Professor Suzuki Matsuo of Kyoto University of the Arts, Playwright and Director, Wins Kikuta Kazuo Theater Award

Professor Suzuki Matsuo of the Performing Arts Research Center at Kyoto University of the Arts (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto / President: Taku Sato) has been awarded the 51st 'Kikuta Kazuo Theater Award' (sponsored by the Film and Theater Culture Association), announced today, April 23.

The Kikuta Kazuo Theater Award is designed to permanently convey the achievements of Mr. Kazuo Kikuta, who left a great footprint in the theater world, and to honor artists (writers, directors, actors, sound effect creators, musicians, choreographers, etc.) who have shown outstanding achievements on the stage of popular theater, contributing to the development of theater.

Past recipients include Hideki Noda (1997, Theater Award) and Koki Mitani (2011, Grand Theater Award), and it is known as the highest award in the theater world. Professor Matsuo was selected for this award in recognition of his achievements in the following works:

- Writer and Director of COCOON PRODUCTION 2026 'Welcome to the Quiet Room The Musical'
- Writer and Musician of COCOON PRODUCTION 2026 Bunkamura Official Supplier Special 'Ensemble Days - They Have Names Too'

'Welcome to the Quiet Room The Musical' is a musical adaptation of Professor Matsuo's novel, which was nominated for the 134th Akutagawa Prize. Set in a closed ward of a psychiatric hospital, it realistically depicts the days from despair to regeneration for people with mental health issues. 'Ensemble Days - They Have Names Too' is a youth ensemble drama focusing on actors without role names, indispensable in musicals, known as the 'ensemble'. Both works fused intense human drama with pop and melodious music and dance, generating a huge response.

■ Comment from Professor Suzuki Matsuo on receiving the award
'Having dedicated my life to entertainment over the past few years, I feel I have received a result. I am honestly happy. To all the students, let's keep doing our best together.'

■ Actors who experienced the 'Suzuki Matsuo Real Work Project' at Kyoto University of the Arts also appeared in the award-winning work

At the Performing Arts Research Center where Professor Matsuo belongs, various activities and research are conducted to organically connect the field of creation with academic research, based at the university-operated full-scale theater 'Kyoto Art Theater Shunjuza'.

Since academic year 2023, the 'Suzuki Matsuo Real Work Project', where students create performing arts works together with Professor Matsuo, has been implemented. It is a practical project where students are recruited and selected from all departments, and after learning various theories related to performing arts such as 'Directing Theory', 'Playwriting Theory', and 'Acting Theory', they hold performances of works.

Shizuka Todoroki, an alumna of the university's Department of Performing Arts (graduated in 2023) who participated in the project in its first year, also appeared in the award-winning work 'Welcome to the Quiet Room The Musical'.

The university will continue to create opportunities for practical education that combines field experience and education across all arts in the future.