As befits its designation as a "Cultural City of East Asia 2014," Yokohama is about to host Japan's foremost annual platform for contemporary performing arts.
Launched in 1995 as the Tokyo Performing Arts Market, the weeklong event moved to its present home in 2011, when its name was changed to the Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting. Since 2005, TPAM has been under the directorship of Hiromi Maruoka.
In fact that name change was indicative of a major shift in emphasis, from TPAM being a showcase to attract producers to stage homegrown and international works, to it becoming an event at which producers, artists — and audiences — can experience a wealth of cutting-edge work and exchange ideas and know-how.