Noh Training Projects for Non-Japanese People: Noh Transmission and Practice in Contemporary Settings

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25884019
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Aesthetics and studies on art
• Research Institution: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
• Principal Investigator: ANNO Mariko 東京藝術大学, 音楽学部, 助手 (80706408)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 能楽 / 能指導プログラム / 伝承 / 教育 / 参与観察 / 外国人

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As Noh is performed overseas, it garners the attention of non-Japanese people who desire to learn the art form. Noh Training Project-Tokyo (Japan) and Noh Training Project-Bloomsburg (U.S.) are programs that have been offering training to non-Japanese people for 20 years.

This research analyzes the programs through fieldwork (participant observation), asking two questions: 1) How is the program organized? and 2) What types of teaching methods are used to transmit the art form from teacher to student? I conduct interviews with teachers and students, gaining insight into their background and teaching philosophy. In these programs, a combination of traditional Japanese oral transmission and Western methods of teaching dance (by breaking it down into smaller units) are applied. I argue that the teacher tailors each lesson according to the student's needs, creating an effective learning environment. Results of this research were presented at national conferences and published in journals.

Free Research Field

音楽学