The Saison Foundation
The Saison Foundation is a grant-making foundation that supports projects and activities related to contemporary Japanese theater and dance.
THE SAISON FOUNDATION
Kyobashi Yamamoto Building, 4th Floor3-12-7 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku,
Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
TEL: +81 3 (3535) 5566
FAX: +81 3 (3535) 5565
[Mon thru Fri 10:00 – 17:00]
NEWS
Open call for Visiting Fellows 2025
The open calls for Saison Artist in Residence Visiting Fellow, which supports creative research for international contemporary theater and dance artist, has been announced
→Visiting Fellows 2025
Open call for Visiting Fellows 2024
The open calls for Saison Artist in Residence Visiting Fellow, which supports creative research for international contemporary theater and dance artist, has been announced
→Visiting Fellows 2024
Open call for Visiting Fellows 2023
The open calls for Saison Artist in Residence Visiting Fellow, which supports creative research for international contemporary theater and dance artist, has been announced
→Visiting Fellows 2023
Covid-19 Prevention and Control Measures at Morishita Studio
We kindly ask our studio users to take Covid-19 prevention and control measures on your own in accordance with the Japanese government’s Mask Use Guidance from 13 March 2023 and your cooperation in ensuring basic practices such as frequent ventilation, handwashing, and hand sanitizing while using our facilities.
The Saison Foundation’s website maintenance
[ANNOUNCEMENT] The Saison Foundation’s website will be temporarily down for maintenance from 22:00 to 24:00 on Friday, July 15 (JST).
Please also note temporary email delivery suspension may occur during and right after the upgrade.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Open call for Visiting Fellows 2022
The open calls for Saison Artist in Residence Visiting Fellow, which supports creative research for international contemporary theater and dance artist, has been announced
→Visiting Fellows 2022
Open Call for Online Research Residency 2021/22
Online Research Residency offers artistic development opportunities to research and spend time building links with the other participating artists.
Covid-19 Safety Measures at Morishita Studio
In order to reduce the risk of catching coronavirus (Covid-19) and passing it on to others, please follow the hygiene protocols listed below when entering and using Morishita Studio:
1. Wash hands and use hand sanitizers
2. Wear masks
3. Gargle
4. If you cough or sneeze, use a tissue or into your bended elbow and wash or sanitize your hands immediately afterwards
5. Provide fresh air (ventilation) within the studios
6. Observe physical distancing
*Please refrain from entering the studio if you are feeling unwell, especially if you have respiratory issues (cough, running nose, shortness of breath) and symptoms of fever.
At the studio, our employees will take the following precautionary measures in order to ensure the safety of our visitors:
● Wearing masks
● Installation of sanitizers
● Ventilation of indoor shared spaces
Thank you for your cooperation.
Saison Artist in Residence
The Saison Foundation is a grant-making foundation established in July 1987 that supports projects and activities related to contemporary Japanese theater and dance. In order to increase the visibility of contemporary Japanese performing arts (theater, dance, and performance art) on a worldwide level, The Saison Foundation awards grants and priority use of its rehearsal/workshop and residence facilities at Morishita Studio in Tokyo.
Based on the outcome of Residence in Morishita Studio from 2011 to 2015, the Saison Foundation starts “Saison Artist in Residence” to stimulate two-way international cultural exchanges with artists and arts organizations overseas.
Saison Artist in Residence offers the following two types of support:
Saison AIR Partnership
This program aims to develop exchange residency programs with international partners, such as theaters, dance houses, festivals, artist-in-residence organizations, theater companies, dance companies, and grant-making organizations. The international partners are expected to invite Japanese artists to their residency program and to send artists to The Saison Foundation’s residency program. Those who wish to start collaboration projects between an overseas artist and a Japanese artist through artist-in-residence programs are also eligible to apply.
Visiting Fellows
This program aims to build up an international network for contemporary performing arts and to enhance mutual understanding and gives opportunities for artists and arts managers to research the contemporary performing arts scene in Japan. The program supports research visits to Japan for those who are expected to play an important role in the international performing arts scene.
2024
Visiting Fellows 2024
■Residents
Elisa Liepsch (dramaturg, programmer) (Belgium/Switzerland)
Avni Sethi (performance artist) (India)
2023
Saison AIR Partnership 2023
Footscray Community Arts Exchange Project
Residency Period: August 15–September 11, 2023 (Japan)
Residency Venues: Morishita Studio (Tokyo), Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio
Invited Artists:
Ngioka Bunda-Heath (Australia)
Mayunkiki (Japan)
The artist Mayunkiki, a member of the traditional Ainu vocal group MAREWREW and active at festivals both in Japan and overseas, and Kanoko Tamura, who heads Art Translators Collective and works in contemporary art and the performing arts, were invited to Australia.
Residency Period: March 7–April 4, 2024 (Australia)
Residency Venue: Footscray Community Arts (Melbourne)
Participating Artist and Arts Manager:
Mayunkiki (Japan)
Kanoko Tamura (Japan)
Visiting Fellows 2023
■Residents
Kidows Kim (choreographer, performer) (South Korea / France / Belgium)
Kazuki Fujita (choreographer, dancer) (Japan / France)
Lucie Ortmann (dramaturge, tanzhaus nrw) (Germany)
2022
Saison AIR Partnership 2022
Footscray Community Arts Exchange Project
Residency Period: August 28–September 10, 2022 (Japan)
Residency Venues: Morishita Studio (Tokyo), Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio
Participating Artists and Art Managers:
Uncle Larry Walsh (Australia)
Dan Mitchell (Australia)
The artist Mayunkiki, active at festivals both in Japan and overseas and a member of the traditional Ainu vocal group MAREWREW, and Kanoko Tamura, who heads Art Translators Collective and works in contemporary art and performing arts, were invited to Australia.
Residency Period: February 27–March 14, 2023 (Australia)
Residency Venues: Footscray Community Arts (Melbourne), POWERHOUSE-GALANG (Sydney)
Participating Artists and Arts Managers:
Mayunkiki (Japan)
Kanoko Tamura (Japan)
Saison AIR Partnership 2022
Turn off the house lights
In this project, which was launched in 2020, Mapped to the Closest Address conducts research gathering different voices and stories from people they have met in Tokyo and Berlin (a gardener, arborist, community garden members, farmer, winemaker), and from friends and family. Turn off the house lights, a dance performance interweaving past, present, and imaginary landscapes, along with those voices and narratives, was staged by the Berlin collective in March 2022. For fiscal 2022, Alex Viteri and Catalina Fernández were invited to Tokyo, where they collaborated with Shuntaro Yoshida and Maharu Maeno.
Residency Period: August 3–September 14, 2022
Residency Venue: Morishita Studio
Participating Artists:
Alex Viteri (dramaturge)
Catalina Fernández (lighting and sound designer)
Shuntaro Yoshida (dancer, choreographer, contemporary dance and performance researcher)
Maharu Maeno (artist, performer)
Violeta (videographer, performer)
Visiting Fellows 2022
2021
Saison AIR Partnership 2021
Museum of Human E-Motions 2021
From September 2021, four artists participated in digital residencies hosted by each of the partner institutions, with the results presented in December. The Saison Foundation invited Daisuke Muto to discuss with the participating artists about the social natural of choreography and approaches to dance through the theme of choreography and ecosystems.
The following artists participated: Aina Alegre (France/Spain), Chan Wai Lok (Hong Kong), Federica Dalla Pozza (Italy), and Yen-Fang Yu (Taiwan).
Aina Alegre
Federica Dalla Pozza
Chan Wai Lok
Yen-Fang YuSaison AIR Partnership 2021
Turn off the house lights
[Participating artists]
Alex Viteri
Catalina Fernandez
Shuntaro Yoshida
Maharu Maeno
Violeta
Saison AIR Partnership 2021
Footscray Community Arts Exchange Project
Panelists
Vicki Couzens (Artist, Footscray Community Arts Indigenous Advisory Group)
Dan Mitchell (Senior Producer, Indigenous Cultural Program, Footscray Community Arts)
Masahiro Nomoto (Director of Culture Promotion Department, Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park)
Online Research Residency 2021/22
Jang He-jin
Pat Toh
Pijin Neji 
Nanako Matsumoto
Zander Porter
Yang Zhen Performing Arts AiR Study Group
Performing Arts AiR Meeting at YPAM
2020
Saison AIR Partnership 2020
Museum of Human E-Motions 2020
In FY2020, five artists from different cultural and historical backgrounds toured the digital residencies hosted by each partner institution from September 2020, and presented their results in December 2020.
Osamu Shikichi
Giacomo Citton
Sarah Xiao
Fouad Boussouf
Liu Yen-ChengDetails
Saison AIR Partnership 2020
Open Forest Launch
In FY2020, “Open Forest Launch”, a digital residency connecting art activities in Tokyo and Berlin, was hold.
[Participating artists]
Alex Viteri
Catalina Fernandez
Shuntaro Yoshida
Maharu Maeno
Online Research Residency 2020/21
In parallel with their own research, participating artists took part in group sessions where they could share their research process online with other participating artists. In addition, online workshops and presentations of the results were held to share the artists’ own dance practices and methods, research ideas, and methodologies.
Kristīne Brīniņa
Saori Hala
Adrienne Hart
Megumi Kamimura
Acaye Kerunen
Declan WhitakerVisiting Fellows 2020
Performing Arts AIR Study Group
With the aim of exploring the significance and role of artist-in-residence in the performing arts, the Performing Arts AIR Study Group conducted a survey to understand the actual situation, trends, and issues in the production and operation of AIRs related to the performing arts, and held study sessions.
Performing Arts AiR Meeting 2020
In February 2021, a symposium was held at TPAM 2020 (International Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama) to clarify the reality and significance of artist-in-residence as a local place in today’s globalized society.
2019
Japan Italy France Taiwan Dance Exchange Program: Museum of Human E-motion
Teita Iwabuchi
Sorour Darabi
Masako Matsushita
Ming-Hwa YehCo3 Australia Exchange Program MA Project
Raewyn HillVisiting Fellows 2019
Adrienne Hart
(*cancellation
for personal reasons)
Performing Arts AiR Meeting
at TPAM 2020
at Ueda Theatre Festival 2019
at TPAM 20192018
Japan Italy France Dance Exchange Program: Kiseki – Trajectories
Teita Iwabudhi, Giorgia Nardin, Satchie Noro worked at Morishita Studio in February 2018. The program continues and each organization hosts residency program in Italy in August and in France in September 2018.
Teita Iwabuchi
Giorgia Nardin
Satchie NoroBloom Up Residency Exchange Program
THE AGENCYGermany
Artist Collective (Theater)
1 June to 18 June 2018
TÓPOS Exchange Program
Pau Aran Gemeno
Junya Ishii
Kaho KogureVisiting Fellows 2018
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2018
2017
Japan, in Fiscal Year 2017
2016
Visiting Fellows 2016
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2016
2015
Visiting Fellows 2015
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2015
2014
Visiting Fellows 2014
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2014
2013
Visiting Fellows 2013
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2013
2012
Visiting Fellows 2012
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Year 2012
2011
Visiting Fellows 2011
Government of Japan, in Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012
THE SAISON FOUNDATION
Kyobashi Yamamoto Building, 4th Floor3-12-7 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku,
Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
TEL: +81 3 (3535) 5566
FAX: +81 3 (3535) 5565
[Mon thru Fri 10:00 – 17:00]
Copyright © 2025 The Saison Foundation All rights reserved.
The Saison Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the following Legal Entity Support members and for their generous contributions (as of March 2023/in alphabetical order):
(Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.)
