Supported "Why Improv? — Spontaneity in Everyday Life" at Hosei Tokyo

On 9 May, 2026 our latest Open Talk Series session, “Why Improv? — Spontaneity in Everyday Life,” was held at Multimedia Studio 0300, Ichigaya Campus, Hosei University. Kaz Matamura opened the session by exploring how improvisation extends far beyond performance — touching on awareness, listening, adaptability, and the way we respond to uncertainty in everyday interactions.

One particularly interesting point raised during the session was that improvisation was not originally developed only for professional actors. Early improv pioneer Viola Spolin developed theatre games through community and educational work, believing that spontaneous play and interaction could help ordinary people communicate, collaborate, and express themselves more freely.

Discussants Stevie Suan and Mami Yorimitsu brought perspectives from animation, performance, and movement, expanding the conversation into questions of presence, instinct, authenticity, and what makes something feel truly “natural” to an audience. The interactive workshop that followed transformed the atmosphere of the room. Participants were invited to step away from observation and into experience, engaging directly with simple improvisation exercises together.

Sincere thanks to Kaz Matamura, discussants Stevie Suan and Mami Yorimitsu, and our co-host Global Education Center of Hosei University, as well as our supporting organisations — HKU Japanese Studies Programme, CUHK Department of Japanese Studies, HKUBS Alumni Network Japan, HKUST Alumni Network in Japan, and Commonverse — for their partnership in bringing this session to life. At last but not least, we need to thank Michael Helms for taking photos for us.