“Throw away reason. That’s Waseda.”
Tue, Aug 4, 2015-
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Playwright talks Waseda and theater
In this article, playwright, performer, and author Akio Miyazawa discusses the appeal of Waseda theater and his thoughts on the performing arts.
“Throw away reason. That’s Waseda.”
Akio Miyazawa
If you broaden your perspective, you will easily come to realize there are countless varieties of performing arts in this world. To put it simply, these inspiring art forms are incredibly interesting. With Waseda as your base, you must go outside of your comfort zone and learn about new things. I want you to go to places you do not know about. Simply calling an unknown form of performing arts “theater” is not enough. I want you to take what you experience during your chance encounter in an unfamiliar place and bring it back with you to Waseda, even if it is only a hint. In the Internet age, importing culture from foreign countries is no longer something reserved for the elite. However, there are things you cannot experience through the Internet. Things that you need to experience with your body while interacting with the atmosphere around you. This is the same for live music. I am not simply telling you to go abroad. There is a plethora of amazing Japanese classics. Broaden your perspective. It is a mistake to believe something is theater just because you followed a fixed set of rules and techniques. That’s Waseda. Throw away reason. Nothing comes easily and miracles will not occur in the blink of an eye. Waseda’s Dramakan Theater is waiting. Surprise me.
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Akio Miyazawa
Playwright, performer, and author. In the mid-1950s he formed the Radical Gajiberibinba System company with Naoto Takenaka and Seiko Ito, writing and directing all the productions. In 1990, he established U-enchi Saisei Jigyodan. He won the 1992 Kishida Drama Award for his work on “Hinemi.” Miyazawa served as a visiting professor at Waseda University from 2005-2013.
