We had the good fortune of connecting with Saki Kawamura and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saki, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I make it a habit to treat everyone with kindness and respect—always. I strive to be the best team player in any room, bringing no ego and a collaborative spirit. I take full responsibility for even the smallest tasks, knowing they contribute to the bigger picture. And I respond quickly and clearly—being reliable and communicative has consistently built trust in every team I’ve worked with.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is rooted in a deep curiosity about human courage and fear—what gives people the strength to act, and what holds them back. I’m especially drawn to how societal pressures and norms shape those responses.

As an international artist and immigrant, one of my biggest challenges has been navigating the visa process. It’s complex and exhausting, but it also pushed me to work harder and grow stronger. I’ve been helped by so many generous people along the way, and I know I’ll continue to rely on the support of others. That’s one of the things I love about this industry—at its best, it’s built on community and mutual care.

Every time I work with incredible collaborators, I’m reminded that being an artist is also about being a better person. That’s what keeps me going—and that’s what I hope to bring into every room I enter.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Roundabout Theatre Company—especially Nicole Tingir MacMillan and Abby Katz—who gave me an incredible opportunity and believed in me as a directing fellow. I also owe so much to Casey Hushion, who opened the door for me into this industry and taught me what it means to be a kind, fearless, and thoughtful leader. And to David Cromer—though we’ve only worked together once so far, I’m hopeful for many more collaborations. He reminded me that truly remarkable work comes from genuine curiosity and deep collaboration with others.

Website: https://www.sakikawamura.com

Instagram: saki.kawamura

Image Credits
pc: Kat duPont Vecchio

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