A ‘walking performance’ and a ‘silent walk’ are just two of the activities lined up for a cultural exchange between Japan and Britain at an event in Lancaster.

Following two Japan-Britain Contemporary Theatre Exchanges (in November 2023 and June 2024) the University’s Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) and its Cultures Research Centre is collaborating with performance artist Takuya Takemoto and dance expert Yurika Kuremiya.

A two-day programme of performances, talks and workshops under the theme ‘Standing, Walking, Seeing’ will take place from 13 to 14 November 2024 on Lancaster campus and at the Fairfield Nature Reserve in the city.

One of the most promising Japanese performance artists, dancers and choreographers Takuya Takemoto will visit Lancaster with his latest work See a Porous Stone.

Takuya creates walking performances that are often inspired by nature. In his work, he reconstructs the relationship between bodies and environment through extremely subtle movements and transforms the viewer’s perception of space.

He said: “I was born and raised in Gunma Prefecture, a relatively mountainous area in Japan. There was always a mountain hundreds of kilometres away in front of me. I have only seen the scenery of Lancaster on photos, but I imagine there are different sensibilities around nature and landscapes.”

Following the performance, there will be an opportunity to discuss the work and perspectives on dance and performance art between Japan and Britain together with Lancaster-based artists and researchers Nigel Stewart (Senior Lecturer in Dance, Lancaster University), Louise Ann Wilson (performance maker and scenographer) with Dr Karen Jürs-Munby (Lancaster University) as the chair of the roundtable.

Takuya added: “I am delighted to be sharing my work and re-encountering standing, walking and seeing as everyday activities. I am also looking forward to re-thinking nature and landscapes and how it affects our perception and our bodies together with people in Lancaster.”

On 14 November a silent group walk in Fairfield Nature Reserve will allow participants to experience and connect with landscapes without talking and without mobile phones.

In the afternoon, one of the most prolific researchers and dance curators, Yurika Kuremiya, will give a talk entitled Embodied Expression: A Journey Through Japanese Performance Practices. She will trace the evolution of Japan’s postwar performance scene, focusing on the body as a central element.

Yurika said: "Takuya Takemoto’s work defies simple categorization—it can be seen as dance, theatre, or even as resonant with visual art. In this event, I am excited to share the rich legacy of Japan’s performance scene that Takemoto critically engages with and inherits. I look forward to this invaluable opportunity for dialogue and cultural exchange."

Co-organiser and initiator of the project Beri Juraic, a LICA PhD student, said: “I have met Takuya Takemoto when I was doing my fieldwork in Japan two years ago after seeing one of his performances. The performance left a lasting impression on me. I am really looking forward to sharing the work of this remarkable artist with Lancastrians.”

The Japan-Britain Contemporary Theatre Exchange is supported by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council through the North-West Doctoral Training Partnership, The Saison Foundation, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) and The Japan Foundation.

To sign up for performances and events: https://forms.office.com/e/MJj4WH0Hdx

For more information about the project and schedule: https://contemporarytheatreexchange.com/