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[an error occurred while processing this directive] (none) Outreach to Japan Members of the Nakajima Machi delegation from Japan, visit the OSF Exhibit Center. Over the past few years, delegations from Nakajima-Machi, Japan have visited the Festival each August. Nakajima Machi has sent a different delegation every August for the past four years - this will be the fifth year. Comprised of city officials, business leaders and theatre personnel, the delegation represents a diverse sampling of community members from farmers to lumber workers. These delegations have been learning about the Festival in order to improve upon the successes of their beautiful new theatre in Nakajima. Similar to the geographic situation in Ashland, Nakajima is located far west of Tokyo, high in the mountains. The Nakajima Theatre's founder is Tatsuya Nakadai, a revered classical actor who played the lead in many of Kui films, including "Ran." Nakadai plays Falstaff in the company's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor" and last season played Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman." Recently, the Festival's ties to Japan have expanded to include a visit from arts and culture organizers from Sasebo, as well as an invitation to OSF to attend an international symposium on Festival marketing in Tazawako in June 2002. In October of this year, Timothy Bond, Janeen Olsen and Executive Director Paul Nicholson will travel to Nakajima and Tazawako to further the exchange between OSF and the theatre companies in Japan.This will be the first time the Festival has sent its own delegation to visit the area. "There is global recognition of our work," said Olsen. We're definitely on the radar screen in Japan. The global goals have come with Libby's achievements. She visited the London Royal Shakes-peare Co., and the National Theatre, and introduced OSF as a good neighbor." Japan is looking for a good neighbor in the arts with expertise in the marketing end of the work. "We're where they want to be in 65 years," Olsen said, referring to the progress OSF has made during its years in Ashland. "They want to become `the Ashland of Japan,'" emulating the theatrical culture that Ashland has become known for. The Japanese Festivals want to know how to build a relationship with their community, how to attract and engage volunteers and how to get people to come to the mountains when there are few other attractions to draw visitors? One boost Nakajima Machi recently received was that railroad service opened. The town also refurbished an old hotel. The hope is that this will make the town more accessible for the theatre-goers it hopes to attract. Japan has questions about marketing. In June 2002, Festivals in Japan will be hosting an international symposium of festivals and festival management. Representatives from OSF plan to attend the symposium. OSF advertised in "You Club Magazine" in Japan and is building a growing relationship with Naka-jima Machi. It's a back and forth process of gathering information, and finding ways to be helpful. The whole relationship is still in its infancy, said Olsen. The Japanese Festivals delegations have been coming specifically to Ashland to study OSF. The next step is for the OSF delegation to head to Japan in October, and again in 2002 to continue the dialogue. Actors' Theatre Alexs Restaurant Ali Ross/ Real Estate Agent Allyson's of Ashland Aphrodite's Salon Asante Health Ashland Community Food Store Ashland Community Hospital Ashland Homes Real Estate Ashland Springs Spa Associates for Oral & Maxillo Beasy's On The Creek Big Kahuna in the Park Bloomsbury Books Bookwagon New & Used Books Charter Communications Chateaulin Restaurant Conversations With God Center Cycle Sport Denny's Restaurant Earthly Goods Womens' Apparel Enchanted Attic Energy Outfitters Gateway Real Estate Grants Pass Visitor's Bureau Greenleaf Restaurant Hellgate Excursions Hot Spring Spas Jacksonville Inn John L. Scott Real Estate of So. Oregon Kat Wok Restaurant Klamath First Federal La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant Lithia Artisans Lithia Real Estate Martino's & Macaroni's Ristorante McDonalds Out of the Blue Patricia Sprague Real Estate Pizza Hut Remax Realty Group St. Mary's School Sara Walker/ Real Estate Agent Scheffels Toys Shop'n Kart Tamale Dog Taqueria The Apple Cellar The Galice Resort The Living Gallery Tudor Guild Gift Shop Twenty-four Pont Home Textiles Two Pines Unicorn Gifts and Toys Winchester Inn Windermere Van Vleet & Assoc. Real Estate Windmill Inn Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing