Noh play Kagura

Noh Kagura

This article is about the classical Japanese dance theatre.

Noh performance at Itsukushima shrine

Okina hōnō (Noh play A Venerable Old Man)

Noh, or Nogaku is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. The repertoire is normally limited to a specific set of historical plays. A Noh performance often lasts all day and consists of five Noh plays interspersed with shorter, humorous kyogenpieces.

While the field of Noh performance is extremely codified with an emphasis on tradition rather than innovation, some performers do compose new plays or revive historical ones that are not a part of the standard repertoire. Works blending Noh with other theatrical traditions have also been produced.

KAGURA 神楽(野宴) 悪孤伝prt. 1