Japan has a long tradition of theatre culture which is deeply intertwined with history. Many western people are familiar with the colorful masks that are typical for Japanese theatrical performances. There are thousands of aspects of the Japanese theatre that would be worth an article but today we will start with the most traditional form of performance: Noh (能).

The word Noh derived from the Japanese word for “skill” or “talent”—is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. It is the oldest major theatre art still regularly performed today. Traditionally, a Noh program includes five Noh plays with comedic plays in between; an abbreviated program of two Noh plays has become common in Noh presentations today. A special may be presented in the very beginning especially during New Years, holidays, and other special occasions.
Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians. Emotions are primarily conveyed by stylized conventional gestures while the iconic masks represent the roles such as ghosts, women, children, and old people. Written in ancient Japanese language, the text “vividly describes the ordinary people of the twelfth to sixteenth centuries”. Having a strong emphasis on tradition rather than innovation, Noh is extremely codified and regulated.
Of the roughly 2000 plays created for Noh that are known today, about 240 make up the current repertoire performed by the five existing Noh schools. The current repertoire is heavily influenced by the taste of aristocratic class in Tokugawa period and does not necessarily reflect popularity among the commoners. There are several ways to classify Noh plays.
Watching a Noh play is an experience you can only have in Japan so you might should consider getting cards for the theatre !