There was some initial confusion when Naohiko Umewaka requested help in finding graduates of Royal Holloway. What was he talking about? The only Holloway known to this Londoner is the district north of the River Thames best known for the prison of the same name. Now here was a story! Japan's best known name in noh theater with an inside connection.
Nothing, of course, could be further than the truth. As he explained in impeccably elegant British English during a brief respite from rain, we were talking about Royal Holloway and Bedford New College -- now known simply as Royal Holloway -- in Egham, Surrey. It was the result of a merger of two University of London colleges (one new, one an institution), Royal Holloway and Bedford College -- part of the great shakeup in further education in the U.K. in recent years.
"I was honored to be appointed a visiting professor to Royal Holloway University of London's department of drama from April 4 this year," he explained. "I was also elected honorary president of RHUL alumni in Japan. So far we've identified around 100 former graduates, but I'm keen to reach as many as possible. I want RHUL alumni to know that the association exists, with plans to develop intercultural cultural communication."