Graduated from the Economics Department of Gakushuin University. Began acting, playwriting and directing as a member of the college drama club in 1992. In 1994 he appeared as an actor in the production of "Ice Cream Man" directed by the playwright, director, and actor "Ryo Iwamatsu" for young actors. After that, Kuramochi was mentored by "Iwamatsu" as a playwright and director. In 1996, Kuramochi joined in the founding of the theater company Puriseta with actors "Masahiro Toda" and "Shoichiro Tanigawa". Until quitting the company in 2004, Kuramochi served as the playwright and director. In 2000 Kuramochi started his own theater company Penguin Pull Pale Piles (PPPP), after which he did the writing and directing for all of the company’s productions. Writing with a uniquely cynical viewpoint and the ability to weave rewardingly subtle dialogue, his plays skillfully create an atmosphere similar to a theater of the absurd with sudden appearances of the other worlds that exist back-to-back with everyday life. As a director, Kuramochi is recognized for his productions’ imaginative stage art that helps create bold and tricky theatrical worlds within clearly restricted spaces. Kuramochi also applies his skills to adaptations and stage scripts based on existing works ranging from novels to Noh and Kabuki plays. Recently, he has also expanded his activities to scriptwriting for TV dramas and comedy routines. In 2004, his play "One Man" Show won the 48th Kishida Drama Award.

(Source: performingarts.jp) Edit Biography