The National Ballet of Japan is pleased to announce promotions, joiners and leavers for the 2021/2022 Season.

Promotions

KINOSHITA Yoshito, SHIBAYAMA Saho and HAYAMI Shogo are promoted to First Soloist.

IINO Moeko is promoted to Soloist.

From the beginning of 2021/2022 season, KAIKAWA Tetsuo and MOTOJIMA Miwa will hold the position of Principal Character Artist.

HIROKAWA Mikuri and YAMADA Utako are promoted to First Artist.

Joiners

For 2021/2022 season, the National Ballet of Japan welcomes seven new dancers as follows to the Company as the season contracted dancers.

Also, three dancers graduated from NNT Ballet School will be joining the Company as the registered dancers.

Artists/Season Contracted Dancers

• IKEDA Saya (graduated from The Australian Ballet School)
• KAMINAKA Yuki (previously danced at Slovak National Theatre)
• KAWAKAMI Tamaki (from Yukiko Kato Ballet)
• KIKUOKA Yuma (from Academie de Ballet de Kyoto)
• NEGISHI Yui
• YAMADA Yuki (former registered dancer of the NBJ)
• YOSHIDA Akari (graduated from NNT Ballet School)

Artists/Registered Dancers

• ISHIYAMA Ren
• KATO Rika
• HATTORI Yui

Leavers & other

First Artist NAKADA Misato, Artist KIKUCHI Asuka and MORIYA Tomoko will all remain the Company as the registered dancers from 2021/2022 season.

SUGANO Hideo, who has contributed to the Company over a decade, steps down as a Principal Character Artist and has been appointed Ballet Master from the new season.


The National Ballet of Japan will kick off its upcoming season with a new production of Swan Lake by Sir Peter WRIGHT from 23 Oct. We all look forward to presenting our performance to the audience with these new members.