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Who are Drifters International?

Fascinated by the idea of urban “drifting,” an exploration of hidden connections in the city, the three directors—Akane Nakamura, Kao Kanamori and Teppei Fujiwara—have founded the organization to produce encounters among diverse and energetic creators in such fields as architecture, performance, fashion and art. Our goal is to create one cultural scene after another that are immediate and cosmopolitan, pop and serious, in our own backyards, and promote them abroad.

Projects

Internship Application

Drifters International recruits enthusiastic and responsible interns to develop our activities with us. The role covers programming, running of events, PR, to sales and fund-raising. Successful interns may be employed later as full time staff member. Please apply from our "Contact" page.

  1. Fill in your name and e-mail address.
  2. State the subject "Internship Application."
  3. Fill in the box your name, date/year of birth, postal address, telephone number, current affiliation and resume. Also add your skills in computer (state the software you use), foreign languages and any other relevant skills. Describe why you would like to apply and how long you can work.

Corporative Outline

  • Name of Organization:
    N.P.O. DRIFTERS・INTERNATIONAL
  • Registered Address:
    ST spot in Yokohama ST building B1floor,1-11-15, Kitasaiwai,Nishi-ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0004, Japan
  • Office Address:
    1-10-34-105 Jingumae, Shibuya-ward, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Members

  • Akane Nakamura

    Born in 1979. She began to be involved in performing arts when she was a student at the Nihon University College of Art. A program director at ST Spot Yokohama from 2004 to 2008. She established precog Co., Ltd in 2006 and has been the representative of the company since 2008. She has produced such projects and artists as Azumabashi Dance Crossing, chelfitsch, Nibroll, and Masako Yasumoto nationally and internationally. She launched Spectacle in the Farm, a festival held in Nasu Plateau, in 2009 and has been managing it in the executive committee. Together with Kao Kanamori (Theater products) and Teppei Fujiwara (architect), she established an NPO Drifters International in October 2009. In 2010, she took part in the opening of a communication space SNAC, which aims to create new values in the East Tokyo area, as a joint producing work by Mujin-to Production and Azumabashi Dance Crossing.

  • Kao Kanamori

    Kao Kanamori is Producer and Press for Theatre Products. She graduated from arts criticism department of London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design worked for Littlemore Publishing. She set up Theatre Products Incorporate in 2001, where she now works as Executive Director and PR Producer. She has also been chairperson of Spectacle in the Farm since 2009, and director of Drifters International since 2010. She organizes DRIFTERS' FASHION LABORATORY and other projects, too.

  • Teppei Fujiwara

    Born in 1975. He joined Kengo Kuma and associates(KKAA) after he graduates Master course, Faculty of Architecture in Yokohama national university at 2001. now he is a Design Director of KKAA. At 2008 he started to teach at design studio of Yokohama university faculty of architecture, from 2010 also started to teach at Tokyo University of Science. At 2009 he established Fujiwara Teppei Architects labo. That firm focuses on more small scale, more personal project in architecture and design. Together with Kao Kanamori (Theater products) and Akane Nakamura (pre cog), he established an NPO Drifters International in October 2009.
    He is a director architect of an international architect's practice who has worked extensively for a number of projects, and has won competitions in Japan and other countries. He is a new type of architect who also runs his own design studio, in which he organizes talk sessions with other architects and creators from different fields, holds seminars and workshops, and proposes new method for education.

Aim

NPO Drifters aims to contribute to society in the following points through various events for the arts, performance, symposium, workshops, lectures and talk sessions

  • enhance international understanding toward the arts and culture of Japan
  • vitalize global exchange in the arts
  • heighten interests of general public to the arts and culture of Japan and other countries
  • improve creative environments and nurture artists

Non-profit Activities

NPO Drifters International conducts the following non-profit activities to achieve the goals in the above:

  • activities to design communities
  • promote learning, culture and arts and sports

Projects Related to Non-profit Activities

NPO carries out the following projects to achieve the goals in the above:

  • performance, workshop and other events to raise people's awareness for the arts.
  • Book publication and introduction of Japanese art to other countries.
  • planning and running of facilities built to encourage cultural activities
  • hosting of events for international cultural exchange
  • support programs for towns and communities to vitalize cultural activities
  • any other events that are necessary to achieve the goals of the NPO.

Record of Grant

Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Arts Councill, The Saison Foundation, ASAHI BEER ARTS FOUNDATION, Arts Commission Yokohama, Yokohama city

Record of Sponsored

Levis Strauss Japan K.K., SOGO SHIKAKU CO.LTD, DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO.LTD, WORLD CO.LTD, AGB(Asahi building wall corp.), YAMANASHIKEN KENJIN SENIBUTSU KOUGYOU KUMIAI, Nakadai.inc, Daiko Electric CO.LTD, Takenaka Corporation

Record of Tie-up

Japan Center, Pacific Basin Arts Communication/TPAM in Yokohama, Yokohama Arts Platform Steep Slope Studio, Kitanaka School(School of Creativity and Urban Culture in Yokohama), Yokohama Creativecity Center(YCC), Goethe institute, KAAT(Kanagawa Arts Theatre), Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Office of Tokyo Culture Creation Project (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE

Record of Activities

  • 2012.07~09
    Lecture&Worksho: Progressive Seminar
  • 2012.07~09
    Drifters Summer School 2012
  • 2012.06
    lecture: Drifters Summer School 2012 PRE LECTURE
  • 2012.03
    art festival:SUMIDAGAWAPARADE
  • 2011.08~10
    The genre-mix art festival: SPECTACLE on the BAY(Yokohama Triennale 2011 support Program)
  • 2011.06~09
    Drifters Summer School 2011
  • 2011.03
    Bus tour & lecture "Let's go to a gingham-growing place! guest: Petra Blaisse"
  • 2011.02
    Lecture: HAU―Experimental Art space in Berlin
  • 2011.02
    Performing Arts Mini Festival: Contemporary Little Theatres of the World VOL.1 - Germany
  • 2010.11
    The genre-mix art festival: SPECTACLE in the Firm NASU 2010
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture "Theatre as a Possible City"
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture "Ordinary and extraordinary of a Theatre"
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture "Being Wrapped, Wrapping up"
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture "improvisation / space"
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture "fluctuation of Word and Body"
  • 2010.08
    Drifters Summer School 2011 Saturday Lecture"On what it is to create things and how space presents itself"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.15 "Bodies that costly - from the Fetish to NEO-COS"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.14 "Complete Analysis on the essence of "Gal" FASHION - how it was born and how it will develop"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.13 "Tokyo FASHION Marketing chatting"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.12 "chaotic lounge or FASHION - as youth culture"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.11 "FASHION that expands, reality that expands"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.10 "Challenges and the future of JAPAN FASHION WEEK - from the eyes of a news reporter"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.9 "How could a showcase in the Far East be tempting?"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.8 "Draw a plan for the future and the way of being of Japan's FASHION week"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY SPIN-OFF "written afterwards 6th collection "Crime and Punishment""
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.7 "Let's discuss further on FASHION and art, starting from Hussein Chalayan exhibition"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.6 "What will we see in the (future) Japanese textile? (totally dedicated!)"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.5 "Fashions, be aggressive and do dreamful business!"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.4 "From Nippon with Love, the trend-setter of textile"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.3 "An argument on Media - from young generations (around 25th-ish of age)"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.2 "Japanese designers, get fighting spirit!"
  • 2010.06
    Talk session DRIFTERS FASHION LABORATORY VOL.1 "Want to talk about mountain-high old clothes"
  • 2010.01
    N.P.O DRIFTERS INTERNATIONAL established