Abstract:

The Japanese performing arts sector faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a series of positive explorations and transformations into digital realms. Presently, digital explorations in Japanese theater primarily encompass three types: “personal cloud terminals” “theater×cinema” and “virtual theaters”, fostering new models such as “online performances” and “hybrid immersive theater” that transcend traditional theater spaces. The development of digital performing arts in Japan is facilitated by cultural policy support and the establishment of digital archives, aiming to enhance audience sensory experiences through innovative performance forms and immersive technologies, while cultivating a new generation of audiences. The core of Japanese theatrical digital transformation lies in enriching sensory experiences within virtual spaces, where digital performing arts no longer serve as mere substitutes for live performances but emerge as entirely new forms of entertainment.

Key words: Japanese theater , digital transformation , integration of online and offline performances , online performing arts