Before starting the performance, an igniting ceremony is performed by the priests. They ignite the fires with a torch, lit via human power. They make a fire with frictional heat generated by an ancient firing device called “rokuro-hikiri.” The fire grows little by little, first burning small pieces of wood, to which are then added paper, and eventually chips of wood. It burns brightly when put on a torch.
TRIVIA ARCHIVES |
| Question 152 |
Did samurai “Noh fanatics” sometimes go too far? |
| Question 151 |
Are there any unusual Noh theatres? |
| Question 150 |
What is karagoto? |
| Question 149 |
Was there a Noh stage in Edo Castle? |
| Question 148 |
Is it possible to learn Noh performance for personal interest? |
| Question 147 |
What sort of old customs live on in Noh plays? |
| Question 146 |
What kind of plays are suitable for old actors? |
| Question 145 |
What is “kaburimono”? |
| Question 144 |
Why do singers put their fans in front of their knees? |
| Question 143 |
A Noh version of the Ninth Symphony? |
| Question 142 |
Which pieces are recommended for beginners? |
| Question 141 |
Are there two spaces on the Noh stage? |
| Question 140 |
Which performing arts has Noh influenced? |
| Question 139 |
Were there Noh actors who worked as warriors? |
| Question 138 |
Do you need any qualifications to become a Noh performer? |
| Question 137 |
Why is the back panel called kagami-ita? |
| Question 136 |
Has anyone from a Noh family been outstanding in another field? |
| Question 135 |
Is it possible for Noh actors to change to different schools? |
| Question 134 |
What is “XX Yashiki” found on old maps? |
| Question 133 |
What is the Sagi School of kyōgen? |
| Question 132 |
What role does the fan play in Noh performance? |
| Question 131 |
Does the bell in "Dōjōji" really exist? |
| Question 130 |
Tell us about unique Noh plays surviving in rural areas. |
| Question 129 |
Is it true the cypress stage floor is alive? |
| Question 128 |
What sort of a play is “Utsubo-zaru,” which features a juvenile role? |
| Question 127 |
What are the origins of the designs of kendai? |
| Question 126 |
How are costumes used for many years cared for? |
| Question 125 |
How do tsure and waki actors choose their costumes? |
| Question 124 |
What are the design rules for Noh fans? |
| Question 123 |
Was Natsume Soseki a Noh lover? |
| Question 122 |
Which kyōgen piece is based on a French conte? |
| Question 121 |
How do you hang the big bell for “Dōjōji”? |
| Question 120 |
What is the link between “Yoroboshi” and Shitennō-ji? |
| Question 119 |
Was Ii Naosuke a Noh/Kyogen playwright? |
| Question 118 |
Who was the actor-turned-daimyō of the Edo Period? |
| Question 117 |
What is Shinji-mai, a ritual dance with strong links to Noh? |
| Question 116 |
How did Noh become a ceremonial performance for the Edo Shogunate? |
| Question 115 |
Which opera is based on “Sumidagawa”? |
| Question 114 |
What was the origin of kogaki? |
| Question 113 |
Where does the sliding walk in the Noh performance come from? |
| Question 112 |
Was author Izumi Kyōka from the family of a Noh performer? |
| Question 111 |
Which Japanese films show the influence of Noh? |
| Question 110 |
Does each school have its own design patterns for the fans? |
| Question 109 |
Why are Tenkawa shrine and Noh closely connected? |
| Question 108 |
What role did koutai play in terakoya in the Edo period? |
| Question 107 |
Do the costumes vary with the pieces being performed? |
| Question 106 |
Does the term "shibai" come from Noh? |
| Question 105 |
Which Noh play was imported from a foreign country? |
| Question 104 |
What new pieces were performed by Hideyoshi? |
| Question 103 |
Which military commander was a drum virtuoso? |
| Question 102 |
What kind of people partonized Noh performers in the Warring States period? |
| Question 101 |
Did Zeami finally manage to return to Kyoto? |
| Question 100 |
What kind of relationship exists between shoulder drums and hip drums? |
| Question 99 |
What are some benefits of Noh vocalization? |
| Question 98 |
Why is “Hagoromo” so popular? |
| Question 97 |
Japanese people didn’t used to have back pain? |
| Question 96 |
What was the young Benkei like? |
| Question 95 |
What is Kanjin-no? |
| Question 94 |
Is the running time for a Noh play today the same it was in olden times? |
| Question 93 |
When did overseas Noh performances begin? |
| Question 92 |
Why are there many Noh stages on Sado Island? |
| Question 91 |
What kind of jobs does a kōken do when he is off stage? |
| Question 90 |
Does the Noh stage have a flat surface? |
| Question 89 |
Are the Japanese socks specially designed for the Noh performance? |
| Question 88 |
Are Noh performers all-rounders? |
| Question 87 |
Are there any solo performances by Noh musicians? |
| Question 86 |
Why go to su-utai? |
| Question 85 |
Is nakairi an interval? |
| Question 84 |
What special way is the small tabor played in Dojoji |
| Question 83 |
What is Waki-dome? |
| Question 82 |
How are spider's webs and threads used in Tsuchigumo? |
| Question 81 |
What is Rōsoku-noh? |
| Question 80 |
What kind of place is the setting for Utou? |
| Question 79 |
Is an ad lib a result of the performance? |
| Question 78 |
Is there a play in which the audience takes a part? |
| Question 77 |
Why do actors stand still for such a long time? |
| Question 76 |
What is the voice from behind the curtain? |
| Question 75 |
How many plays are performed? |
| Question 74 |
Do actors always change their costumes at the same moment? |
| Question 73 |
Why do musicians call out? |
| Question 72 |
What are the basic sounds of the small tabor? |
| Question 71 |
Is a drum always involved in the music? |
| Question 70 |
How much preparation time is needed for the large tabor? |
| Question 69 |
How many times does the call bell ring? |
| Question 68 |
What is the basic tone in Noh music? |
| Question 67 |
What does "komi" mean in the Noh world? |
| Question 66 |
Who is watched at the beginning of the performance? |
| Question 65 |
What kind of characters appear in Noh? |
| Question 64 |
How many fue (flutes) does a fuekata (flute player) have in a lifetime? |
| Question 63 |
Are koutai a way to understand Noh more quickly? |
| Question 62 |
Is there a third passageway in on a Noh stage? |
| Question 61 |
Are Noh performances always the same? |
| Question 60 |
What is the purpose of kizahashi? |
| Question 59 |
What is meant by iroiri when discussing Noh costumes? |
| Question 58 |
Is there a Nohgaku museum? |
| Question 57 |
How do you pronounce syllables in the g series? |
| Question 56 |
Is the distance of the bridgeway fixed? |
| Question 55 |
What sort of a play is "Ran-no"? |
| Question 54 |
Who is in charge of dressing the leading actors? |
| Question 53 |
Was Sharaku, a great ukiyo-e master, also a Noh actor? |
| Question 52 |
What are the basic forms and movements of Noh acting? |
| Question 51 |
Who is the "overseer" of the stage? |
| Question 50 |
Which side of the stage ranks higher, right or left? |
| Question 49 |
Why do kotsuzumi players lick their finger on stage? |
| Question 48 |
Is it true that performers wear two masks one over another? |
| Question 47 |
What kinds of props are used for Noh plays? |
| Question 46 |
Is it true that Noh actors' hearts beat as fast as those of athletes? |
| Question 45 |
How can reciters keep themselves in unison, while they are ten or more? |
| Question 44 |
Can Noh actors wear glasses on stage? |
| Question 43 |
Is there any influence of “Shōmyō” upon Noh chanting? |
| Question 42 |
Why do supporting actors not wear masks? |
| Question 41 |
Is haori half-coat not used on the Noh stage? |
| Question 40 |
What is the difference of “noh-kan” (Noh flutes) from other flutes or pipes? |
| Question 39 |
What is “Okina”, the piece classified in Noh, but not a genuine Noh play? |
| Question 38 |
Was Toyotomi Hideyoshi a great Noh actor? |
| Question 37 |
How many times do performers rehearse a piece? |
| Question 36 |
What do the pillars around the Noh stage signify? |
| Question 35 |
Is there any special technique in making female masks? |
| Question 34 |
How do you operate the entrance curtain? |
| Question 33 |
Do Zeami’s manuscripts exist today? |
| Question 32 |
How do they start the torchlights used for outdoor performances? |
| Question 31 |
When did kagami-ita, the symbol of the Noh theatre, first appear? |
| Question 30 |
In what period did books of Noh chants become popular publications? |
| Question 29 |
Is Takigi-noh performed even if it rains? |
| Question 28 |
What is Hakama-noh? |
| Question 27 |
What kind of hair is used on noh masks? |
| Question 26 |
Which play has the most actors? |
| Question 25 |
Can a woman become a Noh performer? |
| Question 24 |
Is there any special aspect in a Noh actor's folding fan? |
| Question 23 |
Do actors ever fall from the stage? |
| Question 22 |
How heavy is a Noh costume? |
| Question 21 |
Which Noh stages are designated as national treasures? |
| Question 20 |
Is it true that there is no stage director for Noh plays? |
| Question 19 |
Is it true that Noh music does not have definite tonality? |
| Question 18 |
Why is the art called Noh? |
| Question 17 |
When and how was the first independent Noh theatre created? |
| Question 16 |
Why is the entrance curtain multicoloured? |
| Question 15 |
Why are Noh masks so small? |
| Question 14 |
Nessun dorma, signore e signori!sun dorma, signore e signori! |
| Question 13 |
Is there any special etiquette to keep in mind in the theatre? |
| Question 12 |
Where can I find the best position in the auditorium? |
| Question 11 |
How long will "new pieces" remain new? |
| Question 10 |
Is hand clapping necessary for Noh programs? |
| Question 9 |
Why are Noh performers still active in their seventies? |
| Question 8 |
How do you care for Noh masks? |
| Question 7 |
What kinds of wigs are used in Noh plays? |
| Question 6 |
What kind of roles are played as kokata (juvenile actor) ? |
| Question 5 |
What does "hiraki" mean? |
| Question 4 |
Is the gangway bridge the same as the runway of Kabuki? |
| Question 3 |
Is it true that jars under the floor improve the acoustic effects? |
| Question 2 |
Noh and Kyogen, which is older? |
| Question 1 |
Is there any rule for the color of tabi (split-toed socks)? |
How do they start the torchlights used for outdoor performances?
