Fifteen months ago, when I interviewed Takahiro Fujita as the most prominent newcomer in Japan's contemporary theater world, the playwright and director declared, "I'm always looking for something new, and I suppose I will always carry on doing that."

True to his word, since then Fujita has been enthusiastically pursuing his quest through new works he's written and staged with his company Mum & Gypsy both in Japan and further afield.

Last year, the company's first-ever overseas tour, to Italy and Chile, was so well received that numerous foreign producers immediately approached it with offers. As a result, it will be heading off to France, Italy, Bosnia and Slovenia later this year.