Chairman Kiyokazu Kanze

The 26th Head of the Kanze Family
Kanze Kiyokazu(Kanze Kiyokazu) 

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Born in Tokyo in 1959. His father is Kanze Sakon Motomasa, the 25th head of the Kanze school of Zen Buddhism.
The 26th head of the Kanze school, a descendant of the founders Kan'ami, Zeami, and On'ami, carries on a 700-year tradition.

In addition to performances within Japan, they have also performed overseas in countries such as France, India, Thailand, China, the United States, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania.
He is a leading figure in the current Noh world, actively working on the revival of plays such as "Hakozaki," "Akoya Matsu," and "Kamo Monogurui," as well as new Noh plays such as "The Conversion of Saint Paul" and "Rikyu."
In particular, their invited performances at Lincoln Center in New York in July 2016 (6 shows over 5 days) were a great success, with sold-out shows every day and receiving extremely high praise from critics.
Furthermore, the Kanze Bunko Foundation was established to house Noh masks, costumes, and transmission documents passed down through the Kanze family. The Kanze Archive (online) also makes many transmission documents and other materials, including Zeami's handwritten manuscripts, widely available, and is dedicated to the research and dissemination of Noh. In 2011, during the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Kanze family energetically held Noh performances to mourn the victims and raise funds for reconstruction. In 2017, the Kanze Noh Theater in Shoto, Shibuya Ward, was relocated to Ginza, a place associated with the Kanze family, marking its return after approximately 150 years.
In October 2019, at the "Enthronement Ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor and the Banquet Hosted by the Prime Minister and His Wife," he and his eldest son, Saburota, performed the celebratory song "Ishibashi" for the Japanese government representatives, heads of state, representatives, and congratulatory delegations from various countries who had come to Japan.
Furthermore, he has served as a councilor of the Japan Arts Council, contributing to the preservation and transmission of traditional Japanese arts, and has also been involved in training the next generation of performers as a visiting professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music and chief instructor for the training of the three main roles at the National Noh Theatre.

His published works, co-authored works, and supervised works include "Let's Watch Noh with Kanze Kiyokazu" (Iwasaki Shoten), "A New Translation of Fūshikaden" (PHP), "Noh is This Interesting" (Shogakukan), and "Kanze Family Noh Calendar" (Tankosha).

Chairman of the Nohgaku Sokekai Association, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kanze Bunko Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kanze-kai Association, Visiting Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the Japan Nohgaku Association, Advisor to the Nohgaku Association, Vice Chairman of the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association.
Recipient of numerous awards, including the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for New Artists, the French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier), the Shibuya Ward 70th Anniversary Special Commendation, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Artists, the Pola Award for Traditional Culture Grand Prize, the JXTG Music Award, the Purple Ribbon Medal, and the Japan Art Academy Prize.
Appointed as a member of the Japan Art Academy in 2023. Recognized and honored as a Person of Cultural Merit in the same year.
Holder of the Comprehensive Designation of Important Intangible Cultural Property.