11th National Student Theater Festival Concludes — Young Talent Gathers in Nagoya, Menicon Award Goes to 'Paint Talent'

Menicon Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 3-21-19 Aoi, Naka-ku, Nagoya; President and CEO: Koji Kawaura) announces that the "11th National Student Theater Festival," for which Menicon served as special sponsor, was held at Menicon Theater Aoi from March 6 to March 10, 2026.

Before an audience of over 700, nine companies that had won their respective regional competitions across eight areas of Japan showcased works brimming with individuality, presented with student sensibility and fresh, innovative expression, generating tremendous excitement.

For this edition, the "Menicon Award" was established to honor the team demonstrating outstanding creativity, originality, and a bold spirit of challenge. It was presented to 'Paint Talent,' recommended by the Osaka Student Theater Festival. Their award-winning work, "If You Go Through With It, You'll Get Cold Feet," vividly reflects the era of the COVID-19 pandemic — portraying, through meticulous direction, the feelings of anxiety and frustration amid an endless sense of confinement, alongside the yearning to find hope for the future and the helplessness when such hopes are not easily realized. Beyond the high level of artistic completion, the group's ensemble construction in tackling a large-cast production was highly praised, leaving a strong impression on both the audience and the judges. The company also received the Grand Prize at this festival.

The troupe name 'Paint Talent' is rooted in the idea that during the pandemic, when the arts were deemed "non-essential," a world without culture and the arts would be a world in black and white. The name reflects the belief that culture and the arts exist to add color and vibrancy to such a society.

At the awards ceremony held on March 10, President Kawaura presented the award as presenter, commenting: "We evaluated based on the criteria of creativity, originality, and challenge. The work effectively conveyed the era's backdrop and the sense of stagnation during COVID, allowing the audience to naturally grasp the world of the piece. Coordinating lighting, sound, and performance for a large cast is no easy feat, yet the meticulous spatial construction was evident throughout, and we highly commend the teamwork that brought it all to life."

Menicon will continue to contribute to the development of emerging artists and the promotion of arts and culture through support for Star Classics Academia and the Menicon Arts and Culture Memorial Foundation.

■ National Student Theater Festival
The National Student Theater Festival is a theatrical competition in which nine student theater companies — winners of regional contests held in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Chugoku-Shikoku, and Fukuoka — gather to compete for the top title in Japan.

■ Official Website: https://jstf.jp/