Atsuko Hisano

Atsuko Hisano

Program officer of The Saison Foundation
The Saison Foundation is a private foundation (a private grant-making foundation since 2010) established in 1987 by Seiji Tsutsumi, the head of the department store-based Seibu Distribution Group (now the Saison Group). Tsutsumi established a cultural affairs department in the Seibu Department Store that developed facilities including the Seibu Museum of Art (later renamed Sezon Museum of Art / 1975-’91), Studio 200 (1979-’91), the specialized art book store ART VIVANT (now the company New Art Diffusion), the specialized theater book store Wisefool, the specialized poetry book store Poem Parole and other facilities and programs. With these and other enterprises including the Seibu Theater (later renamed PARCO Theater / 1973 -) in the group store Shibuya PARCO, the Roppongi WAVE (comprehensive culture facility with record and book stores, movie theater, etc.), the publishing company Libroport specializing in books on art the social sciences, humanities and literature, the use of creator talent in advertising and product design, all combining to create an era of “Saison culture” that was a leading influence in Japanese contemporary culture from the 1970s into the 1980s. The Saison Foundation inherits this legacy in grant programs supporting the creative activities of front-line artists primarily in the performing arts and international exchange programs, as well as supporting initiatives to improve the creative environment and infrastructure.