NAGOYA CULTURE WATCH (English)

Nohgaku Watch in the City

"Nohgaku Watch in the City", which was a huge hit last year, comes back this year!
Oasis21 will become a Nohgaku theme park!
Admission is free, and you can easily enjoy a world of mysterious profundity.
See, touch, and experience——. Enjoy the allure of Nohgaku to the fullest in your familiar downtown area.

Details

Date	September 12, 2026 (Sat.) Hands-on Experience Corner: 1:00 PM Seats OPEN: 4:00 PM Young Performers Stage: 4:30 PM Kyogen "Chidori" & Noh "Kiku-jido": 6:00 PM
Place	Oasis21 Galaxy Platform 1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 461-0005 Note: This event will be called off due to severe weather or weather forecast. ・Right near Sakae Station on the Subway Higashiyama & Meijo Line ・Right near Sakaemachi Station on the Nagoya Railroad Seto Line
Admission	Free (All seats non-reserved) Note: ―Admission will be restricted. ―There will be no changing of seats during the performance.
Program	Kyogen “Chidori” , Noh “Kiku-Jido”
Cooperation	THE NOHGAKU PERFORMERS' ASSOCIATION, Nagoya Branch

Kyogen “Chidori”

Taro Kaja: Kosaburo NOMURA

Master: Takayoshi MATSUDA

Sake merchant: Matasaburo NOMURA

Koken: Toru FUJINAMI

Taro Kaja goes to the sake store after being told by his master to buy some sake, but the shopkeeper refuces to give him any since he hasn't paid his previous bills. So, Taro Kaja tells amusing stories about a child he saw catching chidori (a plover) on his way to watch the Tsushima Festival and the atmosphere of the yabusame (horseback archery) at the festival, all in an effort to distract the shopkeeper in order to steal the sake while he isn't paying attention.

Will Taro Kaja actually be able to get his hands on some sake...?

Noh “Kiku-Jido”

Jido: Mitsuko HISADA

Inperial envoy: Tsukasa HASHIMOTO

Vassal: Ei HASHIMOTO

Jiutai: Tetsuo KANO, Fumiya HAGIWARA, Yumiko YAMAWAKI, Yukichika MATSUYAMA, Masayuki YAMANAKA, Akira YOSHIZAWA

Koken: Yoko SETO, Norika UMEWAKA

Fue-kata: Kiyo KATORI
Kotsuzumi-kata: Akihiro FUNATO
Otsuzumi-kata: Shinnosuke KAWAMURA
Taiko-kata: Hiroki KATO

During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, a sacred spring began to flow from the foot of Mount Rekken, so an imperial delegation was dispatched to investigate. The imperial envoy found Jido in the mountains and, upon questioning him, leaned that he had served King Mu during the Zhou dynasty 700 years ago.

The imperial envoy, finding it strange that Jido still appeared as a young boy, questioned him further, and he explained that he had been exiled for the crime of straddling the king's pillow. However, he said that when he copied the sutra inscribed on the pillow——a memento given to him by the king——onto a chrysanthemum leaf, the dew that dripped from it became a magical elixir of immortality, and by drinking it regularly, he was able to maintain his youth.

Jido expresses the joy of longevity through dance, while also praying for Emperor Wen's long life and enduring prosperity.

Event

Nohgaku Experience Corner　　1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

There will be hands-on area where visitors can experience Noh culture, such as trying on traditional costumes and masks, and playing instruments like tsuzumi drums and taiko drums.

Don't just watch! Get hands-on and fully experience the world of Nohgaku!

There's also a Noh mask coloring section for kids to enjoy!

Young Performers' Stage　　4:30 PM - 5:50 PM

We will hold a performance stage for young performers, including children and students studying Nohgaku under professionals!

Please come and see the results of their daily practice!

Commentaries on your Smartphone

On the day of the performance, you can listen to a real-time commentary on the Noh "Kiku-jido" for free with your smartphone by just scanning the QR code! You don't need to download an app or log in!

Note:

―There is no rental service available at the venue. Please be sure to bring your smartphone and earphones.

―Please be sure to use earphones to play the audio.

―Depending on your smartphone model and settings, this service may not be available.

Japanese: Yoshiko MITOMA (Nohgaku researcher, part-time lecturer at Ohkagakuen University)

English: Sayoko OKUDA (Nohgaku Earphone Guide Nagoya)

Provided by Shuwa Foundation

Cameras Allowed

Taking photos and recording videos are welcomed in this event, so please capture memorable moments with your cameras!

The following actions are prohibited:

・Shooting while holding camera, smartphone, etc. high above your head

・Flash Photography

・Use of large equipment such as tripods and telephoto lenses

・Commercial use of photos and videos taken

・Any other actions that may disturb others or performers

About Venue

This event will be called off due to severe weather or weather forecast.

Please check the information of cancellation from our agency's website "Important Notice" at 10:00 AM on the day of the event.

Contact

Nagoya City Cultural Promotion Agency

(+81) 52-249-9385／Weekdays 9：00 AM - 5：00 PM