Noh Terminology

Mete (馬手)

Refers to the right hand that takes a horse’s reins. Also refers to the right side. The antonym is “...

Yunde (弓手)

Refers to the left hand that holds a bow. Also refers to the left side. The word is pronounced “yun-...

Sashiwake (サシ分ケ)

A style of Noh. The movement differs slightly depending on the school. The performer turns once to t...

Kakyō (花鏡)

An esoteric book of Noh. Consisting of one volume, Kakyō is a compilation of the artistic theory tha...

Ageha (アゲハ)

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

Hazusu (ハズス)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to turn from the current direction or object to a differen...

Muku (向ク)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to turn from the current direction to a specific object or...

Mio-kaeru (身ヲ替エル)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to turn from the current direction. Different schools and ...

Mio-naosu (身ヲ直ス)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to return a body that has turned in a specific direction. ...

Shikake (シカケ)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: the actor steps forward a few feet while making a “sashi” ...

Sashikomi (サシコミ)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: the actor steps forward a few feet while making a “sashi” ...

Shitai (下居)

A movement form in Noh and Kyōgen acting: to sit with one knee drawn up and the instep of the opposi...

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...

Ukeru (ウケル)

It is a style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is to face in the direction of an object. Turning to the ...

Sao (竿)

It is a prop used in Noh and Kyōgen. The material used is bamboo, and the beautiful parts of the app...

Mawari-kaeshi (回リ返シ)

A style of Noh and Kyōgen acting. It is about one-and-half turns to the left. The mawari-kaeshi is o...

Sashi (サシ)

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

Tsue (杖)

Many canes are used in Noh and Kyōgen plays. These are for direction, not for supporting the perform...

Tsuku (ツク)

The verb “tsuku” is used to indicate overlapping. Noh performers hate overlapping in anything, incl...

Kirikumi (斬組ミ)

Swordfight used by many samurai in battle scenes. It appears in the plays “Shōzon”, “Eboshi-ori”, e...

Noh-hon (能本)

An old name for Noh scripts. Noh-hon and utai-bon (books of Noh chants) are both for written verses...

Hineru (ヒネル)

One of the fundamental motions of Noh plays. A movement to change direction while standing. First st...

Kakeru (カケル)

One of the fundamental motions of Noh plays. A movement to change direction while standing. First st...

Kagami-ōgi (鏡扇)

A form in Noh and Kyōgen acting. The actor pinches the pivot of the fan with his right hand and gent...

Tsuyu (露)

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

Uki (ウキ)

The name of a musical scale for chanting. Uki appears between middle and high basic notes, between h...

Kamae (構エ)

A posture viewed as a fundamental of acting alongside the basic Hakobi step. It is important for act...

Hiraki (ヒラキ)

Hiraki refers to the idea of release in vocals or forms. During the forms, or kata, the performer e...

Hiraki (開き)

Hiraki refers to the idea of release in vocals or forms. During the forms, or kata, the performer e...

Tsumeru (ツメル)

Tsumeru is when a performer moves forward with two sure steps, a left then a right (sometimes a righ...

Shijimagoto (無言事)

One type of Noh production, literally “no-word things.” Typically, the parts accompanying the vocals...

Katatsuke (型付)

Katatsuke refers to a predetermined, stylized form (movement) in Noh and kyōgen plays. Or it can be ...

Iroe (イロエ)

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

Seme (責メ)

In kyōgen, a movement where the enmaō or devil banishes a dead person to hell. It is played with th...

Shitaniiru (下ニ居ル)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The knee of one leg is placed on the floor, and the top of the ...

Tobikaeri (飛ビ返リ)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. After spinning and raising the body up rapidly, one knee is pla...

Makizashi (巻ザシ)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The fan is held with the right hand over the right side of the ...

Aigatari (間語リ)

One type of aikyōgen performed by the kyōgenkata in Noh. After the entrance of the maeshite in Noh, ...

Igatari (居語リ)

One type of aikyōgen performed by the kyōgenkata in Noh. After the entrance of the maeshite in Noh, ...

Tachishaberi (立チシャベリ)

One type of aikyōgen performed by the kyōgenkata in Noh. After the entrance of the maeshite in Noh, ...

Uchikomi (打込)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. After moving the fan held in the right hand to the right, it is taken in f...

Yubiori (指折リ)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. The hand is placed in front of the chest and the fingers folded back in a ...

Haneōgi (ハネ扇)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. One main rib (the fattest rib of each side of the fan) of the opened fan i...

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...

Kumo no ōgi (雲ノ扇)

A form inNoh and kyōgen. In the kumo no ōgi, or “shading fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is h...

Manekiōgi (招キ扇)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. In the manekioōgi, or “inviting fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is ...

Kasumi no ōgi (霞ノ扇)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. In the kasumi no ōgi, or “mist fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is h...

Tsuki no ōgi (月ノ扇)

A form in Noh and kyōgen. In the tsuki no ōgi, or “held fan” form, the hinge of the opened fan is he...

Kakaeōgi (抱エ扇)

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

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...

Makura no Ōgi (枕ノ扇)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The tip of the paper of an opened fan is held with the left hand...

Tappai (達拝)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. Both elbows are held firmly, and the two hand are grasped and he...

Ranbyōshi (乱拍子)

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

Shikkō (膝行)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The kneecaps are place on the floor and moved forward and backwa...

Anza (安座)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. Anza, or “peaceful sitting,” is folding the legs to sit cross-le...

Ashibyōshi (足拍子)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. Ashibyōshi, or “foot rhythm,” is stepping on the floor of the st...

Sumitori (角取り)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The area close to the metsuke-bashira or “eye-fixing pillar” in ...

Sayū (左右)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. The fan is taken in the right hand, the direction changed to the...

Yūken (ユウケン)

One of the forms in Noh and kyōgen. An opened fan is taken in the right hand and moved up and down i...

Chūkei (中啓)

All of the performers in Noh and kyōgen, from the tachikata to the hayashikata, kōken and jiutai, ca...

Tsune-no-Ōgi (常の扇)

All of the performers in Noh and kyōgen, from the tachikata to the hayashikata, kōken and jiutai, ca...

Okurikomi (送リ込ミ)

A sequence of actions by a leading actor and an accompanying Kyōgen actor before they make their exi...

Uchiawase (打合セ)

A pattern of movements in which actors stretch out their arms, then join their hands together in fro...

Mai bataraki (舞働)

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

Hakobi (運ビ)

A basic step in Noh and kyōgen. Hakobi essentially refers to a step in which the sole of the foot sl...

Kutsurogu (くつろぐ)

Point at which the performers stop performing momentarily and face the audience. The performers may ...

Inori (祈り)

In scenes in which a monk or yamabushi (waki) uses magic to fend off an crazed witch (shite), inori,...

Terasu (テラス)

Angling the mask slightly upward is known as terasu, or “to make a happy face,” and angling the mask...

Kumorasu (クモラス)

Angling the mask slightly downward is known as kumorasu, or “to make a sad face,” and angling the ma...

Chakuza (着座)

Chakuza, or “taking one’s seat” refers to the performers sitting in their designated areas on stage....

Kakeri (カケリ)

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

Ashirai (アシライ)

Written with the same kanji as “to bow,” this extremely widely used term essentially means “to atten...

Wakidome (ワキ留め)

In Noh, many chats end (stop) with the shite stopping the rhythm kept with his feet, tome-byōshi, bu...