Take a private immersion into the beauty of Noh with a 4th-generation Noh performer
2 hour private experience
Location: Nakano, Tokyo
Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the master
What you’ll do
Join a 4th-generation Noh performer in his private residences where the next generation of Noh actors train for an immersive Noh performance masterclass. Enter the stage and learn more about the history, heritage, and performative style of Noh Theater in Tokyo.
Who can attend
Children must be 11+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:30)
Session 3 (18:00 - 20:00)
Access
40 minutes from Tokyo station ( by train)
A Divine Drama
A traditional performance with sacred origins, Noh Theater is a living art, a bridge between the realm of humans and the divine, and a drama that strikes as one both expressive and inscrutable. Originally performed outdoors for the mass public in fields and temples and varying in styles, Noh Theater formalized in the 15th Century due to Noh's most prominent figures - Kan-ami and Ze-ami - and later transformed into a dramatic art exclusive to the samurai class during the Edo Period. In this era, Noh drama became highly stylized, evolving fixed kata poses, refining to meet the demands of aristocracy by infusing literary allusions, Buddhist philosophy, and classical texts from both China and Japan. Noh Theater is therefore far more than merely a dramatic style - it's a mental state, with actors embodying the role in both movement and spirit, and a ritualistic performance steeped in rich cultural heritage. The subtle and mysterious beauty of Noh Theater has captivated audiences for centuries, from domestic viewers to international artists such as poet Ezra Pound. Discover the secrets of Noh's traditions and performative style at the personal residences of a 4th-generation Noh actor in central Tokyo. Imbued in each performance is centuries' worth of history, carefully passed down from generation to generation of Noh performers, now passed along to you in this private, exclusive experience.
