Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
“Invigorating Lives” with Noh !~open one's senses
Sachiko Nakajima, Thematic Project Producer "Invigorating Lives" Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Noh is the first performing art to be registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Heritage Site, and it is a condensed version of the Japanese spirituality that has been handed down for 700 years without changing. Ms Nakajima's theme is to open up the diverse life (creativity) latent in each individual, and this workshop aims to build a foundation for people to experience the diverse values that have been passed down in the genes of the Japanese people, which are contained in Noh, and to open up life within themselves.
Discussion
- Traditional performing art
- Cultural arts
- Historical heritage
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Signature Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.04.25[Fri]
14:30 ～ 16:30
(Venue Open 14:15)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Playground of Lives: Jellyfish Pavilion
©steAm Inc. & Tetsuo Kobori Architects All Rights Reserved
Programme details
The world's oldest existing masked drama, Noh, has been passed down for 700 years and is composed entirely of “human power”. In addition to the voices of the chorus and the physicality of the dances, Noh masks, costumes, fans, and musical instruments, which can be considered the best of Japanese crafts, have all been made by human hands. Noh plays are performed in the language of the Muromachi period (1333-1573), which tends to give the impression of “difficult.” However, Noh plays are filled with “beautiful Japanese words,” including waka poems and classical literature such as the Tale of Genji and the Tale of the Heike. We believe that knowing the meaning of these words and singing them in words is a major element in opening one's sensibility. By unraveling these “secrets that Noh has cherished for 700 years” and connecting them to the present day, and by “opening” the aesthetic sense and sensitivity that the Japanese people have cherished, we will work to share these values with a diverse range of people from around the world and to serve as a catalyst for the new creations that will be born from them.
(Examples of workshops)
The meaning of Noh costumes ・Wonder of Noh masks ・Words of Noh ・Sounds of Noh ・Movements of Noh, etc.
*We would hold several workshops within these 2 hours.
Reports
【Reflection】
In this workshop, led by Yamamoto Noh Theater, participants were invited to engage with Noh—the world’s oldest surviving masked drama—through a series of immersive mini-workshops held over two hours.
Activities included trying on authentic Noh costumes, actually placing a Noh mask on one's face, and handling and playing traditional Noh instruments under the guidance of experts. Through these hands-on experiences, participants were gently guided into the rich “secrets” of this 700-year-old tradition, offering a rare chance to encounter the essence of beauty in Noh.
Many participants expressed that they had perceived Noh as distant or difficult to access, but that the direct experience sparked a sense of familiarity and appreciation. Comments included:
“I always thought Noh was too formal or inaccessible, but actually wearing the mask and hearing the rhythms made it come alive.”
“I was surprised that the mask’s lack of facial expression could evoke such deep emotion.”
The event attracted strong interest across ages and nationalities. For many international participants in particular, this was a rare opportunity to connect with the core of Japanese spiritual and aesthetic culture, transcending performing arts and offering a form of sensory and emotional education.
A highlight of the program was a live performance of an excerpt from the Noh masterpiece "Hagoromo"—staged right inside the Jellyfish Pavilion. The refined beauty of the piece stood out brilliantly within the ethereal atmosphere of the space.
Participants, along with our KURAGE Pavilion team, were deeply moved and somewhat astonished by the richness of the experience. Many remarked:
“This is exactly what the Expo should be—truly extraordinary, beyond borders and expectations.”
One point of reflection was that we were unable to distribute printed materials in advance as originally planned. We had hoped participants would sing along with the Noh chanting (utai) by following the lyrics, but unfortunately, this could not be realized this time. Since the workshop was designed to bring Noh closer through active participation, this remains a regret—but also a valuable lesson for future events.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Building on the momentum of this workshop, we aim to reinterpret the traditional values of Noh through a contemporary lens, creating opportunities for the general public to engage with it in an experiential and accessible way. By doing so, we hope to bridge the past and the present—and extend that connection into the future.
In particular, we witnessed many participants, including youth and international guests, moved by their direct experiences with Noh, awakening their own sensibilities. These moments have provided valuable insight for the future of cultural transmission.
Looking ahead, we plan to collaborate with educational institutions and regional cultural facilities to develop hands-on programs centered around themes such as: Noh × Language / Noh Masks × Form / Noh × Body × STEAM (Technology)...
Especially from the perspectives of STEAM education and inquiry-based learning, we believe that the interdisciplinary and holistic artistic nature of Noh can be effectively integrated into global educational programs.
We are also working to model this program and restructure portions of it as online content and educational materials, with the aim of sharing it widely both in Japan and internationally.
In addition, we are exploring new STEAM experiments that blend mathematics, technology, craftsmanship, and the arts—for example, utilizing interactive technologies so that the timbre of a Noh flute subtly changes in response to the dancer’s movements, creating new forms of real-time cultural interplay.
In this way, we will continue our efforts to bridge the deep spirituality and embodied expression of Noh—handed down over 700 years—with both contemporary society and the international communities of the future.
Cast
Moderator
NAKAJIMA Sachiko
Thematic Project ”Invigorating Lives" (Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition)
Musician, a mathematics researcher, and a STEAM Educator. She is also CEO of steAm, Inc.,the representative director of steAm BAND Association and a thematic project producer of Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She also serves as a STEM Girls Ambassador, Cabinet Office. She won the gold medal as the first Japanese woman in the International Mathematical Olympiad. She passionately conducts research on art and technology as well as music, mathematics, and education. Winner of 2025 Power Of Radiance Award by Cle deau Peau Beaute (Shiseido).
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Speakers
©Yamamoto Noh Theater
Yamamoto Akihiro
Yamamoto Noh Theater Foundation
Master Noh actor of the Kanze school, holder of the General Designation of Important Intangible Cultural Property
President of Yamamoto Nohgakudo Foundation
Director, Nohgaku Kyokai (Nohgaku Association)
2012 Tiffany Foundation “Traditional Culture Grand Prize
2012 Kansai Vigorous Cultural Bloc Award
2015 Japan Water Grand Prize
2015 The Japan Foundation “Global Citizen Award
2017 Good Design Award, Commendation for Excellence by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2021 Osaka Culture Award
2023 Mainichi Earth Future Prize, Kubota Prize
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©Yamamoto Noh Theater
Yamamoto Yoshie
Yamamoto Noh Theater Foundation
Secretary General of Yamamoto Nohgakudo Foundation
2013-15 Head of Osaka Branch of Ikebana International
2015 Member of Osaka City Urban Attractiveness Strategy Council
2016 Osaka Sakuyahime Award
2017-19 Member of the Kansai Council of the Union of Kansai Governments
2018 Awarded “Shining Woman Prize” at Kansai Zaikai Seminar
2024- Vice-Chairman of Tourism Promotion Committee, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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©Yamamoto Noh Theater
Yamamoto Yoshiaki
Yamamoto Noh Theater Foundation
Noh actor of the Kanze school
First stage appearance at age three
Already premiered “Iwafune,” “Midare,” “Shakyo,” etc.
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Co-organiser
Yamamoto Noh Theater Foundation
More Information
Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
“Invigorating Lives” with Noh !~open one's senses
Noh is the first performing art to be registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Heritage Site, and it is a condensed version of the Japanese spirituality that has been handed down for 700 years without changing. Ms Nakajima's theme is to open up the diverse life (creativity) latent in each individual, and this workshop aims to build a foundation for people to experience the diverse values that have been passed down in the genes of the Japanese people, which are contained in Noh, and to open up life within themselves.
-
2025.04.25[Fri]
14:30～16:30
(Venue Open 14:15)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
©steAm Inc. & Tetsuo Kobori Architects All Rights Reserved
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Co-creating Cultures for the Future Week
