Media
Selected press coverage, critical reviews, interviews and writing on Mu Arts and the work of its founder and director, Akiko Yanagisawa.
Press & Reviews
The Guardian | 2024
Sumidagawa / Curlew River — Aldeburgh Festival
★★★★★
Review of the presentation of classical Noh alongside Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River.
The Guardian | 2026
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Feature on the festival’s interdisciplinary programme, including Noh Reimagined’s Song of Rona Island.
Planet Hugill | 2018
Sublime Illusions — Noh Reimagined
★★★★★
Review of the Noh Reimagined festival at Kings Place, London.
Financial Times | 2011
Hibiki — Resonances from Japan
Coverage of the Japanese music festival curated at Kings Place.
Interviews & Features
Kings Place | 2018
Michael Church interviews Akiko Yanagisawa
On Noh Reimagined and the presentation of classical Japanese theatre to international audiences.
Kings Place | 2016
Noh Reimagined — Akiko Yanagisawa
An introduction to the artistic vision behind the festival.
Kings Place | 2011
Reclaiming the East
Michael Church in conversation with Akiko Yanagisawa.
Writing
Kings Place Magazine | 2020
Noh and the Natural World
Akiko Yanagisawa reflects on the relationship between Noh theatre, nature and Japanese aesthetics.
The Japan Times | 2014
Arts Council England
An article examining arts funding and cultural policy in the UK.
Sankei Shimbun | 2015–2016
Selected articles on the BBC Proms, London’s Cultural Olympiad, Classical and British cultural institutions.
Artes Publishing | 2016
Classical and Innovation in Classical Music
Research & Advisory Roles
Akiko Yanagisawa has extensive experience in cultural policy research, arts education and the creative industries, working with Japanese government agencies, research consultancies and cultural organisations across the UK and Europe.
Her research has covered arts funding and insurance, digital innovation in the performing arts, cultural education, UNESCO World Heritage management, creative industries and regional cultural policy.
Selected Research Projects
- 2024 — Arts insurance systems in the UK, for Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- 2023 — Digital innovation in the performing arts, focusing on Opera North’s From Couch to Chorus, for Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- 2020 — Arts education in the UK and EU, for Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- 2016–2017 — UNESCO World Heritage management in the UK, for Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- 2011–2015 — Research and coordination on cultural policy, creative industries, the London Cultural Olympiad and creative ageing for Japanese government agencies and research organisations.
International Selection Committees
2020 — Help Musicians UK, Fusion Fund Selection CommitteeArchive
2016–2018 — Classical Innovation Award, Selection Committee
2016 — Sound and Music (UK), Portfolio Programme Selection Committee
Further reviews, interviews and articles from earlier Mu Arts projects are available on request.