"Cocoon Actors Studio" 3rd Term Opens! Comments from Permanent Instructors Arrive!
Bunkamura's youth actor training institute, "Cocoon Actors Studio," held its 3rd term opening ceremony with 20 selected students. They will undergo intensive training in various disciplines leading up to a performance in December.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 21:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 14:01 (40h 51m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 23:21 (9h 19m after Collected)
A group photo from the opening ceremony on April 1st.
Launched in April 2024, "Cocoon Actors Studio" (organized by Bunkamura) is a training institute for young actors, with Suzuki Matsuo as Principal and instruction provided by top-tier professionals in the theater industry.
On April 1, 2026, the opening ceremony for the third term was held at Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon. The third-term class consists of 20 individuals aged 18 to 30, selected through auditions. Over the next year, they will engage in practical lessons combining basics and performance in diverse genres such as acting, Japanese classical dance, modern dance, and singing. The third-term performance, "Ensemble Days—They Have Names Too" (Written/Music by Suzuki Matsuo), is scheduled for December 2026. Direction will be handled by Ryo Horikoshi (Ayame Juhachiban), who joined the faculty this term as a permanent instructor.
Please stay tuned for the future activities of "Cocoon Actors Studio" and its third-term students.
▼Official Website
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/sp/cas/
■Third Term Students Profile Published
The profiles of the 20 students are now available on the official website. Please look forward to their growth over the year.
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/sp/cas/student.html
■Comments from Permanent Instructors
Suzuki Matsuo (Principal / Acting)
"As you can see from the lineup of instructors and staff here, there are a lot of adults involved. In other words, this is not something to be taken lightly. Please do not come here with a 'customer' mindset; work hard with the intention of undergoing rigorous training. You will encounter many unfamiliar things, and it might be tough. However, if you take the lead in cultivating an environment for learning and try to act like you're having fun even when you're not, you'll find that it strangely becomes enjoyable. Study hard so you have no regrets, and please become a professional. I look forward to working with you for the year."
Ryo Horikoshi (Acting)
"I am Ryo Horikoshi, and I will be teaching from this year. I will also direct the performance 'Ensemble Days.' I lead a theater troupe called 'Ayame Juhachiban,' and one of my members studied here as a first-term student, telling me what a wonderful place it is. I will do my absolute best since I am entrusted with one precious year of your lives."
Shuji Okui (Acting)
"After two years of teaching, I feel that one year passes in the blink of an eye. If you hesitate, you'll be left behind, so it's important to immerse yourself completely. Since many of the instructors are directors, I want to give advice from an actor's perspective as much as possible. I might be strict at times, but let's have fun and learn with an open mind."
Seiji Nozoe (Acting)
"Having fun is paramount; many things are born from that. I've been involved in theater for a long time, and what remains constant is that I love theater like crazy and immerse myself because I love it. With so many instructors, we might say different things at times, but all of it is true. Believe in yourselves, work as a team, take care of your bodies, and do your best for the year."
Kunio Sugihara (Acting)
"This is my third year, but I want to approach you all with a fresh mindset and have good lessons through discussion. I've taught gently so far at Cocoon Actors Studio, but due to a change in my own mindset and the fact that the performance is in December—earlier than usual—I plan to be a bit stricter this year. Follow me!"
Takamasa Fujima (Japanese Classical Dance / Movement)
"We have a reliable group this year with a different kind of energy and focus than the first and second terms. Please maintain this energy. It is quite rare for movement guidance to be included in the curriculum for young actor training. With historical dramas gaining attention recently, please learn movements and speech techniques using traditional Japanese methods properly."
Choreography Collective air:man (Dance)
"Move your heart, don't stop thinking, and sink your teeth into every lesson. By doing so, you will make various discoveries, and the ideal image of an actor and a wonderful future will await you. Work hard to increase your repertoire so you can handle any genre!"
Midori Kurata (Vocalization / Singing)
"Every year, I share things to keep in mind through an 'acrostic' (A-I-U-E-O poem). This year, I'll use 'I-BU-RI-GAK-KO' (Smoked Radish Pickles).
'I' (Ijimenai): Don't blame yourself more than necessary.
'Bu' (Buaisou ni naranai): When you are exhausted and don't even want to say hello, take care of yourself.
'Ri' (Risei): Don't just rely on passion..."
Launched in April 2024, "Cocoon Actors Studio" (organized by Bunkamura) is a training institute for young actors, with Suzuki Matsuo as Principal and instruction provided by top-tier professionals in the theater industry.
On April 1, 2026, the opening ceremony for the third term was held at Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon. The third-term class consists of 20 individuals aged 18 to 30, selected through auditions. Over the next year, they will engage in practical lessons combining basics and performance in diverse genres such as acting, Japanese classical dance, modern dance, and singing. The third-term performance, "Ensemble Days—They Have Names Too" (Written/Music by Suzuki Matsuo), is scheduled for December 2026. Direction will be handled by Ryo Horikoshi (Ayame Juhachiban), who joined the faculty this term as a permanent instructor.
Please stay tuned for the future activities of "Cocoon Actors Studio" and its third-term students.
▼Official Website
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/sp/cas/
■Third Term Students Profile Published
The profiles of the 20 students are now available on the official website. Please look forward to their growth over the year.
https://www.bunkamura.co.jp/sp/cas/student.html
■Comments from Permanent Instructors
Suzuki Matsuo (Principal / Acting)
"As you can see from the lineup of instructors and staff here, there are a lot of adults involved. In other words, this is not something to be taken lightly. Please do not come here with a 'customer' mindset; work hard with the intention of undergoing rigorous training. You will encounter many unfamiliar things, and it might be tough. However, if you take the lead in cultivating an environment for learning and try to act like you're having fun even when you're not, you'll find that it strangely becomes enjoyable. Study hard so you have no regrets, and please become a professional. I look forward to working with you for the year."
Ryo Horikoshi (Acting)
"I am Ryo Horikoshi, and I will be teaching from this year. I will also direct the performance 'Ensemble Days.' I lead a theater troupe called 'Ayame Juhachiban,' and one of my members studied here as a first-term student, telling me what a wonderful place it is. I will do my absolute best since I am entrusted with one precious year of your lives."
Shuji Okui (Acting)
"After two years of teaching, I feel that one year passes in the blink of an eye. If you hesitate, you'll be left behind, so it's important to immerse yourself completely. Since many of the instructors are directors, I want to give advice from an actor's perspective as much as possible. I might be strict at times, but let's have fun and learn with an open mind."
Seiji Nozoe (Acting)
"Having fun is paramount; many things are born from that. I've been involved in theater for a long time, and what remains constant is that I love theater like crazy and immerse myself because I love it. With so many instructors, we might say different things at times, but all of it is true. Believe in yourselves, work as a team, take care of your bodies, and do your best for the year."
Kunio Sugihara (Acting)
"This is my third year, but I want to approach you all with a fresh mindset and have good lessons through discussion. I've taught gently so far at Cocoon Actors Studio, but due to a change in my own mindset and the fact that the performance is in December—earlier than usual—I plan to be a bit stricter this year. Follow me!"
Takamasa Fujima (Japanese Classical Dance / Movement)
"We have a reliable group this year with a different kind of energy and focus than the first and second terms. Please maintain this energy. It is quite rare for movement guidance to be included in the curriculum for young actor training. With historical dramas gaining attention recently, please learn movements and speech techniques using traditional Japanese methods properly."
Choreography Collective air:man (Dance)
"Move your heart, don't stop thinking, and sink your teeth into every lesson. By doing so, you will make various discoveries, and the ideal image of an actor and a wonderful future will await you. Work hard to increase your repertoire so you can handle any genre!"
Midori Kurata (Vocalization / Singing)
"Every year, I share things to keep in mind through an 'acrostic' (A-I-U-E-O poem). This year, I'll use 'I-BU-RI-GAK-KO' (Smoked Radish Pickles).
'I' (Ijimenai): Don't blame yourself more than necessary.
'Bu' (Buaisou ni naranai): When you are exhausted and don't even want to say hello, take care of yourself.
'Ri' (Risei): Don't just rely on passion..."