The dance performance group "Zunchacha" won gold awards in two categories at the "Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards"!

Do you know the dance performance group "Zunchacha" led by Yoshimi Suhara from Kurashiki City, which is active in Okayama and Kurashiki?

For more details about Zunchacha, please check the article published in May 2025.

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Incredibly, Zunchacha has achieved a remarkable feat on the world stage.

At the "Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards" held in Cannes, France on September 24 and 25, 2025, a video work featuring Zunchacha as performers won the Gold Dolphin in both the Web Documentary and Lifestyle, Art, Music, and Culture categories.

The Gold Dolphin is awarded to works that are particularly outstanding in their category, equivalent to a "Gold Award." This recognition affirms the value of Zunchacha's work.

During a previous interview, I heard about plans to submit works to international contests. I wanted many people to know about this achievement, so I visited Yoshimi Suhara again.

What is the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards?

Before hearing Yoshimi Suhara's voice of joy, let me introduce an overview of the "Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards" and the award-winning work "PROCESSION (プロセッション) –Zunchacha 30–year history-".

The Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards is an international film festival held in Cannes, France, that honors corporate videos and documentary works.

Founded in 2010, it has become a significant indicator of international trends in corporate video, receiving submissions from all five continents.

Additionally, the judging panel consists of experienced judges, including Academy Award and Emmy Award winners, as well as experts in business communication. It is known for selecting high-quality works.

The trophies awarded include Black, Blue, Silver, and Gold "Dolphins," with the highest award being the "White Dolphin."

"PROCESSION -Zunchacha 30-year history-" The 30-year journey of Zunchacha

The award-winning work "PROCESSION -Zunchacha 30-year history-" is a product of the video production project 'PROCESSION' carried out from 2023 to 2024.

Zunchacha, photographer and filmmaker Takuma Kimura, and musician Toru Matsushita collaborated to challenge new expressions that fuse video, music, and dance, aiming to submit to international video competitions (Cannes, New York, etc.).

In addition to the award-winning work, we also recommend watching the color version of "PROCESSION Planeta matris" and the making-of video "another PROCESSION," as they provide further insights.

The passion of the creators comes through even more deeply.

Interview with Yoshimitsu Suhara, the organizer, sharing his joy

We heard the joyful voice of Yoshimitsu Suhara, the organizer of Zunchacha.

A dream seen alone is just a dream; a dream seen together becomes reality

Congratulations on your award. How did you feel at the moment your name was called at the venue?

Suhara (no honorifics)

When we received the award for the Web Documentary Category, it was announced right at the beginning, and I was so surprised and excited that I was just “uh…” and kept bowing repeatedly, almost like screaming. I guess that’s typical of Japanese people (laughs).

The gold award was a prize we had dreamed of, and there was very little information about Japanese recipients, so I thought it would be incredibly difficult. After receiving the award, I came to my senses and hurriedly sent a report to my friends in Japan, and as the congratulatory messages started pouring in, I began to feel the reality of the award.

Takuma Kimura, who was in charge of shooting, editing, and directing (hereafter referred to as "Kimura"), submitted entries in two categories, and we received gold recognition in both: one focused on Zunchacha's journey so far and the other on the overall artistic quality of the video. I felt that the hard work of the entire production team was rewarded.

There is a saying by John Lennon: A dream seen alone is just a dream; a dream seen together becomes reality. I was truly happy to share the moment when our dream came true with my friends.

When your name was called and you took the stage as an awardee, how did you feel about the audience's reaction and the atmosphere?

Suhara

When I was called for the Lifestyle, Art, Music, and Culture Category, I was a bit calmer, so I remember the audience's reaction.

Before we took the stage, there were lots of twirls and big reactions, and everyone was laughing and giving us warm applause. I never imagined I would receive congratulations from people from another country in my life, so it was a first-time experience, and I was very moved by that warmth.

Looking back after receiving the award, what were the important aspects or commitments you held when participating in "PROCESSION" as Zunchacha?

Suhara

As Zunchacha, we have always valued putting our utmost effort into everything, not just this time. Months before the actual shoot, we frequented Sami Beach in Kurashiki, training our bodies to adapt to the unstable nature and repeatedly exploring with the members what movements we could perform in nature.

Kimura always respected our domain (creating movements), so we prepared our movements freely, but on the day of the shoot, we faced a disaster-level sandstorm and strong winds and rain. In the end, both the dancers and the crew accepted the natural conditions of the moment and, I believe, were able to give our all while sharpening our senses.

After that, Toru Matsushita, who was in charge of music (hereafter referred to as "Matsushita"), expanded the image from the footage that Kimura had roughly edited and produced several music tracks.

The relationship between Kimura, Matsushita, and Zunchacha, where none of them deny each other and respect one another, resulted in a work that encapsulated each of their commitments and values.

What do you think was the decisive factor for this award?

Suhara

I believe the decisive factor was that the essence of Zunchacha was beautifully finished by Kimura and Matsushita's sensibilities. They expanded our world of physical expression with a perspective that was not from a dancer's point of view.

Additionally, the applicants are all active in the forefront of national broadcasting and video production in their respective countries, and while all the works were wonderful, many were over an hour long, it seems that works like ours, which are only 5 minutes long, were rare.

I feel that it was also good that Mr. Kimura was able to refine and complete it within the 5-minute duration through trial and error. Among those who watched, there were comments like, “I was moved by the pure work that didn’t feel like money or business.”

I believe our funding and production team were probably the smallest, but when I think that our aspiration to “send a message from Okayama to the world!” and our pure passion were understood, I felt dreams and hopes for our challenge abroad.

Thanks to everyone supporting Zunchacha

What message would you like to convey to the friends, family, stakeholders, and fans who celebrated the award with you?

Suahara

To my family, stakeholders, and everyone who has supported Zunchacha for 29 years, I simply want to express my heartfelt “gratitude.” I have received many warm congratulatory messages, and my feelings of gratitude are endless.

I will strive to continue delivering pleasant experiences to everyone through dance and to engage in activities that will allow us to receive your support, so I ask for your continued support.

To my comrades Mr. Kimura, Mr. Matsushita, Mr. yukiwo, the support staff, and the Zunchacha members who performed

We were able to send a message from Okayama to the world! Thank you, everyone!
And congratulations to everyone~~!

Finally, could you tell us about the highlights of the 30th anniversary performance scheduled for February 2026?

Suahara

Thanks to everyone, Zunchacha will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026.
We will hold the 30th anniversary performance, which will be our first solo performance in four years, on February 8, 2026 (Sunday) at Geibunkan Hall, hosted by Arusu Kurashiki.

The main work, which is a stage adaptation of the award-winning “PROCESSION -Zunchacha 30-year history-,” will be titled “PROCESSION neo,” and I hope to deliver it as a new dance work that fuses Mr. Kimura’s visual beauty with live performance.

Furthermore, to present two entertainment works unique to Zunchacha, we will start creating them from November 2024.

In addition, in conjunction with the 30th anniversary performance, we have decided to hold a video exhibition at the Kurashiki Geibunkan Aitheater from February 6 (Friday) to February 8 (Sunday) for three days (free admission). We plan to screen video works, including the award-winning piece and Mr. Kimura’s director's cut version of the feature-length work, on a 360-inch large screen like a movie theater.

It is truly a happy thing to be able to hold two events at the same time, and I am grateful for the support from Arusu Kurashiki, and I am determined to give my all as a culmination of Zunchacha's 30 years.

I hope many people will come to both the 30th anniversary performance and the video exhibition.

Comments from Cinematographer and Editor Takuma Kimura

Cinematographer and editor Takuma Kimura also provided a comment.

What theme did you create it with?

Kimura (no honorifics)

The theme of “PROCESSION” for me is “reincarnation.” To be reborn as a new self, I filmed and edited while imagining an image of walking, struggling, and resisting, searching for where I came from and where I am going.

As a director, what do you think was the deciding factor for the award?

Kimura

I believe our work was “floating” in a good way. The overwhelming majority of the works were produced by broadcasting companies from around the world, and many were business-like content that used ample budgets and time, while our work had the minimum budget and personnel. It was a work that we approached with the feeling that “our passion cannot be beaten by anyone.”

I feel that the fact that we enjoyed shaping “what we really wanted to create” led to a good result.

Moreover, the essence of contemporary dance, which is “to express freely as one feels,” matched with my visuals and the 30-year history of Zunchacha, which I believe naturally culminated in a documentary form.

Zunchacha 30th Anniversary Performance “ZUNCHACHA Side Story / PROCESSION neo”

In Conclusion

More than two years ago, I learned about Zunchacha through an interview with another media outlet. Since then, I have been somewhat following their activities as they appeared on Instagram, but when I suddenly received the news of their “award,” I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Seriously!?”

This year (2025) in March, when I asked for another interview with “Kurashiki Tocotoco,” they kindly agreed, and I am very happy to have been able to convey their charm in words once again.

The content that appears in the article is actually just a small part of the conversation. During the interview, there was an overflow of passion and thoughts, and having listened to them, I found myself developing a personal attachment.

I look forward to seeing what kind of scenery Zunchacha, which is reaching its 30th anniversary, will show us in the future. I am excited for the day when I can cover that moment and convey it in words.

Zunchacha Data

Organization Name	Zunchacha
Industry	Contemporary Dance / Dance Studio
Representative Name	Suhara Yoshimitsu
Year Established	1996
Address	2-18-3 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture CHIMI STUDIO
Contact	086-425-0737
Website	ZUNCHACHA website

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