Noh Stage: Hiroaki Ohta/ from National Noh Theatre

A Noh stage is an extremely simplified space which does not have a drop or drawn curtain between the stage and the auditorium (kensho).

Originally, a Noh stage was set in the open air. Although it is now enshrined in a Noh theater building, in order to reconstruct the open air stage, a Noh stage today is equipped with a roof, a parapet on a gangway bridge (hashigakari), and pine trees. The Noh stage is full of inventions. For example, three pines planted on the gangway bridge gradually reduce their sizes from the first one at the front to the third one near the curtain (agemaku). This is design with perspective. They also use modest lighting in order to reconstruct the natural light in the open air stage.

Also, the stage is equipped with acoustic devices. In many cases, large jars are buried under the main stage and the gangway bridge. These jars function not only to enlarge and improve the sound of stepping but also to influence the sound of bamboo flutes, the music of drums, and the voice of reciters. (No jar is buried under the National Noh Theatre’s stage.)

The Structure of Noh Stage

The Noh stage is made of cypress. "Kagami-ita (the back board)" is located at the back of the main stage, and "kizahashi (steps)" are located at the front of the main stage. On the left side of the main stage is "hashigakari (the gangway bridge)." At the end of the gangway, a curtain (agemaku) is hung to separate the backstage. It is estimated that this structure was established in the early 16th century, which was slightly before the time of Nobunaga Oda, a famous Japanese feudal lord. The oldest Noh stage of this structure exists in Nishi-Honganji Temple, called the north Noh stage, allegedly constructed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

The Noh stage is composed of the main stage, gangway bridge, ato-za (the seats at the furthest back part of the main stage), and jiutai-za (the seats for the group reciter). The main stage is a square, 5.4 m on a side. Actors perform within this space.

Column

The main stage has four columns, the sumi-bashira, waki-bashira, shite-bashira, and fue-bashira. Since shite, who wears a mask, has extremely limited sight, these columns become important markers. Especially, the other name of sumi-bashira is "metsuke-bashira (marker column)" since shite uses it as a marker.

Kagami-ita (the back board)

The painting of a pine tree drawn on the back board is "oi-matsu (an old pine tree)," which is the eternal backdrop of a Noh stage. It is said that the model of this pine was "Yōgō no matsu (the pine of advent)," which actually exists at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. This backdrop does not change drama by drama; all the Noh dramas are performed with this pine-tree backdrop.

Jiutai-za and Ato-za

Jiutai-za (the seat for the group reciter) is located at the right side of the main stage. The back of the main stage is called ato-za, which is occupied by hayashi-kata (instruments players) and kōken (stage managers). Since the floor is boarded side to side, this place is also called "Yoko-ita."

　

Hashigakari (gangway bridge)

Hashigakari (the gangway bridge) extends from ato-za toward the left. The actors use this bridge not only as a walkway to the main stage but also for important scenes. Unlike the main stage, the gangway bridge is straight, thereby providing the appearance of depth to the audience. Hence, the shite can express the mental fabric of the character and the relationship between the character and the event taking place on the main stage, depending on where he stands on the gangway bridge.

Agemaku (curtain) and Kiritoguchi

The entrances to the stage are kiritoguchi, which is located at the right side of ato-za, and agemaku, which is the five-colored curtain, hung at the end of hashigakari (the gangway bridge). Agemaku is used as the entrance for shite, waki, tsure, waki-tsure, kyogen-kata, and hayashi-kata. Kiritoguchi is usually used by kōken (stage manager) of shite, kōken (stage manager) of hayashi-kata, and jiutai (group reciter)

Kagami-no-ma (anteroom for performers)

Behind the agemaku is kagami-no-ma, where shite fixes his costume and dons his mask, as well as where hayashi-kata (instrument players) make the last tune up of their instruments before the program. We can say that a Noh play starts when actors and players enter this space.

Kensho (Auditorium)

Auditoriums for enjoying Noh performances are called kensho. The best seats, located at the front of the main stage, are called "shōmen (the frontage)." The seats located at the left side of the main stage are called "waki shōmen (the side-frontage)," where the audience watches the performance from the side but can easily view the performance on the gangway. The fan-shaped space between shōmen and waki-shōmen is called "naka shōmen (middle-frontage)." Some old Noh theaters have the balcony; however, most of the auditorium of more modern Noh theaters have chairs. Many Noh theater auditoriums have a second floor.

Noh Stage: Hiroaki Ohta/ from National Noh Theatre

Noh Theater　

In ancient times, Noh was performed on an open-air stage. Today, it is performed in a variety of settings, including Noh theaters, public concert halls, and makeshift stages. Noh is also performed at annual festivals of temples and shrines, which have had open-air stages from the ancient times. Takigi Noh (Noh performed by firelight) is sometimes performed on an open-air stage.

The most accessible place for us to enjoy Noh is a Noh theater.

Major Noh Theaters in the Tokyo Area

The National Noh Theater is a public Noh theater in Tokyo. We can enjoy Noh dramas performed by the five schools and Kyogen performed by the two schools at the National Noh Theater throughout year. Tickets for the performance at the National Noh Theater are reasonably priced. They also offer open lectures regarding Noh art and have a great number of books and articles about Noh in the library.

In addition to the National Noh Theater, each school has its own Noh theater, such as the Kanze Noh Theater and Hosho Noh Theater. As the base of the Kanze school, the Kanze Noh Theater presents many Noh performances annually, including 26 Noh performances hosted by the Association of Kanze, about 130 performances performed by the Noh companies operated by the members of the Association of Kanze, and the performances by related groups. The Hosho Noh Theater hosts opportunities to enjoy Noh, including Tsukinami Noh and Goun-kai.

Takigi Noh

Takigi Noh is a Noh performed on an open-air stage and it became widely performed all over Japan. It is often performed at parks and in the premises of temples or shrines. The reason of its popularity derives from the fact that the audience can feel unity with nature through lush trees and shrubs and the scent of the earth while enjoying Noh. Also, the stage directions, which include the "ceremony of firing" to light off bonfire in the evening and the stage illuminated in the darkness with the light of fires, make the Takigi Noh popular.

It is said that Takigi Noh originated in the Heian era from the event of "Takigi-no-utage" at the Kofukuji Temple in Nara, which was developed to Shuni-e in later years. Even today, Noh and kyogen, such as "Okina," are dedicated at Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Kofukuji Temple as rituals on May 11 and 12.

Takigi Noh did not have recreational characteristics until 1950 when "Kyoto Takigi Noh" was conducted in the precincts of Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto.

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