Nanase Kusano 

Founder/Director/Playwright/Performer

Nanase received her B.A degree on international relations from International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan. She studied Method Acting under Yoko Narahashi at The United Performer’s Studio. In 2001, she founded Theater Group NIJI and started showing her original musicals for children. The works include: Disappeared Santa Claus (Schools in Niigata Prefecture for victims of earthquake), Rainbow Dreams (Taizanso Garden, Sumida Hikifune Cultural Center, Universities in Thailand), Travel of Price Shino (Roppongi Tree Cafe, kindergartens and the elderly homes in Mitaka city), and Rainbow Voyage (schools in Indonesia for the Tsunami victims of 2004, schools in Philippines). In addition to working in theater, she has directed an English educational television program for children; CatChat Eigo de Friends (Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc.). She has also produced and directed documentary films; Over The Rainbow won a prize in the Tokyo Video Festival, and Traces of A City was also awarded a prize in Damah Film Festival in Hiroshima and was officially selected in LA International Children festival (2009) and San Francisco International Film Festival (2010). She arrived in NYC followed by her husband's assignment in 2012. When her baby daughter Sakura turned one  year old in July 2012, she founded Theater Banana to provide a new sort of entertainment for babies and toddlers.