An Introduction to Nohgaku Appreciation: From the National Noh Theatre to the World

The Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 aims to build momentum for the upcoming Expo 2025 (World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai), to support renewed interest in inbound travel to Japan, and to encourage further demand for domestic tourism. It also features a focus on "The Beauty and The Spirit of Japan," promoting Japanese cultural arts and spreading awareness of their diverse and universal charms within Japan and around the world. This is a large-scale project with Japanese cultural facilities, arts organizations, and many others hosting and participating in a diverse range of projects and events. In this article, from among these participants, we will highlight the National Noh Theatre's involvement in the Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, offering an introduction to nohgaku appreciation.

Nohgaku is the most traditional of Japan's performing arts, with a more than 600-year history of performance. The term embraces two contrasting forms of expression: noh with its stylized refinement, and kyogen with its cheerful humor. In 2001, UNESCO recognized nohgaku as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Special masks worn by leading actors, who are known as shite,* are a major feature of noh. Noh masks may represent figures including women, samurai warriors, and elderly characters, as well as otherworldly forms such as kami deities, spirits, and ogres. By subtly raising or lowering their faces to emphasize the effects of light and shadows on the masks, shite are able to express a wide range of emotions. The showy shozoku costumes worn by performers to match their roles are another highlight of noh. These feature some of the most gorgeous and finely detailed weaving techniques of any kimono. Noh also features musical accompaniment by hayashi ensembles playing fue bamboo flutes, kotsuzumi small hand drums, otsuzumi hip drums, and taiko stick drums, as well as jiutai choruses that sing and chant out the storyline, setting, and so on. These form a complete whole, bringing the audience into the world of yugen,** or subtle and profound beauty.

Meanwhile, kyogen plays feature comedic dialogue with familiar events from everyday life as the subject matter. The plays highlight human foolishness and weakness in ways that modern audiences can relate to and laugh about.

These unique features of nohgaku have attracted attention outside Japan as well, leading to an increasing number of performances overseas. However, many nohgaku pieces are concerned with the world of medieval Japan. This can make it difficult for audiences to appreciate the plays if they are not familiar with the historical background, characters, culture of the era, and so on.

In response, the National Noh Theatre, has taken a number of approaches to accommodate audiences. Located in Tokyo's Sendagaya area, the theatre regularly presents nohgaku performances. Its recent audience outreach efforts include preparing a guidebook written in English, installing screens to display subtitles on all seats, and providing explanations in English concerning the dialogue, the content of the jiutai chorus's singing, chanting, and established routines, and so on—all in real time. In addition, the theater also regularly presents Showcases*** offering casual enjoyment of nohgaku. The National Noh Theatre posts information about regular performances and Showcases on its website. Also, beyond this, the Cultural Heritage Online portal website also displays noh masks, shozoku costumes, and other items in the National Noh Theatre's collection (see below) to help audiences deepen their understanding of nohgaku.

As part of the Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, the National Noh Theatre website began streaming a PR video on the Showcases (see below) featuring shots from a wide range of angles, numerous closeups, and more to convey the charms of nohgaku in a way easy for viewers to understand. In addition, the National Noh Theatre holds nohgaku appreciation classes and workshops for visitors from outside Japan. It also offered experiences including backstage tours led by nohgaku performers proficient in languages other than Japanese. The Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where visitors from overseas often stay, also hosted an exhibition as an introduction to nohgaku, with demonstrations by nohgaku performers and more.

On January 19, 2024, another Showcase will be held at the National Noh Theatre. If you have the chance, please take this opportunity to experience the charms of Japan's proud nohgaku tradition.

* In noh, the main actor, or protagonist, is known as the shite, and the performer who serves to highlight features of the shite's acting is known as the waki. There are five schools of shite-kata, or the groups centered on shite-kata, but also including other several positions. Kanze, Komparu, Hosho, Kongo, and Kita. In kyogen as well, the main protagonist is known as the shite. There are two schools of kyogen performers: Okura and Izumi.
** The state of a deep and subtle lingering beauty that cannot be expressed in words. The term was first used in relation to appreciation of waka poetry. It has represented one of the fundamental aesthetic principles in the arts and entertainments of Japan, such as literature, painting, nohgaku, the tea ceremony, and architecture, since medieval times.
*** Compact nohgaku performances that can be enjoyed at low cost. Opening talks by nohgaku performers are also provided. These have made the events popular as introductions to appreciating nohgaku.
**** A weapon with a curved blade attached to the end of a long, wooden staff.