Japan Selection 2026

What is Japan Selection?

SOIL (Stage for Originality, Innovation and Leadership), presented by JPASN (Japan Performing Arts Solidarity Network), is a national initiative supporting the next generation of Japanese theatre producers as they connect with international peers and build a lasting presence in the global performing arts community.

Now in its second year, Japan Selection 2026 introduces eight producers selected through SOIL’s national fellowship program. From immersive theatre and poetic plays to genre-defying musicals and large-scale adaptations, their work represents bold and diverse voices in contemporary Japanese theatre.

This August, two curated events — in Edinburgh and London — bring Japanese producers and international presenters together for conversation, connection, and the beginnings of long-term collaboration. These are not sales pitches in the usual sense: the aim is to open a dialogue, not to close a deal. Both sessions present the same programme, so you are welcome to join whichever is most convenient — or both.

Pitch

Eight Japanese production companies and theatre organisations, selected through SOIL’s national fellowship program, will each introduce their work to the presenters in the room. Rather than a hard sell, each presentation is an invitation — a starting point for conversation about the ideas, artists, and possibilities behind the work. The lineup spans a wide range of styles — from physical theatre and poetic drama to large-scale musicals and non-verbal digital-projection works — offering a broad cross-section of contemporary Japanese theatre.

Presentations are delivered in Japanese or English, according to each producer’s preference, with full simultaneous interpretation (JP/EN) throughout — so language is never a barrier to following along or joining the conversation afterward. Each producer will speak to their project, its international potential, and the kinds of partnership or exchange they hope to explore.

Think of it less as a marketplace and more as an introduction: a chance to encounter new Japanese work early, meet the people behind it, and find the projects — and relationships — worth continuing beyond the room.

Networking

Following the presentations, an open reception offers space to speak directly and informally with the producers and artists — and with the other international presenters attending. This is where much of the real value of the day lies: unhurried conversation, shared questions, and the first steps toward relationships that outlast the event itself.

Interpretation support (Japanese/English) is available throughout, so conversations can unfold naturally in either language. Whether you’d like to follow up on something you heard, ask more about a particular project, or simply get to know the wider community of Japanese theatre producers, the reception is designed as a relaxed, low-pressure space for exactly that.

Light refreshments will be served. We hope you’ll use the time not to conclude anything, but to begin something — a conversation, an acquaintance, a collaboration that takes shape in the months and years ahead.

In Edinburgh - August 18th (Tue)

• Date & Time: Tuesday, 18th August 2026 | 10:30–12:30 (Doors open 10:15)

• Venue: Dance Base Studio 2, 14–16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU

• Admission: Free (RSVP required, max. 50 participants)

In London - August 20th (Thu)

• Date & Time: Thursday, 20th August 2026 | 15:00–17:00 (Doors open 14:30)

• Venue: Japan House London, 101–111 Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA

• Admission: Free (RSVP required, max. 50 participants)