Yudai Kamisato
Playwright / Director
Born in Peru in 1982 and raised in Japan.
He is not based in a single location, instead shifting his creative base depending on commissions, production contexts, and artistic environments.
Working primarily around the themes of migration, mobility, and tourism, he creates works inspired by stories and experiences he gathers through his travels across Japan and around the world.
His productions have been invited to numerous theatre festivals both in Japan and internationally.
His plays have been staged or published in countries and regions including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
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 62nd Kishida Kunio Drama Award in 2018 for The Story of Descending the Long Slopes of Valparaíso, which premiered at Kyoto Experiment in 2017.
From 2016 to 2017, he spent one year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a fellow of the overseas training program supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.
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