In 2023, the Japan Arts Council established the Japan Creator Support Fund to provide multi-year support for nurturing young creators and strengthening the functions of cultural institutions where they can present their work. Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project – ODYSSEY was selected as a recipient for the 2024 fiscal year.
On December 8, 2025, we held a report meeting in Nakano, Tokyo, welcoming representatives from the Japan Arts Council and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, as well as our advisors, to reflect on our activities in FY2024 and FY2025.
Taking as examples the productions Saudade in the MIRAGE (Nov. 2024, SESC Vila Mariana, São Paulo, Brazil), Soul of ODYSSEY (Feb. 2025, The Suzunari, Tokyo), and HINOTORI – Phoenix of Mountain / Phoenix of Sea (Sept. 2025, ROHM Theatre Kyoto; Oct. 2025, Nakano ZERO), participating creators reported on the outcomes from their respective perspectives. They spoke about discoveries and challenges in presenting work overseas, co-creating with invited artists from abroad, the difficulties and possibilities posed by language barriers, differences of expression, unexpected common ground, and prospects for the future was discussed as well.

Participating creators:
Yutaka Ota, Ichiya Nishikawa, Maika Tsuyama, Maki Sakurai, Takuya Ikeno, Jinya Imai, Wataru Yamakami, Noriko Ito, Marie Kuroda

Advisors in attendance:
Reijiro Tsumura (Noh actor)
Michiko Tanaka (Contemporary circus director / Representative Director, Setouchi Circus Factory, a general incorporated association)

Supported by: Japan Creator Support Fund (Japan Arts Council)