© Shinya B
Butoh Artist / Choreographer / Artistic Director — Tokyo
Norihito
Ishii
石井則仁
The body becomes a medium
that proves truth through silence.
A legitimate heir to butoh's lineage —
and an anomaly who never stops
eroding every boundary he finds.
Norihito Ishii is a Tokyo-based butoh artist, choreographer, and artistic director whose work dissolves the boundary between tradition and the avant-garde.
Born in 1984, Ishii began on the streets of Japan at 17 before moving to the concert stage in 2006. In 2010 he joined Sankai Juku — the legendary butoh company resident at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris — where he has performed for over fifteen years across 45 countries and 700+ cities.
In 2013 and 2015, he became the first artist in history to win twice at the Seoul International Choreography Festival. His work has appeared at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Expo 2025 Osaka, the cover of Atmos Magazine (New York), and luxury brand events on three continents.
Company
Butoh Ishii Gumi / 舞踏石井組
Est. 2020 — Dance company & creative production house
Tokyo, Japan
Selected Works
All Works
2025
Rosewood Hotel Hong Kong
Brand Event
2021
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Opening
National Stadium
2015
"AFTERGLOW"
Seoul Int'l Choreography Festival
International Press
Commission
Bring this body
into your work.
Performance, choreography, movement direction,
workshops, collaboration, press.
All inquiries welcome. Response within 48 hours.