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Gentle performances for restless modern lives

Akubi ga Utsuru (“Yawns Are Contagious”) is a five-member theatre collective formed in 2023 by graduates of the Theatre Creation Academy at Za-Koenji. Describing themselves as a “sleep-inducing but powerful theatre team that leaves audiences feeling good,” the group creates open and welcoming performances that blur the boundaries between theatre, community, and everyday life.

While rooted in theatre, the members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including music, unicycle performance, acting, and community activities. Their collaborative style embraces the idea of “anytime, anywhere, with anyone,” creating spaces where audiences and performers can share moments of imagination, humour, and human connection together.

Their productions mix storytelling, movement, workshops, audience participation, and experimental staging into performances that feel both intimate and gently unpredictable. Whether presenting original theatre works, participatory “forum theatre,” or collage-like stage pieces inspired by literature and daily life, Akubi ga Utsuru approaches performance as a living relationship rather than a fixed form.