The definition of fringe and mainstream is open to a lot of debate, and certainly a lot of the companies below have experienced some success in terms of awards and even stagings at major theatres. However, regardless, the following companies (gekidan) are those that may be said to operate still within the very broad spectrum of the Japanese shogekijo scene and cannot be labelled ‘commercial’. Most are based in Tokyo, though Osaka and Kyoto companies are indicated when known.
akumanoshirushi
Bird Park (鳥公園)
Busukai (ブス会)
chelfitsch
chiten (地点)
C/Ompany
Company Derashinera (カンパニーデラシネラ)
Dainana Geikijo (第七劇場)
dracom
faifai (快快)
France_pan
Gekidan (劇団)
Gotanndadan (五反田団)
GRINDER-MAN
Gring
Haegiwa (はえぎわ)
Horidashimono (堀出者)
hmp
Hyottoko Ranby (ひょっとこ乱舞)
Ikiume (イキウメ)
Kaden Theater Company (花伝シアターカンパニー)
Kaimaku Penanto Race (開幕ペナントレース)
KUNIO
lolo
Marebito no Kai (マレビトノ会)
MONO
mum & gypsy
Niwa Gekidan (庭劇団)
Peachum Company
Potudo-ru
OKAZAKI ARTS THEATRE (岡崎藝術座)
OM-2
Port B
Pure BANANA girl class (バナナ学園純情乙女組)
Reset-N
Salad Ball
Sample (サンプル)
Shelf
Shigeki Nakano + Frankens (中野成樹+フランケンズ)
Store House Company
toi present
Tetsuwari Albatrossket (鉄割アルバトロスケット)
Individual Artists
Ichiro Kojima
Pijin Neji
Takuya Murakawa
