Your First Steps Into Noh and Kyogen

The Kyoto City Tourism Association and Discover Noh in Kyoto with the Nogaku Performers’ Association present a new official guided theater experience, “Imagine Noh.”

Noh is a form of traditional Japanese theatrical performance that combines song, dance, music, poetry, masks and elaborate costumes. The art form was developed in the 14th century and has been presenting the stories of deities, spirits and noble figures through elegant and passionate performances ever since. Kyogen, Noh’s comic counterpart, portrays everyday situations with humor, while sharing the same historical and aesthetic traditions. While Noh is a drama of poetry, Kyogen is theater through dialogue.

“Imagine Noh” offers a more accessible alternative to a traditional full-length performance. The plays are presented in smaller, easy-to-follow segments, easing first-time viewers into the art form with the support of certified guides who provide English introductions and after-show talks with performers. “Imagine Noh” is a welcoming entry point into the depth and intensity of Noh and Kyogen.

The special program will be available through four select dates at the Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater and The Kongo Noh Theatre, with a Noh play and a Kyogen play in each performance. Plays include:

  • Kokaji: a Noh play about the legendary swordsmith Munechika who forges the emperor’s sword with the help of the Inari Shrine fox deity
  • Kamo: a Noh play about a female deity who blesses the world with graceful dance and her son, the thunder deity
  • Shari: a Noh play about the guardian deity Idaten who chases the heavens after the demon Sokushikki, who steals Buddha’s sacred relics
  • Bonsan: a Kyogen play about a man who attempts to steal his friend’s bonsan, or miniature landscapes

All performances take place from 5:30–7 p.m. on the following dates:

  • Nov 12 : Bonsan and Kokaji at Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater
  • Nov 20: Bonsan and Shari at The Kongo Noh Theatre
  • Nov 27: Bonsan and Kokaji at Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater
  • Dec 4: Bonsan and Kamo at Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater

Imagine Noh Details and Location