Toshiki Okada is a playwright, novelist, and the director of the theater company chelfitsch. In 2005, he received the 49th Kishida Kunio Drama Award for “Five Days in March.” In 2007, he participated in the Kunstenfestivaldesarts, held in Brussels, with his work “Five Days in March.” Since this debut of his work overseas, he has continued to present works not only domestically but also internationally, putting on performances in over 90 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Okada’s work also involves many international co-productions such as “God Bless Baseball” in 2015 featuring a Japanese and Korean cast, “Pratthana – A Portrait of Possession” in 2018, which is based on a Thai novel by Uthis Haemamool featuring Thai actors and which received the 27th Yomiuri Theater Awards Selection Committee Special Prize, as well as “Metamorphosis of a Living Room” in 2023 commissioned by Wiener Festwochen. Since 2016, he has also consistently created and directed works in a repertory program at a renowned public theater in Germany. In 2020, his work “The Vacuum Cleaner” (Münchner Kammerspiele) and in 2022, “Doughnuts” (Thalia Theater, Hamburg) were selected as part of the Berliner Theatertreffen’s “10 Remarkable Productions.” His work “Unfulfilled Ghost and Monster – ZAHA / TSURUGA” won the 72nd Yomiuri Prize for Literature (Play/Scenario Award) and the 25th Tsuruya Namboku Drama Award. This play together with his opera “Yuzuru” received the Director Award of the 29th Yomiuri Theater Awards in 2022. As a novelist, he published “The End of the Moment We Had” (Shinchōsha) in 2007, which won the 2nd Kenzaburō Ōe Prize. In 2022, he received the 35th Mishima Yukio Prize and the 64th Kumanichi Literary Award for his novel “Broccoli Revolution” (Shinchōsha).

Megumi Nakamura is a dancer. After receiving the Apprenticeship at the Prix de Lausanne, she moved to Europe and danced with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo before joining Nederlands Dans Theater under Jiří Kylián. She collaborated with many of the world’s leading choreographers during her time there. After leaving the company, she served as a rehearsal coach for Kylián’s works and taught at major ballet companies and schools worldwide, including the Paris Opera Ballet. Since 2007, she has been based in Japan and actively works as a choreographer, creating works for companies such as Noism, K-BALLET TOKYO, and The National Ballet of Japan. Since 2022, she has been a guest artist at DaBY (Dance Base Yokohama). Her numerous accolades include the New Comer Award from the Dance Critics Society of Japan, The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize, the Chieko Hattori Award, and the Medal with Purple Ribbon. In 2024, she was appointed associate professor at Japan Women’s College of Physical Education.

Hana Sakai is a dancer. She began studying ballet at the age of five under Toshiaki Hatasa, Asami Maki, and Kyozo Mitani. In 1993, she joined the Asami Maki Ballet Tokyo and debuted in the lead role of “The Nutcracker” at age 18. In 1997, she became a founding member of The National Ballet of Japan at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, where she performed leading roles as a principal dancer in numerous premiere productions. Known for her refined artistry and exceptional technique, she is recognized as one of Japan’s leading ballet dancers. Her performances extend beyond classical ballet into contemporary dance and musicals. In 2013, she co-founded the dance unit Altneu with Yasutake Shimaji. Her honors include The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize (2009), the 35th Nimura Dance Award (2015), the Medal with Purple Ribbon (2017), the 39th Akiko Tachibana Award (2018), and the Tokyo Shimbun Dance Art Award (2021). She is a visiting professor of the ballet course at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, a guest artist at DaBY (Dance Base Yokohama), and a Dance Artist at Aichi Arts Center.

Yasutake Shimaji is a dancer and choreographer. He was a member of Noism (Niigata City) from 2004 to 2006 and of The Forsythe Company (Frankfurt) from 2006 to 2015. In 2013, he co-founded the dance unit Altneu with Hana Sakai. In 2016, he premiered “Arika,” a collaborative work with a rapper Roy Tamaki (環ROY), produced by Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, and has continued performing it domestically and internationally for nearly a decade. Centered in dance, his work spans a wide range of activities. He is a guest artist at DaBY (Dance Base Yokohama) and a Dance Artist at Aichi Prefectural Art Theater.

Anna Irite is a dancer and choreographer. Born in Shizuoka Prefecture, she graduated from College of Arts and Sciences, J. F. Oberlin University and studied contemporary dance under Kuniko Kisatani. Her recent stage credits include “Arlington [Love Story]” (dir. Akira Shirai), “Women of the Night” (dir. Keishi Nagatsuka), “BANANA FLOWER CAN BE EATEN” (written/directed by Takuya Yamamoto, co-directed by Takashi Masuyama), and “Jazz Daimyo” (dir. Mitsunori Fukuhara). She has also choreographed and performed in “Galapakospacos – Has it evolved or not?”(written/directed by Seiji Nozoe) and “The World Where Only I Am Normal” (written/directed by Miki Mizuno). She has choreographed and appeared in numerous music videos for artists such as YUKI and Sukima Switch. Winner of the Grand Prize at the 1st Solo Dancer Festival in 2014. Part-time lecturer at J. F. Oberlin University.

Makoto Yazawa is an actor. Yazawa began his theater career while attending university. After a year working at a newspaper company, he appeared in “Rolling Stone” (written and directed by Hideki Noda) with NODA・MAP. He has since participated in numerous productions, utilizing his distinct physicality under a variety of directors and choreographers. Past appearances include works by Mikuni Yanaihara Project (dir./written by Mikuni Yanaihara), Come Come Minikina (dir./written by Takeshi Matsumura), U-enchi Saisei Jigyodan (dir./written by Akio Miyazawa), and Company Derashinera (dir./choreography by Shuji Onodera). He has frequently collaborated with Toshiki Okada in works by chelfitsch, including “We Are the Undamaged Others,” “Super Premium Soft Double Vanilla Rich,” “Eraser Mountain,” and “Metamorphosis of a Living Room”.

Utena Kobayashi is a musician. Based in Nagano, Kobayashi performs with a wide range of instruments including steelpan, harp, marimba, and synthesizers. When singing, she often uses her own invented language. She is also a member of the band ONI NO MIGIUDE, which blends traditional folk music with genres like rock and dub.