In the late 1990s, he was the first Japanese person to study abroad at the French Centre National des Arts du Cirque, or CNAC. Many artists and producers of Japan owe their introduction to contemporary circus to Mr. Kanai’s influence, and he may be described as the origin of contemporary circus in Japan. He currently serves as director of the approved NPO Slow Label and conducts social circus activities as representative of Juggling.Shinshu (Juggling Dot Shinshu).