Kansai Studies 2026
Nanako Ishihara, Hitoshi Kaneko / kondaba
Topographical Map of River kondaba
Photo by Toshiaki Nakatani
Photo by Toshiaki Nakatani
From research to completion
What emerges from an open process
of thought and experimentation?
Kansai Studies is a research program that explores the festival’s local Kansai region. Through fieldwork conducted by participating artists, the program sheds light on the local culture and environment to excavate the “raw gems” of future artistic expression. This year’s program features Nanako Ishihara and Hitoshi Kaneko from kondaba, who stage their new play Daily records of River kondaba in Chushojima, Kyoto. From local research to creation, the program focuses on the creative processes of two artists formerly belonging to Ishinha, a theater company known for its large-scale outdoor performances.
Chushojima’s name itself conjures a sense of narrative, and also includes the word for island (jima), which indicates that the area was once surrounded by water. It boasts a historical background as the former castle town of Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s Fushimi Castle, and used to be a port city supporting water transport along the Yodo River all the way to Osaka Bay. At the beginning of kondaba’s research, the two artists expressed their interest in how the Yodo River network was formed, as well as a desire to investigate the defining qualities of riverbanks and understand the river’s biotope that stems from its unique Wando topography. Updates on their daily field research are available on our note webpage. The artists will also hold an exhibition at the Kyoto Art Center to share their research findings.
This will be the first time that audience members will be able to witness in real-time the ideas and practices that arise during the creation of a work, spanning everything from research to final production. You won’t want to miss it!
Artist Profile
kondaba
Osaka, Japan
Founded in January 2018 by former company members of Ishinha, kondaba is now run by Nanako Ishihara and Hitoshi Kaneko. With “place” and “play” as the themes of creation, kondaba starts making works by finding a place to perform in the city and “play” with that place. “Play” refers to deciphering the regularity and features of that place from the physical structures, such as pillars, walls and ceiling, as well as from the texture, and exploring the relation between the body and the place. kondaba’s works are created based on the physicality gained through the play, research conducted on time accumulated within that place, and interviews with local residents. kondaba has performed at Hosono Building, former Ikuno Regional Wholesale Market, former Ouchi Carpentry Shop, and Creative Center OSAKA (former Namura Shipbuilding Osaka site). Received the award for outstanding works in the 4th Kansai Theater Award for the performance of The Master Builder, written by Henrik Ibsen and directed by kondaba.
Nanako Ishihara
Osaka, Japan
Raised in Adachi Ward, Tokyo. Ishihara performed in Ishinha’s Yugao no Hana Shiroki Yuugure and was a company member from November of the same year until the dissolution of Ishinha in 2017. In 2018, founded kondaba with Hitoshi Kaneko and others. Ishihara performs for the stage works of akakilike, neji&co, Kyokuto Taikutsu Dojo (Urban Research Theater), and Knit Cap Theater, as well as making self-directed/choreographed solo works.
Hitoshi Kaneko
Osaka, Japan
From Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, Kaneko graduated from Performing Arts Course, Kyoto University of Art and Design, and was a company member of Ishinha from 2006 to 2017 when the company dissolved, often in charge of choreography for many of the company’s works. Outside Ishinha, Kaneko has performed in Off Limit (Kyoto, 2018) directed by Nagara Wada, Interior (Kyoto, 2020) directed by Hirotaka Fukui, and works by Chiten, including Crime and Punishment (Kanagawa, 2020), Woe from Wit (Kyoto, 2024) and The Master and Margarita (Kyoto, 2025).
