Noh mask in red and black background

What is Noh? A Simple Explanation for Japanese and Foreign Audiences

Today I’d like to introduce Noh, a traditional Japanese performing art that masterfully combines theater, dance, song and instrumental music. With a history spanning more than 650 years, Noh was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

Initially, the artform was heavily influenced by acrobatic performances and other entertaining elements, but Noh underwent a significant transformation in the early 14th century. Kan’ami, a Noh actor and troupe leader, along with his son Zeami, refined its structure and aesthetic, shaping Noh into the art form we know today.

Since the 14th century, Noh has been nurtured and carefully preserved under the patronage of the samurai.

Noh and its Influence on Japanese Icons

Have you seen the Emmy Award-winning TV drama Shōgun? Hiroyuki Sanada’s portrayal of Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun is modeled after Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai who unified Japan. Ieyasu was a great admirer of Noh theater and even mandated that Noh be performed or viewed during official samurai banquets. For the esteemed samurai, Noh was considered an essential part of their cultural education.


Akira Kurosawa, one of Japan’s most celebrated film directors, was deeply inspired by Noh theater. His masterpiece “The Throne of Blood” (Kumonosu-jō) is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, reimagined in a Japanese setting and incorporating the stylistic elements of Noh theater. Kurosawa masterfully captures the essence of Noh and brings it to life in this cinematic work. Be sure to check it out!

Another legendary film director, Yasujirō Ozu, also admired Noh. In his film “Late Spring,” a Noh performance is depicted as a play within the story. You can catch a glimpse of leading actress Setsuko Hara’s beautiful profile as she watches the Noh stage.

While Noh was deeply loved by Japan’s cultural icons, others may find Noh’s deliberate pace and minimalist staging challenging. Le Corbusier reportedly grew weary of it during his 1955 visit to Japan. His itinerary in Tokyo and Kyoto repeatedly included Noh performances, which reportedly left him weary of the art form.

Furthermore, in modern Japan, unlike in Ieyasu’s time, fewer people are familiar with Noh. In today’s fast-paced world, Noh offers a much slower passage of time, and its mysterious and complex atmosphere may cause many to shy away from watching it. That being said, many people are still deeply moved and captivated by the depiction of life’s absurdities and the unchanging human heart.

Whether you find yourself weary of Noh like Le Corbusier or captivated by it like Ieyasu and Kurosawa, understanding what kind of art Noh is will at least keep you from feeling disinterested. Next I’ll share some fundamental knowledge and introduce English guides and resources to help deepen your understanding of this historic artform.

Theatrical Art Form with a 650-Year History

Theatrical Art Form with a 650-Year History
Tenryo Sado Ryotsu Takigi Noh at the Shizaki Suwa Shrine Noh Stage
Photo: © Sado Tourism 

Noh is a performing art that has been passed down for more than 650 years, combining drama, dance, singing and instrumental music into a unique theatrical experience.

One of its distinctive features is the use of masks, known as omote. These masks are carefully selected based on the character being portrayed, adding depth and symbolism to the performance. It is said that there are around 250 types of Noh masks, with approximately 50 being considered fundamental. While the masks themselves lack facial expressions, skilled performers convey emotions through their movements and techniques. Even the same mask can express different emotions depending on the angle at which it catches the light.

In Noh, the main actor is called the shite, who plays the protagonist, while the waki takes on a supporting role, often acting as a guide and driving the story’s introduction. The shite, wearing a mask, sings and dances.

The performance is supported by musicians known as hayashikata and a chorus called jiutai. Together, they create the unique atmosphere of Noh.

You might find yourself puzzled by the extremely slow pace of the storytelling or the lack of elaborate stage sets, which are hallmarks of this traditional art form.

Two-Part Experience: Tragedies of Life and Comic Relief

Two-Part Experience: Tragedies of Life and Comic Relief
Noh actors on stage
© k_river / PIXTA

So, what kinds of stories are performed in Noh? Most are tragedies. Noh often portrays the absurdities and hardships of life—situations so tragic that they seem unimaginable. For example, the play “Sumidagawa,” depicts a half-mad mother who ventures a long way searching for her kidnapped child. “Toru” tells the haunting story of the ghost of a prince who met a tragic end. In “Hannyo,” a courtesan goes mad because she cannot meet her lover.

Heartbreaking as these stories may be, aren’t they similar to Greek tragedies? Even operas are often built around tragic narratives. Don’t be too disheartened, though. Typically, a Noh play is paired with a Kyogen performance. Noh and Kyogen are meant to be seen together as a set. In Japan, Noh and Kyogen are collectively referred to as Nogaku.

Kyogen, simply put, is a comedy that centers around dialogue. Many Noh plays are tragedies with intense scenes, but Kyogen depicts the universal humor of human beings. Additionally, Kyogen is performed without masks. 

The presence of Kyogen as comic relief enhances the impact of the tragic elements in Noh plays. Together, they create a profound contrast, making the emotional depth of Noh even more striking. 

Maybe life, much like Nogaku, is a stage where the tragic and the comic coexist.

Structure of the Noh Stage

Structure of the Noh Stage
The Noh stage at Shizaki Suwa Shrine on Sado Island 
Photo: © Sado Tourism 

A Noh stage is distinct from the typical theater setup. Its most notable feature is the roof that extends over the stage.

This design is a remnant of the past: before 1868, during the Edo period when samurai governed Japan, all Noh stages were located outdoors. The roof was originally a practical feature to protect performances from the elements. Today, it remains as a symbolic and traditional element of Noh stage architecture. 

Distinctive features of a Noh stage include the absence of a curtain and the stage’s prominent extension into the audience area. Another unique element is the hashigakari, a bridge-like walkway that connects the backstage area to the main stage and serves as a secondary performance space.

Since there is no curtain in Noh, the arrival of performers such as the hayashikata (musicians) and jiutai (chorus) signals the start of the performance. The artwork at the back of the stage always depicts a pine tree, a feature called the kagami-ita (mirror board).

With this simple yet symbolic stage design, the story unfolds in a manner that is unique to Noh. For example, the setting could be a mountain path where a traveler walks, a riverside where a mother mourns her kidnapped child or an abandoned house that was once home to nobility. There are no elaborate props or set dressings: the stage remains as it is throughout the duration of the performance, allowing the story to unfold on an extremely simple stage.

Although there are no stage sets, the audience’s hearts are drawn far away as they listen to the Noh actors’ performances, dances and chants, imagining the scenes in their minds.

In this way, much of the literature and theater created by the Japanese relies heavily on imagination.

The History of Noh 

The origins of Noh can be traced back to the 700s. It began as a fusion of two main influences: sangaku (a form of entertainment featuring humorous acts, miming, acrobatics and magic tricks) and gagaku (a more formal style of dance and music brought to Japan from China). These elements—including popular folk entertainment, religious rituals, dances and songs—combined to form the early foundations of Noh. Kyogen, too, shares the same roots as Noh.

Noh experienced significant development during the Muromachi period, around the 14th century. It was during this time that Kan’ami and his son Zeami played pivotal roles in perfecting the form of Noh. Zeami, in particular, established a new style of Noh known as mugen-noh (dream-like Noh).

Mugen-noh has a clear structure, which generally follows this pattern:

In many cases, the waki, who plays a traveling monk, meets a person at their destination and listens to stories related to that place or the person’s life. Then, it is revealed that the person is actually a god or spirit of the land, or a ghost who died with lingering regrets. This role is played by the shite.

The traveling monk, after hearing the shite’s story, prays for them, calms their souls and guides them to peace, bringing the story to a close.

Before Zeami, Noh plays known as “genzai noh” featured characters who were all real humans. However, in “mugen noh,” unreal entities such as gods, spirits and ghosts appear, and the story can be told out of chronological order, allowing for a more fantastical impression on the audience. A distinctive feature is the inclusion of the shite’s gorgeous dance from the middle of the story to the climax.


Out of the approximately 250 Noh plays currently performed, about 50 are works by Zeami, accounting for roughly 20%. This highlights the significant impact of his contributions.


What has been discussed here is basic knowledge. But if someone invites you to a Noh theater, you will be able to make small talk based on the basic knowledge you have gained here.

A Guide to Watching and Understanding Noh

National Noh Theater (国立能楽堂) © mizoula / PIXTA
National Noh Theater (国立能楽堂) © mizoula / PIXTA

When going to see Noh, choose performances that offer English audio guides or subtitles, and be sure to read a summary of the content beforehand. Knowing the storyline in advance will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the world of Noh, not just follow along with the audio guide or subtitles.

Be sure to check the timetable. Typically, the Kyogen performance lasts around 30 minutes, followed by a 20-minute interval, and then the Noh performance follows, usually lasting about an hour.

It may be difficult to fully understand the dialogue, but the tragicomedy of human life is universal, unchanged from the past to the present. As long as you understand the plot and the setting, you should be able to immerse yourself in the story. 

The National Noh Theatre, located in Sendagaya, Tokyo, hosts performances throughout the year. There are also performances with simple explanations for beginners. Generally, you should be able to access an English audio guide or subtitles, but it’s a good idea to confirm this before you go. You can do so through the Japan Arts Council website.

You can also access the site Invitation to Nohgaku, which offers information on Noh performances, acting, costumes and history. It is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Korean. 

Noh Jūban: A New Way of Reading Noh by Seiko Ito and Jay Rubin (Shinchosha)
Noh Jūban: A New Way of Reading Noh by Seiko Ito and Jay Rubin (Shinchosha)

The book “Noh Jūban: A New Way of Reading Noh” was written by Japanese novelist Seiko Ito and Jay Rubin, a scholar of Japanese literature who is known for translating Haruki Murakami’s works. Written in both Japanese and English, it selects ten representative Noh plays, allowing readers to experience the stories themselves along with insightful commentary. By reading both the plays and the explanations, readers will gain an understanding of what Noh is as an art form. 

The Noh stage at Daizen Shrine on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture
Photo: © Sado Tourism 
The Noh stage at Daizen Shrine on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture
Photo: © Sado Tourism 

We suggest a trip where you can enjoy Noh while immersing yourself in nature. Sado Island, about half the size of Tokyo, is famous for being the place where the legendary Noh master, Zeami, was exiled in his later years. Around 400 years ago, during the Edo period, a Noh boom occurred among the common people of Sado. At its peak, more than 200 Noh stages were built, and it is said that around 30 still remain today. Most of the Noh stages on Sado are attached to shrines, and the seating is outdoors. The beauty of a Noh performance under the light of firewood as dusk turns into night is truly exceptional. 

Performances are held annually from around May to October. Watching Noh during Japan’s summer evenings under the magical light of dusk is a cherished tradition.

Information courtesy of Premium Japan.

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Madame Watanabe is a mysterious Japanese woman with a deep knowledge of her culture. By the way, she is not related to the “Mrs. Watanabe” phenomenon, which refers to the group of small retail investors from Japan appearing in Western stock markets.

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