A loss of direction appeared to afflict large parts of the Japanese theater world in the beginning of 2005 as last year's promising stream of new actors and directors failed to live up to their 2004 debuts. Dramatists responded by looking outward for inspiration, creating an upsurge in international collaborations throughout the year.
With the inherent difficulties of communicating complex ideas across cultural divides, trial and error characterized many of these efforts. On stages large and small it was apparent that, unclear about its future, Japanese theater remains deeply unsure of its current identity.
In such a turbulent time, in terms of vision, determination and vitality, three "Ds" might be said to have symbolized the theater year in Japan: Deutschland, dance and doyens.