Mayuko Kashiwazaki

It is nice to have something that does not change. Noh has developed its aesthetic style over more than 650 years. The environment that surrounds mankind changes at an astonishingly rapid pace. However, the core of a human heart probably would not change no matter how much time may change. Noh as a performing art gives shape to the essentially universal and shapeless human “heart.” That is all the more reason why it does not cease to stay fresh in the eyes of people who live this moment.

Mayuko Kashiwazaki
Noh Performer of Komparu School

Mayuko Kashiwazaki

Komparu School of Noh Performer (Shite, leading role player)

Based in Tokyo. Originally from Hakodate City, Hokkaido.
B.A. in Painting, Department of Fine Arts, Tokyo Zokei University
Studied Noh under Yasuaki Komparu (80th Generation Head of Komparu School) and Masa Takahashi.
Member of the Nohgaku Performers’ Association.
Member of the Komparu Enmaikai Association.

CV

Began a career in Noh after encountering Noh during college.

2012: Initiated the first stage of Noh as Shite, leading role player, with the performance of “Hagoromo.”
2016: Initiated the performance “Midare.”
Established the women Komparu School of Noh performance troup “Mi Ito no Kai” with Kiyomi Muraoka and Misa Hayashi.
2017: Initiated the performance “Shakkyo.”
2024: Initiated the performance “Dojoji.”

Selected International Works

2017: Co-conceived and performed in a Noh and Gamelan collaborative piece of lion dance at the World Gamelan Festival.
2017: Performed in the world premiere performance of Noh Chamber Opera production “Kayoi Komachi.”

About Noh

Find your own pain, joy, feelings and pieces of memory in the stories that unfold in your face to create and encounter a stage of your own.

Nohgaku includes Noh and Kyogen. Each form of art comes from Sangaku, which came from China. You may consider Noh a musical and Kyogen a comedy.

A piece of Noh play lasts as short as 50 minutes and as long as 120 minutes. The stage is supported by about 20 people in total.

Noh is structured by 4 different roles: Shite, Waki, Hayashi-kata and Kyogen-kata. Shite puts on Omote (mask), the visual symbol of Noh (while mask is not worn in some pieces), and gorgeous costumes, and develops the story through singing and dance. Waki facilitates the story. Hayashi-kata builds the world of story with orchestra tunes. Kyogen-kata contributes to deepening comprehension of stories.

Noh Lessons

I offer Noh singing and dance lessons as well as lectures in Tokyo, Sagamihara City in Kanagawa, Hokkaido, and online.

My interest also lies with bringing Noh to differently abled people. I teach singing and dance in after schools for intellectually impaired children and daycare center among others.