This project started in 2016 with the aim of creating an environment for both hearing-impaired and hearing people to enjoy theater together. The Japanese Theatre of the Deaf, which has received acclaim at home and abroad for its performances of kyogen in Japanese Sign Language, will showcase a kyogen standard from the classic repertoire in Japanese Sign Language, and the project scores a first for the world of Noh with its trial performance of Noh with simultaneous sign language interpreting, also performed by the Japanese Theatre of the Deaf.
For the 2021 performance in particular, the project’s 5th outing, the troupe has finally achieved the ultimate form of Noh performance in Japanese Sign Language, in which the whole performance is acted with sign language, unlike previous performances which trialed partial sign language interpreting.