YUKIHIRO KAWANA
ABOUT ME
Theatre Playwright | Director
Born in Tokyo in 1988. Studied Japanese history at Meiji University.
Directed “The Winter’s Tale” in the Meiji University Shakespeare Project while a student and studied playwrighting and directing under Kensuke Yokouchi who was a supervisor of the project.
In 2014, started working as a free assistant director. Especially participated in works of Daigo Matsui, a playwright/theatre director/film director. Also assisted plays of British stage directors, Lindsay Posner, Will Tuckett and Alexandra Rutter, workshops of Jonathan Munby, Richard Twyman and Simon Godwin.
In 2017, formed Tokyo Yako Theatre Company and has written and directed all plays of Tokyo Yako, and started working as a playwright and director with other production as well.
Since 2022, has been managed as an artist by Gorch Brothers Ltd. and since 2025.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 15 years’ experience as Assistant Director (Theatre Company TOBIRAZA, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Honda Theatre, PARCO Theatre, Theatre Cocoon, The Globe Tokyo and more)
- 15 years’ experience as Playwright and Director (Tokyo Yako Theatre Company, Gorch Brothers Ltd., Honda Theatre, SYOCHIKU Co., The Globe Tokyo, Nippon Seinenkan Hall, HULIC HALL TOKYO, and more)
- 8 years’ experience as Company Producer (Tokyo Yako Theatre Companey)
AWARD < as Playwright and Theatre Director >
・Selected for “SIMOKITA Wave 2018” <Shimokitazawa Theatre Festival> (2018)
・Finalist, NHK 43rd Creative Television Drama Award (2018)
・Selected for “MITAKA“Next”Selection 21th” <Mitaka City Foundation >(2020)
・Award by “The Asahi Group Foundation” (2021)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Tokyo Yako Theatre Company 2017-present as Producer, Playwright and Director
・11 times of company performance, reached a total audience of 6,000
・Selected to participate in Shimokitazawa Theatre Festival (2018, 2022)
・Selected to participate in Sendai Art Festival (2019, 2020)
・Selected for “MITAKA“Next”Selection 21th” <Mitaka City Foundation >(2020)
Theatre Company TOBIRAZA 2012-2014 as Assistant Director
・5 times of company performance
・Wrote and directed the showcase performance at an acting training institute 3 times
・Wrote and directed community theater productions 4 times
Theatre Playwright and Director 2021-present managed by Gorch Brothers Ltd.
・“Dearest HAKANA” as Director
at Suzunari Theatre,Tokyo by Gorch Brothers Ltd (2021)
・“MUDLARKS” as Director
at Suzunari Theatre, Tokyo by Gorch Brothers Ltd (2022)
・“Unbelievable” as Playwright and Director
at The Globe Tokyo and 1 other city by New Globe Tokyo Co., Ltd. (2023)
・“Our BANG!!!” as Playwright and Director
at Shinbashi Enbujō Theatre, Tokyo and 2 other cities by Shochiku Co., Ltd. (2023)
・”CONTRACT” as Playwright and Director
at Theatre MIXA, Tokyo by S-SIZE Co., Ltd. (2023)
・Reading ”Rubin’s Vase Has Broken” as Director
at KINOKUNIYA Southern Theatre, Tokyo by Poem Co.,Ltd. (2023)
・“Grave Keepers” as Playwright and Director
at Theatre MIXA, Tokyo by S-SIZE Co., Ltd. (2023)
・“WAVE” as Playwright and Director
at HULIC HALL TOKYO, and 4 other cities by Wonder Village Co., Ltd. (2024)
・”Just a Ten-Year Festival” as Playwright and Director
at Suzunari Theatre, Tokyo and Taiwan Drama Center, Taipei by 52pro! LLC. (2024)
・“An Extremely Soft Path” as Director
at Honda Theatre, Tokyo by Gorch Brothers Ltd (2025)
・“7ORDER-BOY meets GIRL-“ as Playwright and Director
at Nippon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo by L&L’s Co., Ltd. (2025)
Theatre Assistant Director 2014-present, self-employed
Involved with over 20 productions, including the following:
・“Tristan and Isolde”directed by Alexandra Rutter
at Aoyama DDD Theatre, Tokyo by Nelke Planning Co., Ltd. (2017)
・“MIMIBASHIRU” directed by Daigo Matsui
at Honda Theatre, Tokyo and 3 other cities by J-WAVE Co., Ltd. (2019)
・“Mrs. Aoki of the Aoki Household” directed Yu Yokoyama
at The Globe Tokyo and 1 other city by New Globe Tokyo Co., Ltd. (2020)
・“Human History” directed by Kenichi Tani
at KAAT Kanagawa Art Theatre by KAAT (2020)
・“Birdland” directed by Daigo Matsui
at PARCO Theatre,Tokyo and 3 other cities by PARCO Co., Ltd. (2021)
・“IROASERU” directed by Yutaka Kuramochi
at New National Theatre, Tokyo (2021)
・“All My Sons” directed by Lindsay Posner
at Theatre COCOON, Tokyo and 1 other city by Tokyu Bunkamura Co., Ltd. (2022)
・“KASPER” directed by Will Tuckett
at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and 1 other city by TSP Co., Ltd. (2023)