Note: Zenshinza was created in 1931 by kabuki actors who rebelled against the closed, feudal system that controlled traditional kabuki, and reformist shingeki (new drama) directors. Operating on the ideals of “learning from tradition, carrying on that tradition with critical awareness, and creating new theater,” they not only presented traditional kabuki plays but also created and performed new kabuki and other types of dramatic works.

Eschewing the star system, all members were given equal billing and lived communally, based on organizational principles that were heavily influenced by Communism.

The group had close ties with China; in 1956 a Beijing Opera group led by Mei Lanfang saw a Zenshinza production while visiting Japan, and Zenshinza members also visited China twice to perform, once in 1960 and once at the height of the Cultural Revolution in 1966.

I believe in the power of acting and theater performances. From the age of Greek and Roman civilization, or even much before that, there were actors and theaters. I think that we, human beings, are learning and realizing many important things from theater performances. Some may call those theater performances just an “entertainment”, but I am sure that a really good drama can change our lives.

With all the innovations and developments in new technologies, our lives have been changing. Also we, ourselves, are changing in relation to all these constant changes surrounding us. Some may say life has become easy and convenient. Others may say it has just got more difficult and complicated.

The more things changes, the more I feel the role of acting and theater performances become important. I do theater, so that I can find, rediscover, reconstruct, rebuild, reconsider myself everyday. I believe that acting and theater performances can help us rediscover and understand what is the most important thing in our lives, what we would like to do in the future, or even who we are.

TAKASE Kazuki was born in Tokyo. His grandfather, BANDO Choemon, was an actor in the Zenshinza theater troupe (see note); his father, TAKASE Seiichiro, was also the director for the same troupe; and his mother, HANAYAGI Mikae, is a traditional Japanese buyo dancer. He began training in buyo dance, nagauta singing, and shamisen performance at an early age, and made his professional debut with Zenshinza at the age of five in KODA Rohan's play, Goju no to (The Five-Story Pagoda). He played children's roles in other works, including traditional kabuki plays such as Kanjincho and Sakura Gimin-den, as well as new kabuki plays such as Shinmon Tatsugoro.

TAKASE Kazuki moved to New York when he was a college student to study performance arts in New York City. After graduating from New York City College, he became a professional actor in New York. Competing with other actors, overcoming and utilizing cultural differences, he gradually learned how he could improve his skills of acting and what he could give his audience. In 1990’s, he started to direct performances and write scripts, and become one of the most aspiring directors who can realize a totally new combination and collaboration of American and Japanese performing arts.