Noh

Noh

Noh is a style of masked dance drama performed exclusively by men. Noh extreme stylization of the actors' movements and the narrative music evoke a beautiful, mysterious atmosphere.
A song book called utai-bon is used with narrative chants and songs sung by a chorus to the accompaniment of flutes, large and small hand drums, and, at times, a large drum.

Noh originated in dramatic performances at religious festivals in the middle of the 14th century and has 600 years of history.

The performers are defined by shite, principle actors, and waki, subordinate actors. Masks may sometimes be worn by the shite but never by the waki.

Kyogen

With roots going back about 600 years, kyogen, like noh is also Japan's most ancient theatrial forms. While noh is musical drama, kyogen uses expressive words and actions to convey human feelings and desires in a humorous way. It reflects social and everyday conditions of life. In addition to being performed as a complete program in its own right, its is also performed between the works of a noh program as an interlude.

Kyogen, like noh, had been performed exclusively men; however, Izumi Junko became the first women kyogen performer in 1989.