| November, 1962 | Born in Tokyo. At present, 47 years old. |
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| May-, 1979 | When a sophomore at Komaba High School (part-time), Tokyo, boldly carried out the around-the-world bicycle trip with self-earned money and in one and half year traveled 20,000 km and visited 26 countries. |
| September, 1981 | While preparing for college published "Jurokusai no Oriza no Boken o Shirusu Hon (The Adventures of 16-year-old Oriza --Abbreviated title)," his journal of the bicycle trip, from Banseisha publishing company. |
| October, 1981 | Passed the College Entrance Qualification Exam and quitted high school. |
| April, 1982 | Entered International Christian University (ICU), college of liberal arts humanities division. |
| November, 1982 | While a freshman, wrote the first play and later established Seinendan Theater Company. |
| August, 1983 | Published "Jukenno Kunino Oriza (Oriza and the Entrance Exams)," a book on his experience on preparing for the college entrance exams, from Banseisha. |
| August-, 1984 | Received the International Education Fund scholarship to study at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, for one year. Learned the Korean language and experienced tear gas. |
| December, 1985 | Returned from Korea and was featured in the last episode of "Shinjinrui no Kishutachi (Color-bearers of the New Generation)" in Asahi Journal magazine. |
| June, 1986 | Graduated from International Christian University, college of liberal arts humanities division. |
| July, 1987 | Started directing. |
| March-, 1988 | Put on a trilogy on Korea. Intentionally started creating performances with the new directing style. (This list hereafter shows Hirata's activities outside Seinendan, his own company. Please see "Milestones of Seinendan" for Hirata's activities as a playwright and director in Seinendan.) |
| January, 1989 | As the artistic director of Komaba Agora Theater, held the first Daiseikimatsu Engekiten (the End-of-Millennium Theater Festival), an annual showcase of various theater groups from all over Japan. Has worked as the festival director ever since. |
| June, 1990 | Wrote "Chinese Soup," the first play for a theater company other than his own. This piece was directed by Hiroshi Ohashi. The production took place at Proto Theater, Takadanobaba. |
| July, 1990 | Assisted the Korean theater companies participating in Tiny Alice Festival. Took part in Doro Gekijo (Theater on Street)'s performance in Vanuatu to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Vanuatu. Doro Gekijo is an Aomori-based theater group. |
| May, 1991 | Wrote "Aho Ressha (Travel on Train)" which made a long run of over a year by Ganso Engekinomoto Ikiza theater company, starting in August this year. |
| May, 1992 | Published "Doro Gekijo Vanuatu e iku (Doro Gekijo Performs in Vanuatu)," the journal of the above tour, from Banseisha. |
| June, 1992 | The new script, "Sayonara dakega Jinsei ka (Isn't Life More than Goodbyes?)" appeared in a magazine ("Les Specs") for the first time. |
| November, 1992 | Was nominated for Kishida Drama Award for "Hokugen no Saru (Northernmost Monkeys)." |
| January, 1993 | Worked as the festival coordinator for the first Japan-Korea Dance Festival. |
| April, 1993 | Started writing a series of essays entitled "Ima Yaroto Omottetanonii (I was Just about to Do It...)" for Asahi Weekly magazine. |
| Decamber, 1993 | Was assigned as an advisory staff member for the research group for cultural promotion of the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| July, 1994 | Held workshop for high school students sponsored by Aoyama Circular Theater. |
| November, 1994 | Wrote and directed "Tenkosei (Transfer Student)" for the performance by the selected participants of the above workshop. |
| December, 1994 | Started writing a series of essays entitled "Tabikara Kaereba (Home Again)" for La Teatro magazine. |
| February, 1995 | Won the 39th Kishida Drama Award with "Tokyo Note (Tokyo Notes)." |
| March, 1995 | Published "Gendai Kogo Engeki no tameni (For Contemporary Colloquial Theater)," the first book on drama theories, from Banseisha, which was highly acclaimed. Wrote "Madokara Anataga Mieru (I See You Through the Window)" for MODE theater company for their production for Tokyo Drama Fair. |
| May, 1995 | Published "Hirata Oriza Gikyokushu 1 Tokyo Note/S Kogen kara (Hirata Oriza's Plays I: Tokyo Notes/From S Plateau)" and "Hirata Oriza Gikyokushu 2: Tenkosei (Hirata Oriza's Plays II: Transfer Student)" from Banseisha. |
| July, 1995 | Started writing periodically for Nihon Keizai Shimbun Promenade. |
| May, 1996 | Bungakuza theater company performed Hirata's play, "Omoidasenai Yume no Ikutsuka (Some Forgotten Dreams)." Published "Hirata Oriza Gikyokushu 3: Kataku ka Shura ka/Angu Shoden (Hirata Oriza's Plays III: A Burning House, or Shambles?/Confession of a Feeble Mind)" from Banseisha. |
| December, 1996 | Wrote "Odoriko (The Dancer)" for Kanasuzi Tadao Associates theater company. |
| June, 1997 | Published "Toshini Shukusaiwa Iranai (Cities Need No Festivities)," the second book on drama theories, from Banseisha. |
| November, 1997 | Wrote "Tsukiga Tottemo Aoikara ('Cause the Moon is So Bright Tonight)" for Bungakuza theater company. |
| December, 1997 | Wrote the script for "Fairy Tale," [P4] joint production. [P4] is a group of 4 young leading Japanese directors, of which Hirata is a member. |
| June, 1998 | "Tokyo Notes" in the French language was published in France (translated by Rose-Marie Makino-Fayolle). |
| October, 1998 | Published "Engeki Nyumon (Introduction to Drama)" from Kodansha publishing company, as one of Kodansha Gendai Shinsho series. |
| February, 1999 | Wrote "Meoto Zenzai" for Ryu Sho Kikaku theater company. |
| April, 1999 | Served as the festival director of Toga Spring Festival. |
| September, 1999 | Wrote and directed "Tooi Hibi no Hito (People of the Far Away Days)" for Engeki Shudan En theater company. |
| December, 1999 | Visited France for the French production of "Tokyo Notes" and 2-month rehearsal in Brest, a city to the northwest of Paris. |
| January-march, 2000 | Presents "Tokyo Notes" in Brest, Paris, Aubusson, and Clermont-Ferrand. The cast is mainly consisted of French actors. |
January-March, 2000 Presented "Tokyo Notes" in Brest, Paris, Aubusson, and Clermont-Ferrand. The cast was mainly consisted of French actors. February, 2000 "Seoul Shimin" in the French language was published in France (translated by Rose-Marie Makino-Fayolle). Published "Hirata Oriza Gikyokushu 4: Minami e/Sayonara dakega Jinsei ka (Oriza Hirata's Plays IV: Southward/Isn't Life More than Goodbyes?)" >from Banseisha. April, 2000 Became associate professor at Obirin University, Department of Humanities. October, 2000 Wrote "Tonarini itemo Hitori (Suddenly Married)" for Obihiro Gekiken Theater Company based in Hokkaido. Was dramaturge in the production of "Nigeteyukumono (The Fleeing)," the winner of the first Northern Drama Award (Outstanding Play). This production won an outstanding theatrical work award in the 2000 National Arts Festival. April, 2001 Published the play "Balkan Doubutsuen (The Balkan Zoo)" from Engeki Book. June, 2001 Published the play "Boken Ou (The Kings on the Road)" from Engeki Book. September, 2001 Published "Taiwano Lesson (Dialogue Lessons)," a collection of his columns on a magazine, from Shogakukan Inc. October, 2001 Published "Geijutu Rikkokuron (Arts as the Basis of a Nation) " from Shueisha, in which he states specific suggestions and proposals regarding arts administration. Later won the 7th AICT Drama Critics Award with the book. November, 2001 His workshop with the students of Komaba Elementary School where he had gone as a child was broadcast by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). February, 2002 Wrote and directed "Ueno Doubutsuen Sai-sai-sai Shugeki (Attacking Ueno Zoo for the Fourth Time)," which won the 9th Yomiuri Theater Award for Outstanding Production. April, 2002 Wrote "Taiwageki wo Taikenshiyou (Let's Experience a Dialogue Drama)" for an 8th grade Japanese text book (published from Sanseido). June, 2002 "Sonokawa wo Koete, Gogatsu (Across the River in May)" (written by Oriza Hirata and KIM, Myung-Hwa and directed by Oriza Hirata and Lee, Byung-Hoon), an event in 2002 commemorating Year of Japan-South Korea National Exchange, was presented both in Japan and Korea. July, 2002 Started a year-long workshop for the 8th graders at Meguro Daiichi Junior High School where he had gone to school. December, 2002 Published "Hanashikotoba no Nihongo (Japanese Spoken Language)," his discussions with playwright Hisashi Inoue, from Shogakukan Inc. January, 2003 Won the Grand Prix of the 2nd Asahi Performing Arts Awards with "Across the River in May." February, 2003 "S Kougen kara (From S Plateau)," written by Oriza Hirata and directed by Laurent Gutman, was produced in Strasbourg, France. "From S Plateau" in the French language was published in France (translated by Rose-Marie Makino-Fayolle). March, 2003 Invited by the Japan Foundation to hold workshops in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Park Theater performed "Seoul Notes" (adapted and directed by PARK, 広正) an adaptation of Hirata's "Tokyo Notes," in Seoul, Korea. April, 2003 "Tokyo Notes" directed by ダニエル・ブリュ was presented at Universete de provence, Aix-en-Provence, France. June-August, 2003 Supervised a drama reading about Minamata Disease by junior high students for the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) program "Miraieno Kokai (Voyage to the Future)." At present, Hirata is associate professor of Obirin University (Department of Humanities, School of Integrated Culture), management board member of the Japan Performing Arts Foundation, board member of the Japanese Society for Theatre Research, artistic director of Fujimi Culture Hall KIRARI FUJIMI, and executive board member of JAWOC (Japan Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan).
Hirata owns Komaba Agora Theater where he is the artistic director. This theater serves as the base for his activities.
Hirata's reviews and essays on various topics including theater, education, languages and literature frequently appear in magazines and newspapers. His essay series, "Nijuisseiki tono Taiwa (Dialogue with the 21st Century)," is in Honno Mado (Shougakukan). He has recently been noticed by his collaboration with young French theater people such as Fr馘駻ic Fisbach and Fran輟is-Michel Pesenti and also by his workshops held throughout Japan and overseas (Australia, France, and Korea).
Hirata is director and executive secretary of Japan Playwrights Association, management board member of Theater InterAction (Engekijin Kaigi) and executive board member of JAWOC (Japan Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan).