Yudai Kamisato
Playwright / Director
Born in Peru in 1982 and based in Japan, he creates works exploring themes of migration and border crossings, drawing inspiration from stories he collects while traveling to various places. In 2006, he won first prize in the TOGA Directors Competition for his staging of Desire Caught by the Tail by Pablo Picasso. He received the 2018 Kishida Kunio Drama Award for The Story of Descending the Long Slopes of Valparaíso, which premiered at the Kyoto Experiment in 2017. His works have been presented at major theatre festivals in Japan and abroad.
From October 2016 to August 2017, he stayed in Argentina under the Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. He is a Saison Foundation Saison Fellow II (2022, 2023, 2025).
History
2025
Yudai Kamisato’s Storytelling Event: World Ramen Edition (Nagoya Q SO-KO).
Residency in San Francisco, where he wrote the new Noh play Density for Theatre of Yugen (premiere planned for around 2027).
2023–2024
Installation & performance Dear Potential Foreigners presented in São Paulo, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Lima, and Lancaster.
2022
Immigrant Ghost Stories Japan tour in Naha, Tokyo and Kyoto *co-production with NAHA CULTURAL ARTS THEATER NAHArt
2021
Ryukyu Kaidan(Okinawan Ghost Stories) in Naha and was shown for Biennale Jogja Equator 2021
2020
Khao Khao Club online *co-production with Festival Theaterformen (Germany). *It consists of three parts: Khao Khao Club.mp3 (audio), Khao Khao Club.pdf (book), and Khao Khao Club.mp4 (video).
2019
Lecture Performance A Haphazard Stranger’s Rough Report in Kyoto, Yokohama and Okinawa
The Story of Descending the Long Slopes of Valparaíso in Tokyo
Happy Prince Fish tour in Kyoto Experiment, Okinawa and Yokohama
+51 Aviacíon, San Borja tour in Mexico City, Lima
2017
+51 Aviación, San Borja Indonesia tour in Jakarta and Yogyakarta
The Story of Descending the Long Slopes of Valparaíso *Kyoto Experiment 2017 *Won the 62th Kishida Kunio Drama Award
2016
ISLA! ISLA! ISLA! Japan tour in Tokyo, Yokohama and Mie
+51 Aviacíon, San Borja 2016 tour in Yokohama, Mie, Sydney Festival(Australia), Kunstenfestivaldesarts(Belgium), Festival d’Automne à Paris(France)
2015
+51 Aviación, San Borja Japan tour in Yokohama, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Tokyo, Sapporo and Sendai
ISLA! ISLA! ISLA! Japan tour in Kumamoto and Kyoto
2013
black coffee (not for drink) Japan tour in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kumamoto and Kagoshima
Kamisato made his debut as a novelist. A exile ball boy *Publisher: Shinchosha
2012
Antigone/Netorare-Sosuke Japan tour in Yokohama and Kumamoto
Participated in “Working visit” in Germany *Berlin Biennale
Hemispherical Red and Black in Taiwan *Taipei Arts Festival
The Absence of Neighbor Jimmy in Tokyo *Festival/Tokyo2012
2011
There Is No City for Us in Yokohama and Kyoto
Hemispherical Red and Black in Tokyo *Festival/Tokyo2011
2010
Old Air-Conditioner in Tokyo *Festival/Tokyo2010
2006
Desire caught by the tail in Toyama *Awarded Best Director at the Toga directorsʼ competition
2003
Started his career as playwright and director