Ballet
Staying Afloat in the Midst of Turmoil Urawa Makoto
The Influence of Society on Ballet in Japan 2019 was a rough year for Japan on several fronts. The rift with the Korean government widened and there were many domestic political scandals. The tax hike and the ongoing trade friction between US and China have worsened the situation for businesses and have had an impact on household budgets. As climate change continued to wreak havoc in many parts of the world, Japan suf-
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fered another heat wave in the summer and Tokyo metropolitan area and the eastern part of the country were hit by a succession of mega-typhoons. While the nation has been preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and Japanese athletes have demonstrated their prowess in rugby, tennis and other sports, dance companies are cutting back on their budgets and keeping a low profile. During the year, many performances had to be cancelled due to the series of mega-typhoons and the unavoidable suspension of transport services. These extraordinary events have made the dance industry realise that the social problems could no longer be ignored. Theatre in Japan
Theatre Yearbook 2020
