What are Noh and Kyogen? Introducing recommended programs for those who see for the first time

I'm interested in Noh and Kyogen, but I don't really understand the meaning and difference between Noh and Kyogen ...

In this article, I will explain the general definition of Noh and Kyogen for those who have such questions.
In the second half, we will introduce three recommended programs for beginners.

If you are interested in the types and differences of traditional Japanese performing arts, please check this article.

What is Noh / Kyogen?

There are the following differences in Noh and Kyogen, which generally give a similar impression.

Noh is a song stage that is characterized by wearing a mask

"Noh" is one of the performing arts that was introduced from China as long as 1300 years ago.

The feature is that the play is performed using masks such as "Noh mask" and "Omote", and many stories are based on myths and historical stories.

Noh also has the charm of a musical or opera-like singing stage where the story progresses along with the performance. Another major feature of Noh is that it often uses words such as "Let's do it" in the dialogue.

Kyogen is a comedy that progresses with a comedy touch

Kyogen is a performing art that was born 650 years ago.

The biggest difference from "Noh" is that the play progresses in "face" without wearing a mask.
Many of the Kyogen are "comedies" that tell an interesting story about everyday life. In the story, humorous conversations such as "degozaru" often appear.

Three programs recommended for those who are new to Noh

For those who are new to Noh, we recommend the following three programs, which are easy to understand, such as a synopsis.

Tsuchigumo

Tsuchigumo is a story about a maiden Kocho visiting Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who is sick and sleeping, and then the spider spirit. It is a very simple and clear performance that depicts the extermination of Tsuchigumo spirits by servants and German warriors.

The spider silk that is emitted radially also has the vividness and beauty that fascinates the audience.

Therefore, even those who are worried about their first ability will be fascinated by the strong impact.

Rashomon

Rashomon is a story of demon extermination set in a real gate in Heiankyo.
This performance is a compound Noh with front and back.

In Maeba, Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Yasumasa Hirai appeared one after another, making us imagine a strong soldier. On the other hand, when entering the backstage, a fierce battle with a demon with a helmet begins. It's a short program of about 50 minutes, so it's recommended for those who see Noh for the first time.

The main character of Rashomon, "Shite," has many interesting performances.

Therefore, you can pay attention to the movement of the shite instead of the whole stage.

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Dojoji Temple

The stage of Dojoji is the precincts after a while after the incident of Kiyohime Anjin.
In this case, a crazy woman was transformed into a snake by jealousy of a monk who once had a feeling for her, and all the monks and temple bells were burned down.

The biggest highlight of Dojoji is the scene where a woman transformed into a snake appears when Shirabyoshi, the former shite, jumps into the bell. The transformation from Shirabyoshi to Snake takes place inside the bell. It's a very sharp stage, so two hours will pass in no time.

3 recommended programs for those who are new to Kyogen

For those who are new to Kyogen, the following 3 performances are recommended.

Bo shibari

Stick binding is a relatively new performance in Kyogen.

The story begins when the owner, who is about to go out, ties up the Taro and Jiro crowners who steal and drink alcohol with a stick and take measures. However, the two of them manage to drink alcohol even when they are stuck in a stick.

In such a humorous story, one of the highlights is that the two dance while their hands are tied.

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Kakiyama bushi

Kakiyamabushi is a story about Yamabushi, who can't stand hunger during his training and steals and eats persimmon fruits, and the field owner who came around.

Yamabushi desperately imitates the barking of animals as he tries to meet the difficult challenges of the field owner.
It will be a fun performance that will make many spectators laugh when they see the scene. In addition, one of the attractions is that it looks as if you are in a tall persimmon tree due to the high expressiveness of the role of Shite.

Kakiyama Fushi is one of the many Kyogen performances that is often used as an educational material for children.
Therefore, even those who have a difficult impression of traditional performing arts such as Noh and Kyogen can naturally enter the story with this performance.

Busshi

The Buddhist priest is a humorous performance of a man who came to the city to buy a Buddha statue and a fraudster who tries to deceive and steal money.
Since it is a simple story, it is easy to choose not only for Kyogen beginners but also for school appreciation classes.

The questions and answers of a fraudster who claims to be a Buddhist priest and a rural person who touches the Buddha statue that was created without knowing it are contents that invite the laughter of many spectators. In this performance, the Kyogen side "Otsu" is used to express the Buddha statue.

Summary

This time, in order to solve the question "What exactly is Noh and Kyogen?", I explained in detail the definitions and specific differences between them. There are many programs for beginners in Noh and Kyogen. If you are interested, please take a look at the popular programs introduced on this page.

This article is a partial re-edit of the article published in Nihongo Biyori by KARUTA.
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