能- Noh

Noh is a performing art with plot and is Japan’s oldest form of musical theater.

It has flourished since the fourteenth century. The story is spoken in a recitation known as utai, and the roles are divided into the leading role of shite(the protagonist, meaning “doer” or “actor”) and the supporting role of waki(a deuteragonist, meaning “bystander” or “onlooker”). The actors wear lacquer-coated masks made of wood and colorful brocade costumes. There are also roles without mask, but even then the face is used to resemble a mask, with no attempt at expression. Because movements are restrained and the actors put no sentiment in their voices, Noh expresses the darker aspects of humanity; on the other hand, the mysterious gestures and monotonic music yield a deep beauty known as yugen(the subtle and profound).