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　Greek drama, leaving behind those stone stages and magnificent plays, perished before the birth of Christ. Theater, which cannot exist without an audience sharing time and space, cannot await the happiness of visual arts like Van Gogh and Modigliani, who are appreciated by posterity.
While Kathakali, an Indian form of theater derived from the world's oldest Sanskrit drama, is also famous, there are no other examples of it being performed at the forefront for nearly seven centuries, like Noh theater. It transcends time and now crosses national borders, continuing to inspire and move people.

　Experiencing the ever-fresh pulse of life inherent in Noh theater can be incredibly empowering for modern people living in turbulent times.
　Noh theater was once considered slow-paced and boring, and was generally avoided by the public. However, when modern people began to engage with it without being trapped by such preconceived notions, they discovered an unexpected source of inspiration.
　Meanwhile, modern science has proven that the heart rate of a motionless Noh performer is more intense than that of any marathon runner, demonstrating a level of physical and mental concentration that is remarkable. It has also discovered that the high frequencies emitted continuously by the Noh flute and intermittently by the Noh drum have a significant positive effect on the brain. Furthermore, it is revealing the remarkable correlation between the trance state and conscious awareness of performers wearing Noh masks as instructed by Zeami, as well as the mechanism behind Noh's pleasurable dominance.
Noh is the oldest form of theater, and yet it is also the most modern form of theater.
　Welcome to the Noh stage.(From "An Introduction to Kanze-ryu Noh" by Professor Emeritus Shozo Masuda of Musashino University)

　A wide range of activities to promote Noh theater --

　What image comes to mind when you hear the word "Nohgaku"? Nohgaku, a traditional Japanese performing art that is registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage, was born in the Muromachi period, about 700 years ago. It has been passed down through generations of Noh performers, survived the turbulent history of the Meiji Restoration and wars, and is still performed in Noh theaters throughout Japan today.

　Over 700 years, Noh theater has cultivated a unique style of expression, featuring numerous highlights including beautiful costumes and masks. Another major attraction is the opportunity to encounter historical figures from Japanese history and classical literature, such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Lady Rokujo, on stage. Noh plays are filled with stories of human conflict and love, narratives that remain timeless and continue to captivate audiences.

　With the desire to make Nohgaku accessible to as many people as possible, Kanze-kai is engaged in various activities aimed at all types of audiences. You can enjoy first-class Nohgaku at the Kanze Noh Theater in Ginza, Tokyo (capacity 480 seats)."Kanze-kai Regular Noh Performance"From this main performance to other events, Noh actors will visit various locations to hold "bonfire Noh" performances, workshops, and lectures."Student Noh"Our activities are diverse, including the above.

Kanze Net

KANZE.net, jointly operated by the Kanze Bunko Foundation and the Kanze-kai Association, is a website dedicated to introducing Noh, Japan's highest-level art form, to as many people as possible. We intend to use this homepage as a "hub for disseminating information about the Kanze school of Noh," and we will strive to convey the charm of Noh to everyone even more effectively. We would greatly appreciate your continued support and cooperation.

On November 4, 2007, the UNESCO Committee for the Heritage of Intangible Cultural Heritage met, and 90 items from around the world were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. From Japan, Noh theater, Bunraku puppet theater, and Kabuki were among those inscribed.