Kazuyoshi Kushida

Born in Tokyo in 1942. Actor, director, set designer. Formed Jiyu Gekijo theater company in 1966 (renamed On Theatre Jiyu Gekijo in 1975, disbanded in '96), served as the first artistic director of Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon from 1985 to 96, and Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre from 2003 to 23. His representative works include the musical plays "Shanghai Vance-King", "Scapin" and the solo play "Faust in the Moonlight Night". Directed Cocoon Kabuki's "Summer Festival: A Mirror of Osaka", which he founded with Kanzaburo Nakamura XVIII, and Heisei Nakamuraza's "Hokaibo". His works range from originals to modern plays, Shakespeare, Brecht, Circus and Kabuki. Awarded a star on the Sibiu Walk of Fame. Launched a new company Flying Theatre Jiyu Gekijo to explore himself and theater in October 2023.

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POSITION: Representative Director and President