Theaters play an important role in bringing the performing arts to people who have limited contact with them due to disabilities.
For this event, The Japanese Theatre of the Deaf, which has received global acclaim for its performances of kyogen in Japanese Sign Language and which is run by the actress Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Totto Foundation, will stage the Kita School Noh piece “Kurozuka” at the Kita Noh Theatre with simultaneous interpretation in sign language, as well as perform the kyogen standard “Busu”. This special showing aims to bring hearing and non-hearing people together to enjoy Noh, while continuing to explore the possibilities for helping the hearing-impaired enjoy Noh theater through the use of “Listening Through The Body” technology by electronics company Pioneer combined with sign language. And as an ambitious experiment, the thrilling Ai kyogen interludes will be played by actors using sign language for the first time in Noh theater.

1. Commentary (with sign language interpreter)
2. Kyogen “Busu” in Japanese Sign Language
Performers: Akiko Kazumi, Tetsuya Izaki, Atom Sunada
Miyake Kyougen-kai (voice actors)
3. Noh “Kurozuka” (with sign-language interpreter)
Performers: Shigenobu Uchida, Shigeru Nagashima,
Noboru Yasuda, Chikanari Miyake, others