Akira Takayama

Akira Takayama is a Japanese director and the leader of the theatre unit Port B. Born in 1969, he spent several years studying theatre and linguistics in Germany before returning to Japan in 1999. Takayama's projects are known for their site-specific performances and exploration of the identity and history of various locales. He addresses contemporary issues such as the working poor in Japan and incorporates social and digital media into his work. Port B, a collaborative team of artists, scholars, and activists, takes its name from Portbou, the Spanish border town where Walter Benjamin tragically ended his life while fleeing the Nazis in 1940.