Question and Answer

 Was Natsume Soseki a Noh lover?

“I am a Cat” (Wagahai wa neko de aru) is a masterpiece of novelist Natsume Sōseki. In one scene, the main character, The Cat, discusses the habit of his master, Mr. Sneaze (Kushami Sensei in the original Japanese), of loudly chanting Noh lyrics in the lavatory and then not caring about being known as “The Water-Closet Maestro.” The Cat is scathing about the way his master laughs about repeatedly misreading a verse of “Yuya.” In “Kusamakura,” the lead character attempts to liken a trip he makes to Noh plays. There are also several scenes with descriptions of particular Noh plays, including “Shichi-ki-ochi,” “Sumida-gawa” and “Takasago.”

Sōseki became familiar with plays of the Hōshō school while working at Fifth High School in Kumamoto, where they were frequently chanted by the teachers. The “Water-Closet Maestro” scene in “I Am a Cat” is based on the novelist’s own experiences at this time. Later, after a break for higher education in the UK, he started taking lessons in Noh chanting from Hōshō Arata, head of the Shimogakari Hōshō school for supporting actors, following an introduction from poet Takahama Kyoshi. According to Sōseki’s wife, Kyōko, the writer enjoyed Noh chanting and often did it by himself. He also sometimes joined voluntary training sessions.

Sōseki’s chanting received mixed reviews from those who knew him. Terada Torahiko recalled, “When I told him he was chanting by rolling his tongue, he described this as hurtful thing to say and never forgot my comment.” Nogami Toyoichirō said, “I cannot say he was good at it, but neither was he poor at it; he was unique in his own way.” Nogami Yaeko noted, “I cannot give him a pass mark because his chants were saccharine and drawling, like a goat’s bleating.” Abe Yoshishige claimed, “He had a facility for melody but was also fearless and free from the rules for chanting.” His instructor Hōshō Arata said, “Although he was a person of integrity and strict morals, it was interesting that his chanting was very amorous.”

The essay “The New Year Day” (Ganjitsu) in “Spring Miscellany” (Eijitsu Shōhin) includes an episode in which Sōseki is asked to chant to a tabor played by Takahama Kyoshi. He writes of his excitement at being accompanied by the tabor for the first time.

These episodes reveal the familiarity of Noh to well-educated people in the Meiji period.

* The above illustration shows a small tabor (kotsuzumi). It is believed, however, that in “Spring Miscellany” Takahama Kyoshi brings in a large tabor (ōtsuzumi): “... when the hand drum (tsuzumi) came, a small stove was brought in from the kitchen and the charcoal fire started to heat the skin of the tabor (tsuzumi).” See Trivia No. 70 for why this description is thought to be about a large tabor.

(August. 15, 2013)

Question 122 | Question 124

• Question 164An Italian opera based on Noh?
• Question 163In which area of Japan does a remnant of the “Shundō” school survive?
• 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?
• Question 145What is “kaburimono”?
• 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?
• Question 139Were there Noh actors who worked as warriors?
• Question 138Do you need any qualifications to become a Noh performer?
• Question 137Why is the back panel called kagami-ita?
• Question 136Has anyone from a Noh family been outstanding in another field?
• Question 135Is it possible for Noh actors to change to different schools?
• Question 134What is “XX Yashiki” found on old maps?
• Question 133What is the Sagi School of kyōgen?
• 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.
• Question 129Is it true the cypress stage floor is alive?
• 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?
• Question 122Which kyōgen piece is based on a French conte?
• Question 121How do you hang the big bell for “Dōjōji”?
• Question 120What is the link between “Yoroboshi” and Shitennō-ji?
• Question 119Was Ii Naosuke a Noh/Kyogen playwright?
• Question 118Who was the actor-turned-daimyō of the Edo Period?
• Question 117What is Shinji-mai, a ritual dance with strong links to Noh?
• Question 116How did Noh become a ceremonial performance for the Edo Shogunate?
• Question 115Which opera is based on “Sumidagawa”?
• Question 114What was the origin of kogaki?
• Question 113Where does the sliding walk in the Noh performance come from?
• 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?
• Question 106Does the term "shibai" come from Noh?
• Question 105Which Noh play was imported from a foreign country?
• 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?
• Question 101Did Zeami finally manage to return to Kyoto?
• Question 100What kind of relationship exists between shoulder drums and hip drums?
• Question 99What are some benefits of Noh vocalization?
• Question 98Why is “Hagoromo” so popular?
• Question 97Japanese people didn’t used to have back pain?
• Question 96What was the young Benkei like?
• Question 95What is Kanjin-no?
• Question 94Is the running time for a Noh play today the same it was in olden times?
• Question 93When did overseas Noh performances begin?
• Question 92Why are there many Noh stages on Sado Island?
• Question 91What kind of jobs does a kōken do when he is off stage?
• Question 90Does the Noh stage have a flat surface?
• 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
• Question 83What is Waki-dome?
• Question 82How are spider's webs and threads used in Tsuchigumo?
• Question 81What is Rōsoku-noh?
• 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?
• Question 61Are Noh performances always the same?
• Question 60What is the purpose of kizahashi?
• Question 59What is meant by iroiri when discussing Noh costumes?
• Question 58Is there a Nohgaku museum?
• Question 57How do you pronounce syllables in the g series?
• Question 56Is the distance of the bridgeway fixed?
• Question 55What sort of a play is "Ran-no"?
• Question 54Who is in charge of dressing the leading actors?
• Question 53Was Sharaku, a great ukiyo-e master, also a Noh actor?
• Question 52What are the basic forms and movements of Noh acting?
• Question 51Who is the "overseer" of the stage?
• Question 50Which side of the stage ranks higher, right or left?
• Question 49Why do kotsuzumi players lick their finger on stage?
• Question 48Is it true that performers wear two masks one over another?
• Question 47What kinds of props are used for Noh plays?
• Question 46Is it true that Noh actors' hearts beat as fast as those of athletes?
• Question 45How can reciters keep themselves in unison, while they are ten or more?
• Question 44Can Noh actors wear glasses on stage?
• 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?
• Question 38Was Toyotomi Hideyoshi a great Noh actor?
• Question 37How many times do performers rehearse a piece?
• 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?
• Question 27What kind of hair is used on noh masks?
• Question 26Which play has the most actors?
• Question 25Can a woman become a Noh performer?
• 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?
• Question 15Why are Noh masks so small?
• Question 14 Nessun dorma, signore e signori!sun dorma, signore e signori!
• Question 13Is there any special etiquette to keep in mind in the theatre?
• Question 12Where can I find the best position in the auditorium?
• Question 11How long will "new pieces" remain new?
• Question 10Is hand clapping necessary for Noh programs?
• Question 9Why are Noh performers still active in their seventies?
• Question 8How do you care for Noh masks?
• Question 7What kinds of wigs are used in Noh plays?
• Question 6What kind of roles are played as kokata (juvenile actor) ?
• Question 5What does "hiraki" mean?
• Question 4Is the gangway bridge the same as the runway of Kabuki?
• Question 3Is it true that jars under the floor improve the acoustic effects?
• Question 2Noh and Kyogen, which is older?
• Question 1Is there any rule for the color of tabi (split-toed socks)?