Noh performance (©JNTO)

The austere form of Japanese theater known as Noh has many elements in common with Greek tragedy, most notably the use of masks and the presence of a chorus that plays an explanatory role. Noh gestures are highly controlled, formal, and charged with symbolism. The atmosphere of hushed tension and the unadorned stage makes Noh theater a world apart from Kabuki or Bunraku. Noh performances are held in Tokyo twice a month at the National Noh Theater, a prime example of traditional Japanese architecture. index | previous | next