Elegance and Esprit Noh and Kyōgen Masterpieces
from the National Noh Theatre Collection

Saturday 12 June to Sunday 25 July 2010

Nōgaku, which encompasses the traditional Japanese performing arts of Noh and Kyōgen, is precious intangible cultural property boasting a history of over 600 years since its inception in the early Muromachi period. In 2001, its artistic merit garnered new attention when it was recognized by UNESCO as “World Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
The current exhibition, which arose in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the National Noh Theatre, marks the first occasion that the various materials collected by this institution over the course if the last quarter century have been shown together to the public. This exhibition introduces the history and cultural of Nōgaku, considered by many to represent the crystallization of Japanese aesthetics, through Noh and Kyōgen masks, costumes, musical instruments, libretti, and illustrated documents. We hope that you will enjoy the profound world of Nōgaku through this opportunity to view the elegant world of Noh and the comical world of Kyōgen.