An Introduction to Japanese Performative Arts: The History and Ideas Behind Noh Drama

This lecture invites you to explore the profound world of Noh—one of Japan’s oldest and most revered performing arts, which endured even through periods of political upheaval, including the fall of the Tokugawa government.

Historically, Noh masters were not merely performers; they were granted the status of Bushi (samurai). When the samurai class was dissolved during the Meiji Restoration, Noh itself faced the threat of extinction. It was Minoru Umewaka, a Noh master and my great-grandfather, who single-handedly preserved the art and ensured its survival into the modern era.

In many ways, the modernization of Japan began with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853. At that moment, Minoru Umewaka was performing inside Tokugawa Castle—only later hearing the news of Perry’s landing.

Soon afterward, the American scholar Ernest Fenollosa—a Harvard man and pioneering figure in Japanese art history—became the first non-Japanese to study Noh formally, under Minoru’s guidance. This unique intersection of cultural and diplomatic history is vividly captured in Fenollosa’s book, Noh or Accomplishment

To join use this link to register with Zoom

You will need the link and passcode provided in the confirmation email.

This event is a part of YCAPS' "Getting to Know Japan Series".

Speaker:

Naohiko Umewaka is a Noh actor and director with an active international presence. He made his stage debut at the age of three in the shimai Shōjō, trained by his father, Naoyoshi Umewaka, and his uncle, Manzaburō Umewaka—both central figures in the world of Noh. He received his Ph.D. from Royal Holloway, University of London. His academic research continues to inform his approach to performance, exploring the philosophical and theatrical dimensions of Noh in both traditional and contemporary contexts. His published works include Invitation to Noh (Iwanami Shoten, 2003) and Ryūgū Kozō (Nōgaku Shōrin, 2021).

Selected Performances and Projects:

Umewaka has performed in some of the most iconic and challenging works of the Noh repertoire, including Midare, Dōjōji, Okina, Sotoba Komachi, Koi no Omoni, and Yashima – Yuminagashi Shirahataraki. In 2001, he performed Noh: Such Things as Time at the Dia Foundation in New York, just weeks after the events of 9/11—a performance shaped by a rare and solemn atmosphere. His original works include Italian Restaurant and Coffee Shop within the Play, while his direction of new Noh plays such as The Baptism of Jesus, performed at the Vatican in 1988, and Ukon Takayama, presented at the National Noh Theatre and elsewhere, reflects his commitment to expanding the possibilities of Noh today.

Format: This event will be recorded and published in our web archive. Questions are encouraged during the live event.

Registration: Required Link

Moderators: Amani Kidd and Jeffery Mazziotta

Webinar Cost: Free of charge