Hiromi Sumi

Hiromi Sumi

Born 1974 in Amagasaki city, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from the theater department of Takarazuka-kita High School. Formed the all-female theater company “Shibaiya Sakamichi Store” in 1995. In the company, Sumi served as the playwright, director and as an actress. Her works won a reputation for lyrical portrayals of “pure life” moments glimpsed in the everyday and memories of loss. The company was dissolved in 2005. With marriage in 2006 Sumi moved to Okayama Prefecture, and based there she continues to write plays for companies and production organizations around the country. In 1999, her play “ Akubi to Kaze no Iryoku ” won the 4th Playwrights Association New Artist Award and the Hokkaido Governor’s Award. Among Sumi’s numerous awards are, the 4th Chikamatsu Monzaemon Award for her play “ Hotaru no Hikari ” in 2007 and the 20th Playwrights Association’s Best New Play Award for her play “ Semai Ie no Kamo to Hebi ” in 2014. In 2014 her play “ Takarajima ” was also nominated as a finalist for the 14th Aichi Arts Foundation Drama Award.