Tokyo Kandenchi
Formed in 1976 by Akira Emoto, Bengaru and Toshiki Ayata, the troupe became popular with anarchic humor as its weapon. Between 1986 and 1990 it staged six works by Ryo Iwamatsu who has left of the troop. The 5th work “Futon and Daruma” won the 33rd Kishida Drama Award. From 1991 to 1995 the company performed four classic works by Chekhov under the direction of Emoto. In 2001 Kandenchi staged “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as its 25th anniversary performance featuring all troupe members. The production returned to the stage in 2004. In 2005 the troupe produced a stage adaptation of Yasujiro Ozu’s “Nagaya shinshiroku” (“Record of a Tenement Gentleman”). The company drew attention with its 30th anniversary “Kandenchi Festival” at The Suzunari in Shimokitazawa when it performed four of the festival’s five works in a day. The year 2007 saw the start of the company’s “Getsumatsu Gekijo (Month-end Theater)” series produced by young members.