ISSEY OGATA official site
HistoryChronology
- 1973
- May
- Performs in On-Theatre Jiyuu Gekijou's production of Boxing Elegy. This is the first play directed by Yuzo Morita, and also the starting point of the collaboration between Issey and Morita.
- December
- Performs in On-Theatre Jiyuu Gekijou's production of A Train written and directed by Kazuyoshi Kushida.
- 1974
- February
- Performs in Harold Pinter's Dumbwaiter directed by Yuzo Morita.
- September
- Performs in the Kinokuniya Hall production of Bertolt Brecht's Jungle of cities directed by Yasu Ohashi. Kiyoko Morita also acts in this play.
- October
- The theatrical Morita School study group led by Yuzo Morita is established.
- 1975
- January
- Issey writes and directs his first play, titled Beyond the Rainbow.
- October
- Performs in Samuel Becket's Krapp's last tape with Junji Takada. The play is directed by Yuzo Morita.
- 1976
- October
- Performs in The Great Ones, which
depicts the breaking up of a Japanese
Manzai
comic pair, at the Nakano Public Hall. The study group suspends its thrice weekly rehearsals with Morita after this show. - Issey and Morita acquire scaffold constructor (steeplejack) licenses.
- 1980
- June
- Performs Twelve rough sketches of a bartender at an underground theatre in Nakameguro. This two-hour single-hander follows a bartender from opening time until the bar closes in the early morning. It also establishes the foundation for Issey's solo work.
- 1981
- Receives the Gold Prize from Nippon Television's A Comedy Star is Born for his portrayal of characters from various fields of life. Issey's avoidance of overt jokes and overaction in the predominantly stand-up comedy flavored contest apparently won the interest of a large number of people in the audience.
- 1982
- March
- Wakabayashi, an Osaka resident and member of the general public who saw the television contest, calls to suggest that Issey perform the skits from A Comedy Star is Born locally. The result is an Issey Ogata Solo Performance at the Orange Room in Osaka.
- April
- The first performance of Issey Ogata's
Catalogue of City Life
at the Ikebukuro Studio 200. - June
- Issey performs as a guest in Rokusuke Ei's Ten O'Clock Theatre at the Shibuya Jean Jean Theatre.
- August
- Second guest performance in Rokusuke Ei's Ten O'Clock Theatre.
- November
- Launch of the Non-stop Survival series at the Shibuya Jean Jean. (Uncle Atom, Opening Act, Bartender I, Downpour at the Construction Site, Exam day)
- Performance at the Shinsaibashi Parco in Osaka... to an audience of three.
- December
- Performs A Slap on the Face of the Urban Hobbies at the Ikebukuro Studio 200.
- 1983
- January
- A Non-stop Survival performance at the Shibuya Jean Jean. This performance consists partly of experimental collaboration with guest performer Toru Hanafusa.
- April
- First performance at Jean Jean Okinawa.
- July
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Extra Episode I
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - October
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Extra Episode II
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival Part III: Hubris and Servility
at the Ikebukuro Studio 200.
- 1984
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part II
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival Part V: The Bogus Runaway
at the Ikebukuro Studio 200. - August
- The first Kinokuniya Hall performance produced by
Yoneko Yamafuji. Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part I
- October
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part IV
at the Shibuya Jean Jean.
- 1985
- March
- Receives the 1985 Minister of Education Award for
Fine Arts (New Artist, Popular Arts division). Performs
Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part VI
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part II
at the Kinokuniya Hall. Self-publishes the novel Shinei Ironworking. - October
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part VII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival Part VIII: The record is unofficial due to a tailwind
at the Ikebukuro studio 200
- 1986
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part IX
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part III
at the Kinokuniya Hall. This Yoneko Yamafuji production results in the Morita Office receiving the XXI Kinokuniya Theatre Award for Best Individual Contribution in 1986. - Launch of the self-published novel The Staff Before a Fall School
- September
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part X
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival Part XI: The record is unofficial due to a tailwind
at the Ikebukuro Studio 200.
- 1987
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part IV
at the Kinokuniya Hall. - Launch of the self-published collection of short stories Really Short
- September
- Go With A Miracle written by Issey Ogata and directed by Yuzo Morita at the Shinjuku Theatre Apple. The cast includes Issey Ogata, Kayoko Kishimoto, Denden and Toru Hanafusa.
- October
- Director Yuzo Morita is hospitalized due to an
osteosarcoma, and the October performance of
Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival
at the Shibuya Jean Jean is cancelled. - Issey's cat, Dobu (Sewer) finds a new home at the Morita Office.
- 1988
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XIII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part V
at the Kinokuniya Hall. - Launch of the self-published picture book Melodrama
- June
- Issey receives the Broadcasting Critics' Galaxy
Promotional Award for NHK's airing of Issey
Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life
- November
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XIV
at the Shibuya Jean Jean.
- 1989
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XV
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part VI
at the Kinokuniya Hall. - August
- Invitation only performances of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part VII
at the Harajuku Quest hall. - ...followed by Plus One Theatre: The Dealer Get-together - a two-hander with Masao Komatsu at the Harajuku Quest Hall.
- October
- Toshi-chan and Wataru - a two-hander with Masao Komatsu at the Shibuya Jean Jean.
- 1990
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XVI
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - April
- Receives the Golden Arrow Theatrical Award for A Catalogue of City Life
- May
- Invitation only performances of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part VIII
at the Harajuku Quest hall. - August
- Invitation only performances of Plus One Theatre with Kaori Momoi at the Harajuku Quest hall.
- Invitation only performances of Plus One Theatre with Masao Komatsu at the Harajuku Quest hall.
- October
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XVII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part IX
at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space Small Hall.
- 1991
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XVIII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - The short novel Issey Ogata's
Living Catalogue
is published by the Asahi Shinbun Press - The collection of plays Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life
is published by Hayakawa Shobou Inc. - May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part IX
at the Sogetsu Hall. - August
- Another run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part IX
at the Sogetsu Hall. - October
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XIX
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - November
- Shoot of the video movie Issey Ogata's
Lost World, Beginners' Version
- 1992
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XX
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - April
- Commences tours of Japan. The first location is the NBN Higashi Bethuin Kaikan Hall in Nagoya.
- May
- Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part X
at the Sogetsu Hall. - Tour of the Kyoiku-Kaikan Hall in Kanazawa and Tokyu Cher-Cher in Nagano
- June
- Joetsu Regent Hall performances in Niigata
- July
- Hakata Citizens' Center performances in Fukuoka
- August
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- Invitation only performances of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part X
at the Sogetsu Hall. - October
- Cader 2.7 Hall performances in Sapporo, Hokkaido
- November
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival XXI
at the Shibuya Jean Jean.
- 1993
- January
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival XXII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - April
- Jean Jean Okinawa performances. Launch of Recipe - a self-published collection of illustrations and photographs
- May
- Recipe publishing event and exhibition at the Roppongi Art Forum
- June
- Invitation only performances of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XI
at the Sogetsu Hall. - July
- Kanzawa Citymonde Hall and Kyoiku-Kaikan Hall performances in Ishikawa Prefecture
- August
- Nagoya Nakamura Cultural Center performances in Aichi Prefecture
- Tsukushi Kaikan Hall performances in Fukuoka
- Another invitation only run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XI
at the Sogetsu Hall in Tokyo - September
- Launches first international tour to New York by invitation of the Manhattan branch of the Japan Society.
- October
- Farewell performances at the Jean Jean Okinawa before the venue closes.
- November
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXIII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Launch of the videos Don't Go Home Yet Performance and Let's Meet Out Of Uniform
- Cader 2.7 Hall performances in Sapporo
- 1994
- January
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- March
- Urawa Sonic City Hall performances in Saitama Prefecture
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXIV
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - April
- Aichi Arts Centre performances in Aichi Prefecture
- Joetsu performances in Niigata (Promoted by the
See Jean Jean Club
) - May
- Nagano performances (Promoted by the
See Jean Jean Club
) - Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin performances in Germany
- June
- Kyoiku-Kaikan Hall performances in Kanazawa
- August
- Invitation only run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XII
at the Sogetsu Hall. - September
- Japan Society performances in New York
- October
- Performances in Paris and Munich
- Okinawa performances (Promoted by the
See Jean Jean Club
) - November
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXV
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - Launch of Of His Own Wish - A Collection of Plays published by Hayakawa Shobou Inc.
- December
- Performances of the international White Horse Theatre program at the Tokyo Aoyama Spiral Hall and Sogetsu Hall. Filmed by a documentary film crew from the German National Television.
- 1995
- January
- Issey visits Kobe a week after the Hanshin earthquake, and is startled to find the venue he is scheduled to play in has been turned to lodgings for salvage workers.
- February
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- March
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXVI
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - Performs the cancelled January Kobe shows at the Shin-Kobe Oriental Theatre.
- April
- Aomori, Morioka, Hirosaki and Sendai performances (Promoted by the See Jean Jean Club)
- May
- Invitation only run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XIII
at the Sogetsu Hall. - Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre performances in Aichi Prefecture
- June
- First illustration exhibition at the second floor gallery of the Nano-Hana Japanese confectionary merchant in Odawara
- Odawara Culture Hall performances
- Kyoto Prefectural Art Center performances in Kyoto
- July
- Kyoiku-Kaikan Hall performances in Ishikawa Prefecture
- Toyama Sky Hall performances in Toyama Prefecture
- Portland performances in Oregon, U.S.A
- August
- Second invitation only run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XIII
at the Sogetsu Hall. - September
- Third invitation only run of Issey Ogata's
A Catalogue of City Life: Part XIII
at the Harajuku Quest hall. - Hakata and Nagasaki performances (Promoted by the See Jean Jean Club)
- October
- A tour of Dublin, London, Muenster and Stuttgart.
- November
- Aichi Prefectural Art Theatre performances in Aichi Prefecture
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXVII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - December
- Performances of the international White Horse Theatre program at the Harajuku Quest Hall
- Launch of the videos Gifts of Uncle Atom and The Secret Treasures of Eybrow Man.
- Launch of the photo album Foreign Countries published by Nigensha Publishing Co. Ltd.
- 1996
- January
- Issey directs a Brahms concert at the Suntory Hall
- Suita City Culture Hall performances in Osaka Prefecture
- Ureshino Furusato Hall performances in Mie Prefecture
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- March
- Tour of America (Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Charlotte, Washington, New York)
- April
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XVIII
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - A run of musical sketches only at the Kobe Art Village Center
- May
- Okinawa performances
- Aomori performances (Promotoed by the
See Jean Jean Club
) - Morioka performances
- June
- Shin-Kobe Oriental Theatre performances
- Issey begins to ponder ways to realize the dream of having his own theatre.
- Experiments with performances at a location in Hiroo (Tokyo) set up as a theatre and art space.
- July
- Issey establishes the Higashiyama Art Work gallery in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
- Gather Up Close to Watch Issey Ogata performances at the Harajuku Quest Hall.
- August
- White Horse Theatre performances at the Phoenix Hall in Osaka.
- September
- White Horse Theatre performances at the Harajuku Quest Hall.
- The Issey Ogata box office opens at the Dogenzaka Apartments in Omotesando, Tokyo.
- Kobe News Matsukata Hall performances in Hyogo Prefecture.
- October
- Gather Up Close to Watch Issey Ogata: Part II performances at the Harajuku Quest Hall.
- November
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXIX
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - They Do Look Like Scrawls... illustration exhibition at the Kanazawa Higashiyama Art Works Gallery.
- December
- Gather Up Close to Watch Issey Ogata: Part III performances at the Harajuku Quest Hall.
- Overseas Graffiti: New York, Berlin illustration exhibition at the Kanazawa Higashiyama Art Works Gallery.
- Cader 2.7 Hall performances in Sapporo, Hokkaido
- 1997
- January
- Kyoto Prefectural Art Center performances in Kyoto
- Kintetsu Art Hall performances in Osaka
- April
- Issey Ogata's
Non-stop Survival: Part XXX
at the Shibuya Jean Jean. - Oizumi Cultural Village Hall performances in Gunma Prefecture
- Hanamaki Cultural Hall performances in Iwate Prefecture
- Izumity 21 performances in Sendai
- June
- Launch of the Novel + Dialogue + Essay + CD-ROM
package Issey Ogata's
Let's Keep This Just Between Us
published by Kids Corporation - Launch of a strange not-quite-photo-album-or-diary titled Come to Think Of it, Non-stop Survival Could Be Stopped published by Crane Co. Ltd.
- Shin-Kobe Oriental Theatre performances in Hyogo Prefecture
- Uozu Niikawa Cultural Hall performances in Toyama Prefecture
- Kyoiku-Kaikan Hall performances in Ishikawa prefecture
- September - October
- A tour of five German cities
- November
- Issey invites the German group Ars Vitalis to Japan. Produces a concert tour of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.
- 1998
- February - March
- A three week run at the Lyric Theatre in the London West End.
- 1999
- May
- Kammerspielen Theatre performances in Munich, Germany.
- Performs in Taiwanese film director Edward Yang's Memories of a Summer (A ONE AND A TWO)
- 2000
- September
- Riverside Theatre performances in London
- October
- Performs at the Luxemburg National Theatre festival
- 2001
- April
- Kammerspielen performances in Munich
- Issey's first collaboration with Kaori Momoi in ten years. The theme of the new four-part program they write and perform together is Crime.
- October
- Berlin Ballhaus performances, coupled with a German version of the Corporal Literature workshop.
- Riverside Studio performances in London.
- 2002
- March
- A tour of Cheju Island and Seoul at the invitation of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea.
- Two-hander with Kaori Momoi - a four part anthology on the theme of Love
- October
- Two-hander with Kaori Momoi at the Playhouse Theatre in London
- November
- Two-hander with Kaori Momoi at the Munchen Residence Theater and Haus Der Kunst
- December
- Issey Hosts a Quest Cafe event at the Harajuku Quest Hall in Tokyo, and shows the movie Children's Time.
- 2003
- April
- Issey Ogata-la Inc. is established
- Issey invites Meret Becker and Fragiles from Germany for a small concert.
- June
- Decides to start a serial novel viewable using a mobile phone.
- Commences writing The Disappearing Man
- September
- Stars in director Ichikawa Jun's Tony Takitani
- December
- Produces a new year's eve countdown performance with Meret Becker and Ars Vitalis that is broadcast live over the NHK satellite channel 2.
- 2004
- August
- Produces Kaori Momoi's first single-hander performance.
- The two rehearse and perform sketches on the theme of Lovers' Suicide
- November
- Writes and performs Issey Ogata - Reads! Writes! & Creates! Soseki Natsume at the Theatre 1010 in Kita-ku, Tokyo. Guest performers include workshop participants both from Japan and the Hochschule Musik und Theater in Zurich.
- Tony Takitani receives the Special Jury Award at the 57th Locarno International Film Festival.
- December
- The Issey Ogata Red and White Singing Contest countdown is streamed live over the Internet.
- 2005
- January
- Tony Takitani is released in Tokyo and throughout Japan.
- June
- Tours Japan with Yuzo Morita holding a series of eight six-day workshops sponsored by the District Creative Society of prefectural theatres
- 2006
- February
- Produces joint performance with the German band 17 Hippies at Theatre 1010
- May
- Produces Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester's concerts at the Dai-Ichi Seimei Hall and the Hyogo Performing Arts Center
- August
- The Sun is released in Japan.
- December
- Workshop in Sapporo with students from Hochschule Musik und Theater Zurich.
