Staff

Yoko Shioya, Artistic Director
Futoshi Miyai, Deputy Director
Lara Mones, Program Officer

YOKO SHIOYA

Yoko Shioya became Artistic Director of Japan Society in August, 2006 after three years as Director of the Society's Performing Arts department. Since joining the Society in 1997, Ms. Shioya has expanded both the touring program for Japanese performing arts companies and collaborative projects with American cultural organizations and universities. She has also launched new initiatives including an artists’ residency project and a workshop series. Also known in Japan as a writer/researcher on the public and private arts support systems in the U.S. and Japan, Ms. Shioya has been invited to speak at numerous symposia, lectures and TV programs presented by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese government, Keidanren, the Academy of Cultural Economics and the Japan Council of Performers' Organizations, among others. In 1998, her first book, New York: How the City and Its Artists Coexist, was published by Maruzen Publishing Co. She has been a regular contributor to arts columns on performing arts and exhibitions for the Asahi newspaper and other publications. She serves as a committee member for many programs that support and honor artists and the performing arts industry including the BESSIE Awards, The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, and Toyota Choreography Award in Tokyo. Ms. Shioya holds Bachelors degrees in musicology and dance history from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

FUTOSHI MIYAI

Futoshi Miyai received a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Osaka Prefecture in 1991 and a Master of Arts degree in arts administration from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1999. Mr. Miyai started his career as an independent stage manager for theater groups in Osaka, Japan in 1989. In 1996, he moved to New York as a Saison Foundation Fellow. Mr. Miyai has worked with Japan Society's Performing Arts Program since in 1998 as a production coordinator for presentations at Japan Society and as tour manager in the United States and Canada.