What we do

Experience noh

  • Organization : nohsyoukai
  • Section : None
  • Type of Grant Program : Single

Outline

Hands-on experience event
Noh Utai chanting and Kata (movement patterns), Suriashi (“sliding feet” movement), props production, hands-on Kotsuzumi experience

Number of sessions (per person/including presentations, etc.)
3-7

Principal instructors
Naohiro Takeda, Yoshiteru Takeda, Takafumi Takeda (Kanze school shite-kata)

Event features
Rather than giving participants a vague experience of Noh, this program offers a more in-depth and multi-faceted experience of Noh through being themed around one program, “Adachigahara.” Making props in particular is an aspect that the general public are unable to experience as it is something that usually happens backstage. It is said that going to see Noh is an immersive individual experience like reading a book, but in completing this program participants will be able to appreciate the performance of “Adachigahara” with a sense of unity and solidarity with performers. The Sengoku daimyo feudal lords who loved Noh attended performances but also used to perform on stage themselves. This program allows participants to experience the different ways people have enjoyed Noh from ancient times onwards.

A framework enabling participants to continue with hands-on experience (practice) of traditional performing
By offering a hands-on course that includes the experience of performing, we want participants to appreciate the appeal of Noh in more depth and to feel the joy of performing themselves, something one cannot understand merely by going to see Noh. In addition, it will be easy for participants to continue learning and practising Noh as the location for classes is also the place where the instructors usually practice and rehearse.

Profile

Nohshoukai
Nohshoukai was founded as a private organization in 1992 as a support group for the study of Kanze school Noh artist Naohiro Takeda but was incorporated in 2015 for the purpose of promoting and disseminating Noh to a wider audience in the public interest. As well as holding a full-scale performance once a year, the group runs hands-on Noh classes and Noh appreciation events for students. Prior to the pandemic, for seven years since 2013 the group had organized Noh performances geared towards third grade students at the junior high school affiliated with to Tokyo University of Agriculture.

Contact

Takafumi Takeda
nohsyoukai
t.takahumi1206@gmail.com

Venues

Takeda Noh Theatre, Nerima City, Tokyo
National Noh Theatre Large lecture room, Shibuya City, Tokyo
the Cerulean Tower Noh Theatre, Setagaya City, Tokyo