[COMMA] Cosmic Garden

The Singapore Butoh Collective is a young community initiative dedicated to cultivating and sustaining butoh culture in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Our aim is to build a community that embraces butoh as both an artistic practice and a critical lens—one that interrogates the cultural, social, and political conditions shaping how we move through an increasingly dehumanizing world.

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Often misunderstood for its unconventional aesthetics and esoteric nature, butoh has long been considered a fringe art form—perceived as inaccessible, dark, or even bizarre. We seek to demystify the form through accessible programming that engages directly with the craft, while supporting a growing interest among Singaporeans in developing a deeper, more embodied relationship with their own bodies.

Emiko Agatsuma is a Japan-based Butoh dancer, choreographer, and director. She founded AGAXART in 2020 after over two decades with Dairakudakan. Recipient of the Japan Dance Critics Association’s Best Young Artist Award, she has presented work internationally across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her practice explores resilience, memory, and transformation through the body and international collaboration.

Tomoshi Shioya is a Japan-based Butoh dancer with over two decades of professional experience. He joined Dairakudakan in 2001, training under founder Akaji Maro until becoming independent in 2022. Since then, he has worked with AGAXART on performances, creative projects, and Butoh education. His international activities include performances in Taipei, alongside theatre, film, and teaching work.

AGAXART enhances creativity through Butoh. Founded in Japan in 2020 by Emiko Agatsuma, it is an arts collective exploring the body through creation, performance, education, and cultural exchange. Central to its practice, collaborations with artists and communities in Japan and abroad encounter different cultures while drawing attention to local histories. It seeks to expand physical expression and contribute to Butoh’s development.