Noh, or nohgaku, emerged over six centuries ago under the patronage of the shoguns, and it continues to thrive today. A refined synthesis of poetry, dance, drama, music, and costume, noh was one of the first arts designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. It is sustained in Japan by performance guilds whose members have mastered the intense concentration and physical discipline demanded by the form and have passed down their art through many generations. A wide and enthusiastic following of amateurs also practices and performs its music and dance.
To find out more about the world of noh, please visit the-Noh.com
Read an interview with the Founder of Theater Nohgaku, Richard Emmert
