Yuji Wada

The close relationship between operation and architecture

Initially a design and architectural consulting firm for theaters and performing arts venues, Theatre Workshop has expanded to offer operation and management planning, and has also launched a dedicated Facility Operation Department to conduct operation and management on behalf of venues it helped create. When I joined Theatre Workshop in 2018, its Content Business Office was launched. This office aims to respond to diverse venue needs such as planning and executing the venue’s in-house productions for highlighting and enhancing the venue’s uniqueness and independence. The Office is currently working on its first commission, which is content-planning for a public venue in Tokyo.

I am also involved in Consulting Department projects. Although architecture is not my specialty, operation and architecture are closely linked, and my experience in operation can be useful, I think.

I started my career at Wacoal Corporation, where I was involved in Spiral at Omotesando from the time of its launch. Spiral Hall was hired out for fashion shows and exhibitions, but since these alone could not fulfill the initial objective of the venue, which was to integrate life and culture, I also worked on in-house projects for presenting cultural content. Spiral Hall was the first venue of its kind in Japan to adopt the system of appointing artistic directors for one-year terms. Our artistic directors included Makoto Sato of Black Tent Theatre, leading figure of shingeki (New Drama) Koichi Kimura, Yukio Ninagawa, Ushio Amagatsu and Nobutaka Kotake, who invariably contributed to our cutting-edge lineup.

In 1995, I started working for the pre-opening office of the Tokyo International Forum, where I was involved in the venue’s launch and was responsible for liaising with architects, selecting equipment and setting down rules for venue hire. In addition to the venue’s in-house productions, I conducted sales for the venue rental side of the business. From 2017, I worked at Za-Koenji as the theater’s director.

Happy faces of younger staff reflect the positive workplace atmosphere

The Theatre Workshop website shows pictures of our young colleagues smiling, which I think aptly represents the company’s workplace atmosphere. Staff members are all very independent, yet contribute to the friendly atmosphere of the workplace.

I was surprised by the diversity of the areas covered by the company, and the number of venues in its portfolio. In addition to theaters per se, the company is involved in neighboring retail and dining establishments, conference venues and, at times, in the whole surrounding community, with implications for local tourism, international hospitality and the convention business. It is rewarding for me to be able to leverage my industry experience and share my acquired know-how with younger people.

Yuji Wada

Advisor, Content Business Department

Graduated from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Fundamental Engineering, Osaka University.（Joined Wacoal Corp. and was in charge of the launch and operation of the company's cultural facility, Spiral, where he introduced Japan's first artistic director system and planned and produced many highly original works in the field of performing arts.He introduced Japan's first artistic director system and planned and produced many highly original works in the field of performing arts, and was involved in the preparations for the opening of the Tokyo International Forum from 1995, and served in various capacities at the facility, including sales of rental theaters, management planning, and organized projects until 2017.After that, he served as the director of "Za Koenji," a facility in Suginami Ward, and joined Theatre Workshop in 2018.Based on his diverse experience in managing facilities, he strives to meet the various expectations of customers.