Kansai Improv Group

Joshua Butts founded Kansai Improv Group after a performance background that included work with multiple ensembles at The Second City in Chicago and training through iO's program. Relocating to the Kansai region, he established the group to bring the North American improv tradition to Osaka and Kyoto. Members have included Steven Thompson, who moved to Osaka in 1997 and integrated improv skills into English education and labor contexts; YoYo Ueda, a performer with Voice Kobe and Minatomachi Voice Theatre Company; and Howell Parry, who trained at ComedySportz Manchester before joining. The group has performed at venues across Osaka and Kyoto and operates meetup-style open rehearsals at parks and community centers.

Kansai Improv Group draws on the Chicago school of improv as filtered through Butts's Second City and iO training, emphasizing ensemble-driven scene work and comedic timing. The group's international composition gives its shows a bilingual, cross-cultural texture that distinguishes it from both Japanese-language comedy traditions and more tourist-facing performance groups. Workshops and open sessions prioritize accessibility, welcoming beginners and experienced performers alike into a supportive creative environment.