Yukio Ninagawa

Photo: Shugyo Ohara

Yukio Ninagawa

Born in Saitama Pref. Artistic director of Sai-no-Kuni Saitama Arts Theater. Joined the theater company Gekidan Seihai in 1955 and founded the company Gekidan Gendaijin Gekijo in 1967. Made his debut as a theater director in 1969 with a production of Shinjo afururu keihakusa by Kunio Shimizu . Founded Sakura-sha with Kunio Shimizu and others in 1972. Following activities in these two companies, he became active as a commercial theater director with the Nissay Theater production of Romeo and Juliet . Since then he has continued to be one of Japan’s representative theater directors, presenting a string of highly acclaimed productions. Since assuming the artistic directorship of Sai-no-Kuni Saitama Arts Theater in 2006, he began a new challenge by launching the Saitama Gold Theater project for people over 55 years of age, once again attracting much attention in the society.