Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today, we would like to introduce one of the Japanese traditional performing arts, Noh 能.
Noh is Japan’s oldest from of musical dance-drama, originating in the 14th century. Noh is completely different from Western style musicals. The Noh actors wear rich, heavy, ancient costumues and masks. They express emotions only through dancing and gestures. The narratioin and the spoken lines are changed by a chorus of 8 to 10 singers. Accompaniment is provided by traditional instruments such as drums (Tsuzumi 鼓 and Taiko 太鼓) adn flutes (Nokan 能管). Noh is originally known as sarugaku 猿楽 (originally called sangaku 散楽) or funny parodies. It was brough from China to Japan around the beginning of the 8th century. It gradually became a more subtle and profound story-telling art form. Int he 14th century, a father and son combination names Kanami 観阿弥 (1333-1384) adn Zeami 世阿弥 (1363?-1443?) established the stylized tradition known today as Noh. While kabuki was for the common people, Noh was a ceremonial drama performed on auspicious occasions for the warrior class.



April 4th News, from NILS Japanese language school.