Question and Answer

 What was the origin of "kogaki"?

In some Noh program listings, the word "kogaki" appears in small print on the left of the titles. Kogaki denotes a special dramatic interpretation of Noh, Hayashi (music) or Kyōgen. There are several types of kogaki, including experimental productions described in ancient books and ingenious modern attempts. It seems to have been after the middle of the Edo period that kogaki first appeared on program listings as it does today. Kanze Motoakira XV, the head of the Kanze school in the mid-Edo period, frequently used kogaki to exercise his ingenuity in dramatic interpretations.

Motoakira started the revival of the Kanze school and enhanced its authority by serving as the personal Noh teacher of two Tokugawa shoguns, Ieshige and Ieharu. He loved the study of Japanese classical literature and culture. From this learning, he brought together traditional styles of Noh production and created his own new style of kogaki interpretations. He also carried out reforms such as the publication of "Meiwa Kaisei Utai-bon (Noh Librettos Revised in the Meiwa Era)," a collection of plays drastically revised from the traditional versions.

These revised plays were unpopular in Noh circles because the performers had to re-memorise every piece and they were eliminated after Motoakira’s death. His special kogaki interpretations, however, have been built on by the Kanze school and also influenced other schools to create their own. The Kanze school now has almost 400 kogaki, far more than the totals of other schools (the Konparu school has about 50, the Kita and Hōshō schools about 100 each, and the Kongō school about 200).

(August. 14, 2012)

Question 113 | Question 115

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• Question 154Who was the rival of Kan’ami and Zeami?
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• Question 151Are there any unusual Noh theatres?
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• Question 149Was there a Noh stage in Edo Castle?
• Question 148Is it possible to learn Noh performance for personal interest?
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• Question 141Are there two spaces on the Noh stage?
• Question 140Which performing arts has Noh influenced?
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• Question 88Are Noh performers all-rounders?
• Question 87Are there any solo performances by Noh musicians?
• Question 86Why go to su-utai?
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• Question 78Is there a play in which the audience takes a part?
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• 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?
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• Question 66Who is watched at the beginning of the performance?
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• Question 64How many fue (flutes) does a fuekata (flute player) have in a lifetime?
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• 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 51Who is the "overseer" of the stage?
• Question 50Which side of the stage ranks higher, right or left?
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• Question 43Is there any influence of “Shōmyō” upon Noh chanting?
• Question 42Why do supporting actors not wear masks?
• 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 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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