Biography
Originally from the United States and a Tokyo resident since 1994, Chris Wells is a founding member of the Tokyo Comedy Store (now Improvazilla), where he directs the Improvazilla Impro Dojo. He was an Asian Region Representative for the International Theatresports Institute’s Board of Directors for 8 years, and he is an approved ITI instructor.
Improv has been a cornerstone of Chris’ life in Japan and since high school, where he competed and excelled in impromptu and extemporaneous speaking. With a BA in Psychology, he is interested in the transformative aspects of improv in people’s lives, improv performances, and how improv and mindfulness connect.
He focuses on the issue of minority representation within the context of Johnstone-style storytelling, as well as musical improv theatre at the TCS Improvazilla Show. He teaches weekly and intensive improv workshops at his studio and has taught in Tokyo, Costa Rica, Argentina, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong, China and Dubai. He can teach in English, Spanish, or Japanese.
He is a Senior Advisor for the consulting agency EY Japan, and designs and facilitates innovation workshops for their Tokyo wavespace innovation center. He also conducts team-building and creativity workshops for corporate and educational clients through his own company, including Yamaha Music English teachers, Nikko Shoken, Citibank, Yamaha Music, International Christian University MBA program, Pioneers Festival, and Eiko Seminar.
In addition to his work in the world of improv, he is a professional narrator heard around the globe on NHK World, in the audioguides of Japan's national museums, and on JR East train platforms and on two of Japan’s bullet train platforms, announcing when the next train departs in a soothing voice. So if you travel to Japan, you will definitely hear his work! He’s even voiced a few Ultramen!
