37th Ikebukuro Play Festival[2025年（令和7）年9月2日（火）～10月2日（木）]
The Ikebukuro Theater Festival, a community-based theater festival that has been running since 1989, will be held from September 2nd to October 2nd.
This year, 40 groups participated at 13 venues in Toshima Ward, and the Grand Prize and other awards were decided by scores from 100 judges selected from a public application. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on October 28th.
[Ikebukuro Theater Festival Website] https://ikebukuroengekisai.jp/
◆For details on participating performances and how to make reservations, please refer to the Ikebukuro Theater Festival website and the websites and social media of each performing group.
Main visual for the 37th Ikebukuro Theater Festival
■What is the Ikebukuro Theater Festival?
The Ikebukuro Theater Festival has been held as a community-based theater festival since 1989, and this year marks its 37th anniversary. Groups performing in Toshima Ward over the month of September participate, and the Grand Prize and other awards are decided by the scores of judges selected from a public competition.
As part of the "International Arts and Culture City Initiative" promoted by Toshima Ward, this unique theater festival is rooted in the local community and is held to realize a "theater city where the entire town is a stage and everyone can be a leading role" and to broaden the base of theater and theater culture.
■Features of the 37th Ikebukuro Theater Festival
① Participating groups will be holding an online "Pre-Festival/CM Competition" where they will be given two minutes to promote their performance. Entries will be posted on YouTube at noon every Tuesday from August 19th (Tuesday) to September 9th (Tuesday). The three "CM Competition Awards" will be selected based on the number of views by October 3rd (Friday) and a survey by the judges.
Ikebukuro Theater Festival YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6rww01MxRBDhlALIYXwGiQ
② The previous (36th) Grand Prize winner, the Theatre Company Bals Kitchen, will perform their Grand Prize winning performance at Owl Spot.
Performance name: “Shopping Street Grand Lion” Performance dates: September 3rd (Wednesday) – September 7th (Sunday) Total of 9 performances
The 36th Ikebukuro Theater Festival Grand Prize Winner: Theater Company Bals Kitchen "Shopping Street Grand Lion"
Ikebukuro Theatre Festival official mascot "Mime"
■Ikebukuro Theater Festival SNS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6rww01MxRBDhlALIYXwGiQ
X: https://twitter.com/IKE_ENGEKISAI (Ikebukuro Theater Festival * Mime-chan)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IKEBUKUROENGEKISAI
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ikebukuroengekisai/
[Event Overview]
[37th Ikebukuro Theater Festival]
Event period: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 to Thursday, October 2nd, 2025
Venues: 13 venues in Toshima Ward
Owl Spot (Toshima Ward Performing Arts Community Center), Atelier Fanfare Higashi-Ikebukuro, Ikebukuro East Exit Gekipa, Kita-Ikebukuro Shinseikan Theater, Za Prologue, Theater Green (BASE THEATER, BOX in BOX THEATER, BIG TREE THEATER), Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Theater East, Minami-Otsuka Hall, Yorozu Theater, Route Theater, Mixalive TOKYO Theater Mixa
Participating organizations: 40 organizations in total (including 1 special participant and 1 grand prize winner)
Organized by: Ikebukuro Theater Festival Executive Committee
Supported by: Toshima Ward Tourism Association, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Sponsors: Sunshine City Co., Ltd., NPO Ikebukuro Daimei, Toshima Ward Neighborhood Association Federation, Toshima Shimbun Co., Ltd., Toshima Cable Network Co., Ltd., Bungeiza Promotion, Performing Arts Academy
Cooperation: Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima Branch, Toshima Ward Shopping Association, Ikebukuro West Exit Shopping Association, Ikebukuro East Exit Aesthetic Shopping Association, WACCA Ikebukuro, Sunshine Theater, Mixalive TOKYO
Supported by: Agency for Cultural Affairs, 2025 Cultural and Arts Creation Center Formation Project, Tokyo Performing Arts Festival 2025 Regional Theatre Festival Collaboration Project
From the Ikebukuro Theater Festival Executive Committee press release
<Past related articles>
The 36th Ikebukuro Theater Festival will open on August 27th at 11 venues in Toshima Ward, Tokyo!
The 34th Ikebukuro Theater Festival will open on September 1st at 14 venues in Toshima Ward, Tokyo!
