On November 6, 2024, the Global Support Center hosted a Noh workshop for international students at the university’s Noh practice theater. We were honored to have Professor Shigehiko Fujinami from the Japanese traditional music department as our instructor. This year, a total of 14 international students in the event.

The participants were treated to a performance of the “Hagoromo (The feather robe)”, followed by introductions to Noh theater and the synopsis of the play. The students then received lessons on chanting, posture, sliding footwork, hand gestures (sashikomi and hiraki), fan movements (manekifan and hanefan), and other movements in Noh performances.

Students also learned about Noh costumes including the mask, wig, waistcloth, and silk robe. One of the participating students had an opportunity to try on the actual costume.

They learned that there are three types of Noh: prayers to the gods, requiem for the dead, and secular themes, but that the foundation of Noh is a dance to pray for peace in the world.

Throughout the workshop, students attentively absorbed Professor Fujinami’s lecture and embraced their first experience of Japanese performing arts.