Kurokawa Noh is a Shinto ritual that has been developed independently by farmers for 500 years [Yamagata Prefecture]

At Kasuga Shrine in Kurokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, at the foot of Mt. Gassan, a voluntary performance of the folk performing art "Kurokawa Noh," which will be held.

---

Kurokawa Noh, which strongly retains the flavor of Noh from the era of Kan'ami and Zeami

There are five schools of Noh theatre today: Kanze, Hosho, Konparu, Kongo, and Kita, but Kurokawa Noh does not belong to any of them and has continued to be passed down in its own way. As a result, it is characterized by the fact that it retains many plays and old styles that are no longer performed by the five schools

Until the Edo period, Noh was known as Sarugaku-Noh, and five schools of Noh developed their own unique world

Nohgaku originated from Sangaku, which was introduced from China during the Nara period and was one of a variety of arts known as acrobatic feats, including acrobatics, acrobatics, magic tricks, singing and dancing, and impersonations. During the Heian period, Sangaku came to be called Sarugaku. The reason for this change to Sarugaku is unclear, but by the Kamakura period, acrobatics and impersonations had become independent, and Sarugaku began to be performed in temples and other places as a form of musical and dance drama

Sarugaku further developed into Noh, a quietly performed musical and dance drama, and Kyogen, which focuses on comedy

---

The foundations of Noh and Kyogen laid by Kan'ami and Zeami

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the then Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was so impressed with the Sarugaku Noh performed by father and son Kan'ami and Ze'ami that the art continued to improve under the patronage of the shogunate. During the Edo period, five schools of Noh, including the Kanze school founded by Kan'ami and Ze'ami, the Hosho school, and the Konparu school, competed for supremacy with the support of the Shogun and local daimyo

Sarugaku Noh was renamed "Nohgaku" in the Meiji era, and it is said that the proponents of Sarugaku Noh at the time disliked the sound of "monkey."

---

Nohgaku, which was transmitted to Kurokawa in the late Muromachi period

There are various theories about the origin of Kurokawa Noh, including that it was introduced to Kurokawa when the 56th Emperor Seiwa visited the area around 800, or that it was introduced when the Emperor's son stopped by Kurokawa during a pilgrimage around 1400, but the most popular theory is that it was introduced to Kurokawa in the late Muromachi period

In 1464, Daihoji Junji, the 11th head of the Daihoji clan, who ruled the Shonai region at the time, had an audience with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in Kyoto. Sarugaku Noh was popularly performed in Kyoto, and it is said that Junji may have viewed one of these performances. Also, in 1522, Daihoji Harutoki had an audience with Ashikaga Yoshiharu. It is natural to think that Sarugaku Noh was introduced to Kurokawa after this event

During the Edo period, the feudal lord Sakai clan patronized Kurokawa Noh, providing props and costumes for performances within the castle, which led to great development of Kurokawa Noh

---

The parishioners of Kurokawa Noh perform 540 Noh plays and 50 Kyogen plays

The performers of Kurokawa Noh have always been parishioners of Kasuga Shrine. The parishioners are divided into two groups, Kamiza (upper seat) and Shimoza (lower seat), and each performs a Noh and Kyogen play. There are a total of about 140 performers, including Noh dancers (Maikata, actors including shite, waki, and jiutai), musicians (Hayashikata, musical accompaniment), and Kyogen actors (actors who perform dialogue plays centered on comedy). In addition, there are 250 Noh masks, 5,500 Noh costumes, and a program of 540 Noh plays and 50 Kyogen plays, making it an extremely large-scale folk performing art

Kasuga Shrine, where Kurokawa Noh is dedicated, is said to have been founded in 807, in the early Heian period. The main shrine building was constructed in 1609, and a stage was also built within the building. In 1674, the third Shonai feudal lord, Sakai Tadayoshi, built the main hall, and in 1739 the Sakai clan constructed the worship hall. This shows how important the Sakai clan placed on Kurokawa Noh

---

The Ogi Festival, where Kurokawa Noh performances are held throughout the night for two days from February 1st

Kurokawa Noh is performed as a service at the Ogi Festival, the former annual festival of Kasuga Shrine, which is held for two days every year starting on February 1st. Early in the morning on February 1st, Ogi-sama, the god's abode, is welcomed to the "Toya," the home of the eldest person in the upper and lower seats, and the performance begins around 6pm, with both seats entertaining the god throughout the night

"Ogi-sama" consists of three poles with paper streamers (folded paper used to hang before sacred ropes and tamagushi) wrapped around the tops, and a white cloth tied around the pillars so that when unfolded, it forms a fan shape. Kurokawa Noh begins with a "Daichifumi" (ground stomp) performed by a young child in front of Ogi-sama, who is the god's abode. Noh and Kyogen performances at this house are open to the public through the Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society. Recently, performances are increasingly being held in rented locations such as community centers rather than in the homes of elders

On the following day, the 2nd, Ogi-sama returns to Kasuga Shrine at around 8:00 a.m., and after the ceremony, the Noh stage inside the shrine is filled with the first Noh performance by the upper and lower seats, followed by the Daichifumi and Shikisan performances by both seats, followed by a Shinto ritual, and the Ogi Festival comes to a close at around 5:00 p.m

At Kasuga Shrine, Kurokawa Noh is also performed as a tribute at the Niiname Festival on March 23rd, the Annual Festival on May 3rd, and the Niiname Festival on November 23rd. It is also performed as a votive Noh at the Dewa Sanzan Shrine Flower Festival, held at the summit of Mount Haguro on July 15th. It is also performed at events such as Suien Noh (the last Saturday of July) and Kurokawa Candle Noh (held at irregular times)

---

Frozen tofu, a must-have at the Ogi Festival

The Ogi Festival is also known as the Tofu Festival, as the traditional dish "frozen tofu" is served at the festival. Preparations begin in mid-January, when the people of each Toya village grill approximately 5,000 cubes of tofu, which are then frozen one last time to complete the process. On the day of the festival, the frozen tofu is simmered in miso, dipped in a sauce called "Nibanjiru," which is seasoned with sake, soy sauce, walnuts, seaweed, and Japanese pepper, and is then served to everyone involved in the Ogi Festival, including those who have come to make offerings at the Toya

Ogi Festival <Information>

• Name: Wangisai
• Location: Kasuga Shrine (Zanchutoya)
• Address: 291 Miyanoshita Kurokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-57-3019 (Kasuga Shrine office)
• Ogi Festival (Period of the festival): February 1st to 2nd
• Official URL: Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society

---

Kurokawa Noh Village Ogi Hall exhibits materials related to Kurokawa Noh

The Kurokawa Noh Village Ogi Hall is a museum that exhibits Kurokawa Noh to a wide audience. It features a life-size reproduction of the children's dance "Daichifumi," as well as videos of the Ogi Festival, A Year in Kurokawa Noh, Water Flame Noh and Candle Noh, and Tofu Festival - 1966 - that can be viewed on a large screen. The upper and lower seats, costumes and Noh masks from Kasuga Shrine are also on display, making this a facility where you can experience Kurokawa Noh firsthand

Ogi Hall <Information>

• Facility name: Kurokawa Noh Village Ogi Hall (Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
• Address: 253 Miyanoshita Kurokawa, Tsuruoka City
• Phone number: 0235-57-5310
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30
• Closed: Wednesdays and New Year's holidays
• Admission fee: Adults 400 yen, Elementary, junior high and high school students 200 yen
• Official URL: Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society – Ogi Hall
• access
  • Train: Approximately 20 minutes by taxi from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line
  • By car: Approximately 20 minutes from Tsuruoka IC on the Yamagata Expressway towards Yamagata City

Google Maps

---