Noh

Noh or Nogaku is derived from the words "talent" and "skill" and is a major form of Japanese musical drama that has been being performed since the 14th century. Most characters wear masks with men playing both female and male roles in the play. In traditional Noh performances, the play is a day long with five different Noh plays. However, present-day Noh performances often consist of two Noh plays with one Kyōgen play in between. Although Noh plays are highly classified some performers do compose new plays or remake historical ones that are not a part of the usual program.

There are four major roles in the world of Noh plays. The shite is a character that appears first as a human and then as a ghost. This is usually the first character to appear in the play. The waki performs as a replicate or the same thing as the shite during the performance. The kyogen perform interludes during the play. Lastly, the hayashi are the people who play the instruments during the performance. There are also four main instruments used during performances. The transverse flute, the hip drum, the shoulder drum, and the stick drum. A typical Noh play consists of the chorus, the orchestra, and at least one shite and one waki actor.

The garb worn by the actors is typically made richly and plays an important role in what kind of character they are playing. Costumes for the shite are usually glorious and shining above all the others. The masks used in Noh are all different and have different names. Masks are carved from Japanese cypress. The normal Noh stage consists of a pavilion. There are four pillars holding it up and all have different names. The Waki-Bashira in the front, right corner. The Shite-Bashira in the back, left corner. The Fue-Bashira in the back right corner. Last, the Metsuka-Bashira in the front, left corner. The floors are polished so the actors can slide around more easily. There is a painting of a tree in the back that represents token of Noh's artistic predecessors.