Noh Theatre

Noh is a form of Japanese theater which originated in the fourteenth century and includes music, dance and drama. It was developed together with kyogen, comical pieces performed during interludes of the main noh drama which provide a lighter break from the intense drama. Together, Noh and kyogen are known as Nogaku, and they were designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. This guide explores the development of the genre and the distinctive style of the traditional Noh stage, characters, and masks used in performances.

Terminology

• Fue: a Japanese flute.
• Hayashi: musicians or instrumentalists.
• Jiutai: the chorus.
• Koken: a small group of stage hands assisting the performers.
• Kotsuzumi: a Japanese shoulder drum.
• Kyogen: comical pieces performed during interludes.
• Muromachi Period: a period of political disorder in Japan alongside cultural growth, from 1333 to 1573.
• Otsuzumi: a Japanese hip drum.
• Shite: the protagonist of the play.
• Taiko: a Japanese stick drum.
• Tokugawa Period: the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1867.
• Waki: the counterpart or foil to the shite.

Key Dates & Events

• 1333 - 1573 - Muromachi Period
• 1363 - 1443 - Life of Zeami Motokiyo
• 1603 - 1867 - Tokugawa Period
• 1983 - Opening of the National Noh Theatre in Tokyo, Japan