Hosting a Noh Performance
2024/9/25
On 25 September, the Embassy of Japan in the UK hosted a Noh performance as part of a series of events related to its ongoing exhibition on the traditional art form. Ambassador and Madame Hayashi attended the occasion along with co-organisers of the exhibition.
Noh, with a history spanning over 600 years, is one of Japan’s most prominent and enduring performing arts and was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. It is considered the oldest surviving form of stage art in the world and has been performed not only in Japan but also internationally, influencing various other forms of theatre. During the event on the 25th, two pieces, modern adaptations of traditional Noh plays, were performed by Noh practitioners from both Japan and the UK.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Hayashi expressed his delight that many people in the United Kingdom recognised and appreciated the value of Noh, an art form of which the Japanese people were very proud. He added that it was a great privilege to showcase Noh at the Embassy of Japan in the UK, allowing guests to experience its beauty. He also paid tribute to the performers who were carrying on this ancient tradition into the modern era, serving as a cultural bridge between Japan, the United Kingdom, and indeed the world. He concluded by emphasising that culture was a vital element in strengthening ties between nations and expressed his hope that the event would further promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom through the arts.
Noh, with a history spanning over 600 years, is one of Japan’s most prominent and enduring performing arts and was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. It is considered the oldest surviving form of stage art in the world and has been performed not only in Japan but also internationally, influencing various other forms of theatre. During the event on the 25th, two pieces, modern adaptations of traditional Noh plays, were performed by Noh practitioners from both Japan and the UK.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Hayashi expressed his delight that many people in the United Kingdom recognised and appreciated the value of Noh, an art form of which the Japanese people were very proud. He added that it was a great privilege to showcase Noh at the Embassy of Japan in the UK, allowing guests to experience its beauty. He also paid tribute to the performers who were carrying on this ancient tradition into the modern era, serving as a cultural bridge between Japan, the United Kingdom, and indeed the world. He concluded by emphasising that culture was a vital element in strengthening ties between nations and expressed his hope that the event would further promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom through the arts.
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