CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
Contemporary Theatre
Standing as Individuals, Crossing Bridges Yamaguchi Hiroko It was a year that saw a series of incidents where public funding for the arts was stripped away. In September, the Agency for Cultural Affairs decided to withdraw its subsidy grant of around ÂĽ78 million for Aichi Triennale 2019. After the international art festival opened with such exhibits 088
as a video work in which a printed image of Emperor Hirohito is burned, the executive committee office received not only protests but even threats. It was then decided by the organizers to close part of the exhibition venue temporarily. The nominal reason for the grant withdrawal was an issue related to the paperwork submitted by the triennale organizers. Though the grant withdrawal was criticized by many individuals and groups as an infringement upon freedom of speech, the government has yet to explain clearly the process that led up to the decision or who was ultimately responsible for it. Likewise, the Japan Arts Council withdrew its subsidy for the film From Miyamoto to You (Miyamoto kara kimi e) because a member of the cast was convicted of a narcotics offense. In September, the organization revised its guidelines allowing grants and
