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■Event Report■
Tadasu Noh

Sustainability

 Tadasu Noh 

  1. ~Enjoy Noh, a World Heritage Site, in a World Heritage Forest~

 

Do you know what "Tadasu Noh" is?

"Tadasu Noh" is a revival of the "Tadasugawara Kanjin Sarugaku" that was performed in front of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa and other distinguished feudal lords in 1464, about 550 years ago, on the occasion of the 34th Shikinen Sengu (yearly rebuilding) of Kamomioya Shrine. It is an outdoor Noh performance set in the dance hall of Kamomioya Shrine (an important cultural property), and in 2019, to commemorate the enthronement of Reiwa, it was renamed "Tadasu Noh" and has been held every year as a post-ritual ritual for the Kamo Festival (Aoi Festival).

At Kamo Mioya Shrine, the Sengu began 2100 years ago, and the Saigyo Sengu will be the 60th in 2036. Furthermore, in accordance with Emperor Goichijo's proclamation, the system of Sengu was established every 20 years, and the first one was held on April 13, 1036. It will be a special festival of the year.

 

 

This time, we interviewed him about Tadasu Noh, with the theme of "The charm of Tadasu Noh, where water, forests, and people live in harmony." We hope that you will be able to feel the profoundness that is unique to Kyoto.

Features of this Plan

  • An Ancient Forest in the Heart of Kyoto

    京都の中心に広がる古代の森

    Tadasu-no-Mori, literally “Forest of Purification,” is a rare stretch of ancient woodland located in the heart of Kyoto. Covering approximately 12 hectares, this primeval forest has survived since the Jomon period and is home to a diverse range of plant species. Often referred to as a “living time capsule,” the forest forms part of the sacred grounds of Shimogamo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands as a testament to Japan’s enduring reverence for nature, where the spiritual and the natural have long been intertwined.

  • The Spiritual Significance of Shrine Forests

    神社の森がもつ意味

    In Shinto, Japan’s indigenous belief system, natural elements such as trees, rocks, and rivers are believed to house kami—divine spirits. Sacred forests known as chinju no mori were traditionally preserved around villages to serve as buffers between human life and the divine realm. Tadasu-no-Mori is one of the most well-preserved examples of this tradition, having remained largely untouched for over a thousand years, even as modern Kyoto grew around it.

  • Tadasu Noh: A Performing Art in Harmony with the Forest

    「糺能」――森と調和する芸能

    Tadasu Noh is an annual outdoor Noh dedication held in this sacred forest. Rather than relying on modern stage (maiden) lighting or amplification, the dedication is illuminated by torchlight and accompanied only by traditional instruments.

    When the music pauses, natural sounds emerge: the crackling of firewood, the patter of rain on leaves. Human dedication blends into the rhythms of the forest, and the boundaries between art and nature begin to dissolve.

    On the day of this year’s dedication, it rained steadily. Nonetheless, the dedication went ahead. The sound of raindrops hitting the forest canopy became a new “natural instrument,” adding to the chorus of chants and drums. The result was a soundscape found nowhere else—raw, fleeting, and deeply immersive.

  • Reverence for All Living Things

    多様な生命への敬意

    The Japanese phrase yaoyorozu no kami refers to the “eight million gods,” a poetic way of expressing the belief that spirits dwell in all things. At Tadasu Noh, the actor seems not only to perform a role but to embody the voice of the forest itself. The audience, in turn, experiences moments when the line between humanity and nature becomes beautifully blurred.

  • Passing on the Culture of  Ma (Sacred Space and Silence)

    「間(ま)」の文化を未来へ

    Tadasu Noh expresses a uniquely Japanese sensibility: the value of quietude, stillness, and the space between sounds—known as ma. The dedication avoids artificial lighting and sound, inviting the audience to spend 90 minutes immersed in darkness, silence, and subtlety. In doing so, it offers a rare chance to reconnect with a sensibility that modern life too often pushes aside.

    Attending Tadasu Noh is not merely a cultural outing—it is a contemplative act. It invites us to consider how we live with nature, how we listen, and what it means to share space with the more-than-human world. It is a quiet but powerful reminder that harmony is not something to be imposed, but something to be felt—and honored.

Usage overview

remarks

The official website is here:https://tadasu-noh.jp/

(※The 2025 event has ended.)

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