kingdom
Studied Theatre and Drama Studies on a short-term study abroad program while enrolled
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Odashima Yûshi Translation Play Award (6th) | Translation/production of 'The Last Psychoanalysis' | — | Odashima Yûshi Translation Play Award Committee | winner |
| 2013 | Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award (Excellence Award, Drama) 68th | Stage work including translations/productions (e.g. 'The Last Psychoanalysis') | 演劇 | Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan) | winner |
| 2020 | Tsuruya Nanboku Playwright Prize (23rd) | '1986: Möbius Ring' (from the Fukushima Trilogy) | 戯曲 | Tsuruya Nanboku Playwright Prize Committee | winner |
| 2020 | Kishida Kunio Drama Award (64th) | The 'Fukushima Trilogy' (1961, 1986, 2011) | 戯曲 | Kishida Kunio Drama Award Committee | winner |
Odashima Yûshi Translation Play Award (6th)
2013
Work:
Translation/production of 'The Last Psychoanalysis'
Organization:
Odashima Yûshi Translation Play Award Committee
Result:
winner
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award (Excellence Award, Drama) 68th
2013
Work:
Stage work including translations/productions (e.g. 'The Last Psychoanalysis')
Category:
演劇
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result:
winner
Tsuruya Nanboku Playwright Prize (23rd)
2020
Work:
'1986: Möbius Ring' (from the Fukushima Trilogy)
Category:
戯曲
Organization:
Tsuruya Nanboku Playwright Prize Committee
Result:
winner
Kishida Kunio Drama Award (64th)
2020
Work:
The 'Fukushima Trilogy' (1961, 1986, 2011)
Category:
戯曲
Organization:
Kishida Kunio Drama Award Committee
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Tsuruya Nanboku Drama Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 23 (2020) award
Works
Major Works
Fukushima Trilogy (1961: The Sun Rises at Night / 1986: Möbius Ring / 2011: Words That Want to Be Told)
2019 playA trilogy set in Fukushima that explores generations, memory, and the aftermath of disaster. The works layer regional history with individual recollection to pose broader questions.
Fukushimamemorydisasterfamily
The Last Psychoanalysis (translation/production)
2013 translated playA translated and staged foreign play; his translation and direction were highly regarded and led to awards.
psychoanalysisidentity
Black Cat and Beige Cat
2012 playAn ensemble piece portraying family and everyday dissonance. Performed in multiple cities.
familyeveryday lifehuman relationships
Macbeth (adaptation/directing)
2019 adaptationA large-scale staging adapting Shakespeare's original. Reflects his longstanding engagement with Shakespeare since university.
powerfateviolence
Bibliography
- ‘The Young Philosopher Wittgenstein in the Wartime Watchtower...’
- Fukushima Trilogy
- Theatre
- History of Humanity
- On the Hill, Nemuki Maternity Clinic
- Tokyo Living Monologues
Translations by Author
- Translation/production of 'Molly Sweeney'
- Translations of works by Harold Pinter
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- blend of innovative techniques and classical groundingensemble and fragmentary narrative theatrical structures
- Recurring Motifs
- Fukushima and memoryfamily and generational rupturetrauma and recovery
Legacy
Recognized as a leading contemporary Japanese playwright, praised for both translation and direction. His Fukushima-centered plays have won major drama awards; however, recent sexual harassment allegations, litigation, and subsequent settlement have affected his reputation and activities.
Quotes
-
A happy fusion of innovative methods and classical training.
Source: Ai Nagai (director), contribution (2014)
Trivia
- Studied abroad in the UK during university, with study at the University of Kent.
- Gained prominence in the 2010s for translated productions and direction.
- Moved his residence registration to Futaba Town, Fukushima in 2022 to base activities there.
- In 2022 was accused of sexual harassment by an actress from his company; the Tokyo district court case later resulted in a settlement (terms not disclosed).