RinaShimomura
Rina Shimomura is an improviser and educator from Tokyo, Japan.
She has been working with children since graduating from Tsukuba Graduate School in Ibaraki, Japan in 2015. She is a specialist in children with learning disabilities and is licensed to teach English in Japan.
She studied improvisation and drama education abroad, in Canada and the United States.
She moved to Vancouver and started her work as a cast and an instructor in Tightrope Impro Theatre from 2021.
While in graduate school, Rina attended workshops with Keith Johnstone, the founder of improvisation (Calgary), BATS (San Francisco), Young People’s Theatre (Toronto), and actively studied in the home of theater education.
Rina has been a professional teacher of over 100 special needs kids from 2016. She was a member of LITALICO, Inc., the leading company helping the disabled in Japan, for 4 years. During that time, she taught special needs kids who fell behind in school and had difficulties in writing, reading, and behavioral control due to disabilities like ADHD, autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Down Syndrome. She also acted as a consultant to families and schools. Currently, she runs a home visiting program as a tutor, partnering with their parents.
I like home parties and have been doing a mini-work of improv at home called “IMPRO at Home” for about a year. I like places where we can take our titles and relate to each other as one person.
Improvisor of Tightrope Impro Theatre
In September 2021 she will move to Vancouver and she was welcomed as a member of Tightrope Impro theatre. She has been the director and cast member of many shows there. (Maestro/Gorilla Theatre） She likes to deal with emotional scenes and social issues on stage. She is now also starting to instruct classes for elementary school and beginners.
Founder of IMPRO KIDS TOKYO
In 2018, she founded IMPRO KIDS TOKYO, an improv education company with a focus to help children develop both communication skills and the idea of “accepting others”. Our company of nearly 20 people is a response to certain issues in the Japanese education system, where there are few communication lessons and many mental health problems. Not only for children, but this company also empowers parents and schools.
Fearless Inc. CCO
“To remove fear from people and organizations and create a place where everyone can unleash their creativity.” this is our mission.
She applies Impro to address the fears that limit the activities of teams and organizations with members. “By removing fear, we aim to unleash the innate creativity of people and organizations.
Project Experience
ーWorkshops
・Workshops for medical students in Gunma University
・Business Training (Mercari Inc, LITALICO Inc, etc）as a member of Fearless Inc
・City planning online workshops
ーPerformances
・Full mask performances
・The Bechdel Test (first time performed in Japan)
・More than 30 online impro shows
・Gorilla Theatre, Maestre, Theatresports, etc
Certifications
National English Teaching Accreditation in Japan for junior high school and high school
Language
Native Japanese speaking, reading and writing
IELTS 6.0