Noh Terminology

Ageha (アゲハ)

A short yaku-utai (chant sung by the leading or supporting actor) in the middle of a short kuse sect...

Shiki-sanban (式三番)

A kind of divine service classified in Noh but not a genuine Noh play. It is usually called “okina”....

Tsuyuhimo (露紐)

Cords under the sleeves of a wide-sleeved costume. There is a cord to tie the sleeve in each cuff of...

Gasshō (合掌)

A style of Noh and Kyōgen acting, performed when revering or mourning an object. Both arms are held ...

Tome (トメ)

It is a style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is a form of dancing that is used to end a dance performa...

Osame (納メ)

It is a style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is a form of dancing that is used to end a dance performa...

Shitome (シトメ)

It is a style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is a form of dancing that is used to end a dance performa...

Sashi (サシ)

A style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is frequently used in the form of a fan or hand pointing forwar...

Shukkin-ryō (出勤料)

The fee for performing Noh and Kyōgen. In the Noh world, a performer’s appearance on stage is calle...

Suki-kammuri (透冠)

Type of headgear. A black crown used by male gods who perform a divine dance, such as in “Takasago”...

Tōkanmuri (唐冠)

A kind of headgear. It is a black crown used for the roles of foreign nobles and demon gods in “Tsu...

Kyōgen-men (狂言面)

Masks used in kyōgen plays. Since kyōgen has many characters played without masks, there are only ab...

Shizuka-eboshi (静烏帽子)

A kind of headgear. Shizuka-eboshi refers to eboshi (caps) worn by shirabyōshi (woman dancers), espe...

Shimai-ōgi (仕舞扇)

From actors, musicians and assistants to reciters, every Noh performer holds a fan. Actors in costum...

Kakari (カカリ)

Kakari refers to the opening part of a dance. Dance pieces including chūno-mai, kami-mai and haya-ma...

Onna-sarugaku (女猿楽)

A kind of sarugaku performed by female actors that became popular during the Muromachi and the Edo e...

Shushi-hashiri (呪師走り)

A type of performing arts frequently staged after Buddhist services at major temples in the Heian an...

kyōgen-utai (狂言謡)

A type of chant recited by kyōgen actors. It includes "koutai," a short utai recited in drinking par...

Tsuyu (露)

Floor-length cords under the sleeves of a wide-sleeved costume. A long cord (tsuyu-himo) is put thro...

Shimai-bakama (仕舞袴)

Actors who perform Mai-bayashi (digest performances with music) or solo dances, as well as assistant...

Eigo-noh (英語能)

A play constructed in the traditional style of Noh with traditional techniques (vocals, dance and mu...

Yatsubyōshi (八拍子)

The eight-beat Yatsubyōshi rhythm structure is the most basic in Noh. The vocals that match the rhyt...

Renjishi (連獅子)

One of the kogaki of the Noh play Shakkyō. In the second half of the play in which a typical shishi ...

Ryochūkan (呂中干)

Noh dances are made up of eight-beat measures known as kusari, and the ji, which make up the musical...

Ranjo (乱序)

A type of musical performance in Noh plays in which the music becomes the focus. One example is the ...

Musashino University NohgakuResearch Center (武蔵野大学能楽資料センター)

The research center was established to give an accurate portrayal of modern Noh, which now has a per...

Shirabyōshi (白拍子)

A type of chanting and dance popular from the end of the Heian era through the Kamakura era, or, the...

Hishigi (ヒシギ)

Hishigi refers to a high, sharp tone of the Noh flute, and includes two types: a “hee”-type kata-hi...

Torikabuto (鳥兜)

The torikabuto, or “bird helmet” is an elegant headpiece worn by actors performing a dance. Shaped ...

Tome (留め)

Tome, or “to stop,” indicates the end of something. It can be the end of a Noh or kyōgen play, or s...

Sandan-no-mai (三段之舞)

A type of dance in Noh and kyōgen. The shitetsure or kokata dance the naka-no-mai, officially a five...

Bōfuri (棒振リ)

“Stick waving” – a type of dance in kyōgen. In the play Nabeyatsubachi, a man selling kakko, double...

Maikyōgen (舞狂言)

One type of kyōgen. Maikyōgen refers to kyōgen that borrows the form of Noh, particularly mugen-noh....

Hayashimono (囃子物)

Plays that are sung and danced in kyōgen with a unique, bright and airy rhythm. These often include ...

Maibayash (舞囃子)

One style of Noh performance danced in montsuki or hakama (or occasionally kamishimo) in which the m...

Ibayashi (居囃子)

A performance style in which important parts of Noh plays are dance with the inclusion of the hayash...

Iroe (イロエ)

One of the movements of Noh (when hayashi is added to the movement of the performers). Most iroe inv...

Sanbasō (三番叟)

The dance performed by the kyōgenkata after the dance of the words of happiness of the Okina, the S...

Okinamai (翁舞)

The Shinto rituals and plays of prayer, Shiki Sanban (Okina), that must be included in a Noh play. ...

Ōshikihayamai (黄鐘早舞)

One type of dance in Noh. The soft dance of a male spirit soothing a heart filled with bitterness a...

Sagarihanomai (下リ端之舞)

One type of dance in Noh. Sagarihanomai is danced by the atozure/tennyo in Kuzu. Sagarihanomai is t...

Tennyonomai (天女之舞)

One type of dance in Noh. Nakanomai danced by the tsure female god in Chikubushima and Arashiyama a...

Gaku (楽)

One type of dance in Noh. A dance said to take from gagaku, it is danced often in Noh plays related...

Hanomai (破ノ舞)

One type of dance in Noh. After female spirits, fairies or other spirits dance the jonomai or nakan...

Kamimai (神舞)

One type of dance in Noh. It is danced by the form of a male god to portray fluid, pure godlike dig...

Shishi (獅子)

One type of dance in Noh. In the latter part of Noh’s Ishibashi, it is danced to portray a crazed s...

Kagura (神楽)

One type of dance in Noh. A very elegant dance danced by a female god or priestess holding treasure...

Sagimidare (鷺乱)

One type of dance in Noh. Sagi, or “heron” is danced by a heron in front of the emperor on the orde...

Midare (乱)

One type of dance in Noh. Noh’s shojōmidare or midare is danced by a shite or shojō. The typical sh...

Shojōmidare (猩々乱)

One type of dance in Noh. Noh’s shojōmidare (or midare) is danced by a shite or shojō. The typical ...

Kazashi (カザシ)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. In the kazashi, or “shading fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is held...

Ageōgi (上扇)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. In the ogeōgi, or “rising fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is held b...

Ranbyōshi (乱拍子)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. Ranbyōshi, or “confused rhythm,” is when the maeshite or shiraby...

Senzainomai (千歳ノ舞)

In Okina (Shiki Sanban), a play that prays for peace and security of the nation, this is the dance o...

Kongoh School (金剛流)

One of Noh’s shitekata schools. Its founder is said to be Sakato Magotarō Ujikatsu (1280-1384) of th...

Dengaku (田楽)

Dengaku, or “field drama” comes from when hayashi or songs were performed during the planting of fie...

Banhayashi (番囃子)

Banhayashi is where the all the utai of Noh are sung with the hayashi. Banhayashi is performed seate...

Aimai (相舞)

Aimai refers to when two or more dancers dance simultaneously on the same stage. Aimai is also refer...

Kan’ami (観阿弥)

Kan’ami lived from 1333to 1384and was a performer during the Nanboku-chō period. His given name was ...

Kakko (羯鼓)

A kind of dance performed by entertainer characters to display their abilities. They carry small tab...

Waka (ワカ)

Noh plays are made up of numerous segments, and waka is one name for these segments. Waka are typica...

Mai bataraki (舞働)

A variation of hataraki goto (movements accompanied by music) performed by deities, dragon gods or g...

Kyū no mai (急之舞)

The fastest type of Noh dance. There are two types of Kyū no mai, performed with either the fue, kot...

Chū no mai (中之舞)

A basic type of dance in Noh danced between quieter dances and faster dances by shites playing beaut...

Jo no Mai (序之舞)

A type of very quiet, elegant dance in Noh often danced by the shites playing beautiful women, tree ...

Michiyuki (道行)

The michiyuki, or “travel song” is the shōdan describing the character’s travels. The vocals often i...

Dan (段)

Dan is a segment of a Noh play. Noh is made up of a collection of dan, and is used in phrases such a...

Haya mai (早舞)

A type of dance, literally “fast dance.” Haya mai is danced by characters playing ryunyo such as the...

Otoko Mai (男舞)

A type of dance, literally “male dance.” Danced by male characters playing actual historical figures...

Komai (小舞)

One of the dances of the kyōgenkata, many of the komai, or “small dances,” are relatively short. The...

Kakeri (カケリ)

Kakeri, or “anguish dance,” refers to the movement indicating the deranged state of warriors that ha...

Kusemai (曲舞)

One of the medieval arts prevalent from the Nanboku-chō era to the Muromachi era, kusemai is also re...

Shimai (仕舞)

A type of performance accentuating the movement of the shite danced in the crest-adorned kimono know...

Kuse (クセ)

A single Noh play is made up of a combination of numerous shōdan, or “modules,” and kuse is one name...

Katsura Mono/Kazura Mono (鬘物)

In the official five-play style of performance of the Edo era, shin nan nyo kyō ki (deity, man, woma...

Okina (翁)

Okina has been called “Noh, yet not Noh,” as it is really more a Shinto ritual or prayer song than a...