The second phase of "Paperbacks," a project to form a platform for discourses on the performing arts

Name of the organization or individual

Paperbacks Editorial Department

subsidy category

Creation Grant

Grant Type

single year

FY2025 1st Term Creation Grant Category III Single-Year Subsidy Creation Environment Improvement Activities

Documentary photo of "Paperback Talk # 3" The Present and Future of Performing Arts as Seen from the Review of Times "

Documentary photo of "Paperback Talk # 3" The Present and Future of Performing Arts as Seen from the Review of Times "

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Business Overview

In 2017, Yamazaki Kenta (critic and Drama Turku) launched the theater criticism magazine Kamisai as a personal project. In its second phase, the magazine has been upgraded to a platform for discourses on the performing arts.
In November 2023, we launched the web version of "Paperbacks WEB" and created a system in which 1 interview with an artist and 2 reviews of a play are posted for each featured performance.
In 2024, a guest curator system was introduced to expand coverage and readership, and joint projects with theaters and festivals began in earnest. In 2025, a new initiative was launched in which young critics were recruited as' shisai fellows' and published their opinions monthly.
While publishing articles for free as a general rule, we have tried to establish a sustainable operating foundation through a supporter system and tie-up income.
As of February 1, 2026, there are two members of the editorial department: Yamazaki and Tomofumi Okawa, in charge of back office management.

Period of Activity / Project

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - Sunday, February 1, 2026

Venues

Online (Paperback WEB)
YAU STUDIO (Paperback Talk Venue)

Profile

[Paperback Editorial Department]
In May 2017, as a personal project of Kenta Yamazaki, Paperback was launched as a new style of theater criticism magazine that includes reviews of plays and their performances (grant: Shimokita Wave). A total of 4 books were published from 2017 to 2018.
Restarted as the second phase in November 2023.
In addition to publishing his fifth drama criticism magazine since his first term, he launched a new platform for words of performing arts on his website, "Paperback WEB.".
One interview and two reviews are published for each performing art work, and it is unique in that it provides one-stop communication of the discourse before and after the performance.
Over the past 2 years, the website has published more than 100 articles, mainly reviews and interviews.