Akira Hino is a renowned Japanese martial artist/movement coach. His theory of human body and human consciousness is rooted deeply in the essence of Japanese classic martial arts (Kobudo). Kobudo has survived through hundreds of years of human history not only as valuable combat techniques but also as one of the most fundamental, complex philosophies of the human body and consciousness. Mr. Hino has dedicated more than 35 years to forming and developing his own unique method (Hino Method) based on the essence of Kobudo.  Hino Method focuses on the highly efficient use of the body by developing bodily sensitivity to the connections within the body and between human beings.

         

　　In 2005, Akira Hino was invited by a world-class dancer/choreographer William Forsythe to give a workshop for his ensemble the Forsythe Company in Frankfurt, Germany. Since then he has been a regular teacher for the company. The interaction with Mr. Forsythe and his company members confirmed that he could contribute to the performing arts field tremendously with his expertise. He then started leading workshops titled “Real Contact” for performers in Japan and abroad. (More than 10,000 people have attended his workshops in more than 10 countries to date.)

         

　　In order to go further into the integration of the essence of Japanese classic martial arts into performing arts, he started adding a showcase performance to the Real Contact workshop as the demonstration of Hino Method’s effects in 2008. Initially it was for a selected group of Japanese contemporary dancers to create a high-quality dance piece under the direction of Mr. Hino. Those showcases not only proved the transformative effect of Hino Method but also garnared enthusiastic feedback from the dancers and the audience. 

         

         In 2010, Akira Hino officially started Real Contact Project and directed a full dance production titled “Real Contact 2010” at Okayama Civic Culture Hall and Ayanokuni Saitama Art Theatre, Japan.

 

         In 2011, he created a theatre/dance piece inspired by “Macbeth” with dancers and actors, which resulted in the compelling fusion of dance, theatre, and Japanese drum. The shows were enthusiastically received at Kichijoji Theatre and Art Theater db KOBE in Japan.

 

         In 2012, the piece was further developed and polished by adding dancer Nobuko Takahara, actress Yuko Takeda, actor Hideyuki Hiraoka, and percussionist Ikki Hino as the principal performers to the ensemble. The premiere was in November of 2012, in Ayanokuni Saitama Art sTheatre, Japan.

 

         Now the project is ready to expand to the international level for the exploration of what “real contact” with others can do on the stage.