Palette Works
Palette Works
Who we are, and how we got here. A condensed version of our Japanese company profile.
Palette Works is a specified nonprofit corporation (NPO) registered in Japan.
| Name | NPO Palette Works 特定非営利活動法人パレットワークス |
|---|---|
| Legal form | Specified nonprofit corporation (tokutei hi-eiri katsudo hojin), the standard nonprofit status in Japan |
| Mission | Art for Community — using theater for education and for the life of the community |
| Founded | 1 August 2019, as Palette Works LLC Certified as a nonprofit corporation in March 2025 |
| Representative | Izawa Rei, Representative Director — actor and teaching artist (profile) |
| What we do |
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| Address | Kokokita 3F 3-H, 5-3-13 Toshima, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0003, Japan |
| Contact |
mail@palette-w.com Tel: +81 3-6770-1079 |
| Related site | Kita Theater Lab official site ↗ (Japanese only) |
Palette Works was founded in 2019, but the class it now runs is much older.
A children's theater class began in Kita City in 1998, attached to a local theater company. The company later dissolved, and the class survived several changes of form — kept alive largely by parents who did not want the children to lose a place of their own. Most recently it ran as the AKT STAGE drama club, until 2025.
In 2026, Palette Works took the class over and reopened it as Kita Theater Lab. Our representative, Izawa Rei, has taught in that class since 2006.
We describe ourselves less as a new organization than as the current custodian of something that has been part of this neighborhood for more than twenty-five years.
Milestones for the organization and for the class it now runs. Alongside these, we have coached school drama clubs and taught in schools continuously since 2019.
The original children's theater class opens in Kita City
Run by a local theater company. This is the class Palette Works later takes over.
Palette Works LLC founded
Izawa Rei starts the organization to run drama classes and workshops independently.
ALOHA opens — a creative expression program for children
Our own drama workshop program for children in Kita City, held annually with a year-end presentation.
Kokokita Resident Artist (third cohort)
Izawa Rei becomes a resident artist at Kokokita, the arts facility in Kita City.
Sakura Theater Lab opens
A participatory program in which residents create and perform work about issues in their own city. Productions have continued each year since.
Moral education and teacher training expand
Drama-based moral education for ninth graders at a private junior high school in Kita City; coaching at junior high and high school drama clubs in Tokyo and Saitama; a seat on Kita City's committee for community involvement in junior high school club activities.
Certified as a nonprofit corporation
Palette Works becomes a specified nonprofit corporation (NPO), with Izawa Rei as Representative Director.
Kita Theater Lab opens
The 1998 class continues under a new name, co-hosted with Kita City and the Kita City Cultural Promotion Foundation, and endorsed by the Kita City Board of Education.
We are happy to answer questions about our programs, share materials, or arrange a visit. Write to us in English.
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