On December 12,2010, as part of its social contribution program and in co-operation with the Shiki Theater Company, Canon held Canon Cats School.

Canon Cats School is carried out as a part of the education support activities in the Yokohama district, where the theater is located, and this is the second time it has been held, following its August 7 inauguration. This time 29 students of high schools belonging to the Yokohama City High School Theatrical Association participated.

The school opened with the "Beautiful Japanese Language Seminar," conducted by three Shiki Theater Company actors, Koichi Ariga, Yoshihiro Kishi and Mayuko Ebe. They gave the students minute instruction and guidance on the Shiki Theater Company's original vocalization method intermingled with practical exercises.

Since the students were all members of drama clubs, they were fast learners and achieved a high level of proficiency, as apparent by their beautiful voices resounding in the theater lobby.

During the question and answer session thereafter, the students asked many questions characteristic of theater club students, concerning matters such as methods to counter stage fright, practicing at home and physical conditioning practices during winter. Prior to joining Shiki, the actors each specialized in different areas: drama, singing and ballet, but they answered every question with great care and included stories of their respective experiences as university students.

In addition, after the seminar, the students were given the special opportunity to observe a preparatory rehearsal on stage. They were on the spot, viewing with their own eyes the actual process of actors on stage without makeup seriously preparing for their roles. This was surely very exciting for the students.

In the afternoon, they watched the production Cats. Since this followed their study of vocalization in the seminar and their observation of the rehearsal, they were able to appreciate the play more deeply and appeared to be greatly moved. After the performance ended, the students were given the opportunity to socialize backstage with all the actors and actresses who had just finished performing. The Cats School program ended with the students still feeling the excitement of the moment.

After the program, the participating students offered us comments such as that, "We were able to participate in the seminar just as though we were drama fellows of the Shiki Theater Company," "The members of Shiki, who have pursued and realized their dreams and are working their field of aspiration, appeared to be truly shining" and "As I want to perform in musicals in the future, I was really happy that there was a program like this."
In the future, Canon plans to continue to hold the Canon Cats School once every four months.