Question and Answer

 What sort of a play is "Ran-no"?

In a Noh play, each one of the actors and the musicians expresses their arts they acquire in the training of their own parts and in the tradition of their own schools. Once their best performances are united on the stage, there will be a profound world view expressed with a tense atmosphere all around.

However, there is a type of Noh widely different from the native form. It is called "Ran-no" (a random Noh), a special event held on memorial days and for celebrations. When a shite actor is not in the cast, he does not normally take charge of a part other than that of reciters or assistants, such as musicians or kyōgen actors. But in the entire programmes on the day of Ran-no, every performer from shite, waki, hayashi, and kyōgen plays a part not in their professional lines. For example, shite and waki actors may play musical instruments, and kyōgen actors and musicians may play the parts of leading and supporting roles.

Being composed of acting out of the performers' lines, and flavoured with unique stage effects and contents, the play often moves the audience to laughter. There may be consecutive happenings, and adventurous interpretations and presentations, so the piece could be completed with a different taste from ordinary Noh plays. Ran-no is a rare performance full of a festive mood, and has nothing to do with difficulty. If you have a chance to see one, you should not miss it.

(Apr 2, 2009)

Question 54 | Question 56

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• Question 162Were there models for Noh masks?
• Question 161How many kinds of Noh mask are there?
• Question 160What is the record number of performances in one day?
• Question 159Does the idiomatic phrase “Iza Kamakura” come from Noh?
• Question 158Why is “Taiten” performed only at the time of an era-name change?
• Question 157What is the play in which real instruments appear?
• Question 156Why is the Hōshō school known as “Utai Hōshō”?
• Question 155Which place has produced many Noh mask makers?
• Question 154Who was the rival of Kan’ami and Zeami?
• Question 153Are there any everyday terms that originate in Noh?
• Question 152Did samurai “Noh fanatics” sometimes go too far?
• Question 151Are there any unusual Noh theatres?
• Question 150What is karagoto?
• Question 149Was there a Noh stage in Edo Castle?
• Question 148Is it possible to learn Noh performance for personal interest?
• Question 147What sort of old customs live on in Noh plays?
• Question 146What kind of plays are suitable for old actors?
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• Question 144Why do singers put their fans in front of their knees?
• Question 143A Noh version of the Ninth Symphony?
• Question 142Which pieces are recommended for beginners?
• Question 141Are there two spaces on the Noh stage?
• Question 140Which performing arts has Noh influenced?
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• Question 138Do you need any qualifications to become a Noh performer?
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• Question 136Has anyone from a Noh family been outstanding in another field?
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• Question 132What role does the fan play in Noh performance?
• Question 131Does the bell in "Dōjōji" really exist?
• Question 130Tell us about unique Noh plays surviving in rural areas.
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• Question 128What sort of a play is “Utsubo-zaru,” which features a juvenile role?
• Question 127What are the origins of the designs of kendai?
• Question 126How are costumes used for many years cared for?
• Question 125How do tsure and waki actors choose their costumes?
• Question 124What are the design rules for Noh fans?
• Question 123Was Natsume Soseki a Noh lover?
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• Question 112Was author Izumi Kyōka from the family of a Noh performer?
• Question 111Which Japanese films show the influence of Noh?
• Question 110Does each school have its own design patterns for the fans?
• Question 109Why are Tenkawa shrine and Noh closely connected?
• Question 108What role did koutai play in terakoya in the Edo period?
• Question 107Do the costumes vary with the pieces being performed?
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• Question 104What new pieces were performed by Hideyoshi?
• Question 103Which military commander was a drum virtuoso?
• Question 102What kind of people partonized Noh performers in the Warring States period?
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• Question 100What kind of relationship exists between shoulder drums and hip drums?
• Question 99What are some benefits of Noh vocalization?
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• Question 96What was the young Benkei like?
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• Question 89Are the Japanese socks specially designed for the Noh performance?
• Question 88Are Noh performers all-rounders?
• Question 87Are there any solo performances by Noh musicians?
• Question 86Why go to su-utai?
• Question 85Is nakairi an interval?
• Question 84What special way is the small tabor played in Dojoji
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• Question 80What kind of place is the setting for Utou?
• Question 79Is an ad lib a result of the performance?
• Question 78Is there a play in which the audience takes a part?
• Question 77Why do actors stand still for such a long time?
• Question 76What is the voice from behind the curtain?
• Question 75How many plays are performed?
• Question 74Do actors always change their costumes at the same moment?
• Question 73Why do musicians call out?
• Question 72What are the basic sounds of the small tabor?
• Question 71Is a drum always involved in the music?
• Question 70How much preparation time is needed for the large tabor?
• Question 69How many times does the call bell ring?
• Question 68What is the basic tone in Noh music?
• Question 67What does "komi" mean in the Noh world?
• Question 66Who is watched at the beginning of the performance?
• Question 65What kind of characters appear in Noh?
• Question 64How many fue (flutes) does a fuekata (flute player) have in a lifetime?
• Question 63Are koutai a way to understand Noh more quickly?
• Question 62Is there a third passageway in on a Noh stage?
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• Question 59What is meant by iroiri when discussing Noh costumes?
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• Question 57How do you pronounce syllables in the g series?
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• Question 54Who is in charge of dressing the leading actors?
• Question 53Was Sharaku, a great ukiyo-e master, also a Noh actor?
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• Question 51Who is the "overseer" of the stage?
• Question 50Which side of the stage ranks higher, right or left?
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• Question 41Is haori half-coat not used on the Noh stage?
• Question 40What is the difference of “noh-kan” (Noh flutes) from other flutes or pipes?
• Question 39What is “Okina”, the piece classified in Noh, but not a genuine Noh play?
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• Question 36What do the pillars around the Noh stage signify?
• Question 35Is there any special technique in making female masks?
• Question 34How do you operate the entrance curtain?
• Question 33Do Zeami’s manuscripts exist today?
• Question 32How do they start the torchlights used for outdoor performances?
• Question 31When did kagami-ita, the symbol of the Noh theatre, first appear?
• Question 30In what period did books of Noh chants become popular publications?
• Question 29Is Takigi-noh performed even if it rains?
• Question 28What is Hakama-noh?
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• Question 24Is there any special aspect in a Noh actor's folding fan?
• Question 23Do actors ever fall from the stage?
• Question 22How heavy is a Noh costume?
• Question 21Which Noh stages are designated as national treasures?
• Question 20Is it true that there is no stage director for Noh plays?
• Question 19Is it true that Noh music does not have definite tonality?
• Question 18Why is the art called Noh?
• Question 17When and how was the first independent Noh theatre created?
• Question 16Why is the entrance curtain multicoloured?
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• Question 14 Nessun dorma, signore e signori!sun dorma, signore e signori!
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