Summer 2027

A new opportunity for growth

The Noh Training Project Japan is a three-week intensive dedicated to the study of the chant (utai), dance (mai), and musical ensemble (hayashi) of classical Japanese Noh in the Kita School tradition.

The program is once again led by Kita-ryu shite-kata Oshima Teruhisa and Oshima Kinue, offering participants the rare opportunity to study directly with certified Japanese Noh professionals in an immersive training environment.

Previous experience in noh, theatre, music, or Japanese language is not required. Participants from all backgrounds are welcome. What we do ask is curiosity, discipline, and a genuine commitment to the training process.

WHAT: Noh Training Project Japan

WHEN: 21 June – 9 July 2027

Application & Participation Fee
Applications are reviewed in two rounds.

Priority Application
Apply by 15 February 2027
Participation Fee: ¥250,000
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 1 March 2027.

Final Application
Apply by 5 April 2027
Participation Fee: ¥275,000
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 15 April 2027.

Deposit
A deposit of ¥70,000 is required upon acceptance. The deposit must be paid within two weeks of notification of acceptance in order to secure your place in the program. The deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total participation fee.

Applications submitted after the Final Application deadline may be considered only if places remain available.

A limited number of scholarships for returning students are available. Returning participants who wish to be considered for a scholarship should indicate this in their application.

Commitment

The Noh Training Project Japan is a full-time, three-week intensive. Participants are expected to commit to the program for its duration.

Noh training requires sustained focus, discipline, and dedication. The work is both physically and mentally demanding, and participants should expect approximately nine hours of training per day, including around six hours of scheduled lessons and two hours of individual self-practice.

Since this is an immersion program participants shouldn’t plan any work, study, or other significant commitments during the program. Training takes place on both weekdays and weekends, and full attendance is expected at all scheduled sessions.

By applying, you affirm that you are able to commit to the program and participate for the entire three weeks.

What’s included

All instructional materials
Mandatory practice attire for new students (yukata, hakama, tabi, and rehearsal fan)
Daily lessons with certified Japanese Noh professionals
Daily group chant (utai) sessions
Instruction in chant (utai), dance (mai), and musical ensemble (hayashi)
Learning materials for excerpts from up to four Noh plays
Access to online audio and video resources for review
Attendance at professional Noh performances
A final public recital at the Kita School Noh Theatre in Meguro

Not included

International airfare
Accommodation
Meals
Ground transportation

Applications

As places are limited, applications are reviewed carefully to create a committed and balanced group of participants.

Once the program reaches capacity, additional qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place becomes available.

We encourage applicants to apply during the Priority Application period to benefit from the reduced participation fee and to allow sufficient time to plan their travel and stay in Japan.

why study noh?

Noh is one of the world's oldest continuously performed theatrical traditions, with an unbroken lineage stretching back to fourteenth-century Japan. Combining chant, dance, music, masks, and poetry, it offers a highly refined performance practice that has been cultivated for over six hundred years.

More than a theatrical form, noh is a discipline of presence, precision, and deep attention. Through its deliberate pace and rigorous training methods, practitioners develop concentration, physical awareness, vocal control, and an appreciation for stillness and subtle expression.

The Noh Training Project Japan offers participants the opportunity to study this living cultural tradition in its original context under the guidance of professional Japanese noh artists. Whether your interest lies in performance, scholarship, or personal artistic development, the intensive provides a rare opportunity to engage deeply with one of Japan's greatest performing arts.

Challenge yourself. expand your practice.

The training methods of noh have inspired generations of artists across disciplines. Actors, directors, dancers, musicians, educators, scholars, and practitioners from a wide range of artistic backgrounds have discovered that noh offers valuable tools for refining their craft.

If you are looking for an immersive artistic experience that will challenge your body, sharpen your attention, and broaden your understanding of performance, we invite you to apply.