About Yokohama Noh Theater

The main stage of the Yokohama Noh Theatre was originally built in 1875 in a corner of the residence of Maeda Nariyasu, the former lord of the Kaga Domain, in Negishi, Tokyo.
Kanazawa, in the Kaga Domain, was a region where Hosho-ryu Noh was so popular that it was said “Noh chants rained down from the sky.” Nariyasu also deeply loved Noh, and during the “Imperial Noh Performance” of 1876, a major event in the history of modern Noh, he even performed alongside professionals in front of Emperor Meiji.
He is also known for popularizing the term “Nohgaku” in place of the previous “Sarugaku”, and for his efforts in reviving Noh theater, which had declined due to the Meiji Restoration.

However, after Nariyasu's death, the estate was put up for reorganization, and in 1919, it was relocated to the residence of Count Matsudaira Yorihisa, a member of the former Takamatsu domain lord family who also practiced the Hosho-ryu. Because it was located in Somei, near Komagome Station on the Yamanote Line, it subsequently became widely known as the “Somei Noh Theater.”

During the air raids of World War II, Tokyo suffered immense damage, Most of the more than ten Noh theaters were Burned, leaving only four. Among the Noh theaters that escaped destruction, the Somei Noh Theater was large and conveniently located. Therefore, after the war, Noh and Kyogen performances flourished not only within the Hosho school but also across different schools.
The Somei Noh Theater also stands as a witness to history, having observed a turbulent era. Around August 15, 1945, a performance titled “Noh for Boosting Morale” was held on the 14th to bolster the will to fight, followed by an event titled “Noh for the Reconstruction of a Peaceful Japan” on September 16. It was also featured in the 1949 film “Late Spring”, directed by Yasujirō Ozu and starring Setsuko Hara, which includes a long take of Manzaburō Umewaka II performing the Noh play “Kakitsubata”.

Yet as theaters belonging to various schools and families were rebuilt, this one gradually fell into disuse. Due in part to its deteriorating condition, it was dismantled in 1965, and its components were stored in a basement room at the Hosho Noh Theater in Suidobashi.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Takeo Tanabe, a Kanze school Noh performer living in Yokohama, negotiated with the Hosho school and acquired the materials in 1973. This served as the catalyst for a campaign to build a Noh theater, spearheaded primarily by members of the “Fukuyo-kai,” who were training under Mr. Tanabe. The movement expanded as it drew in stakeholders, starting with the “Yokohama Noh Theater Federation,” which was joined by members of various Noh schools who were practicing the art. Beginning with a petition that garnered over 50,000 signatures and raising approximately 100 million yen in donations, they petitioned the city to build a Noh theater.

In the 1950s, Yokohama hosted “Yokohama Noh” performances featuring top-tier performers, organized by the citizens themselves. Unlike the castle towns of the Edo period, which had a long history of Noh theater, this event was a true reflection of Yokohama—a city built by its citizens one by one since its opening as a port. It was against this cultural backdrop that the campaign to build a Noh theater was enthusiastically launched.
These efforts bore fruit, and in June 1996, the Yokohama Noh Theater opened its doors, carrying on the legacy of the Negishi and Somei eras.
While there are several Noh stages throughout Japan that predate the Yokohama Noh Theater’s “Main Stage” and were built before the Edo period, they are typically located within the grounds of temples and shrines and are not widely used by the general public. Among these, the Yokohama Noh Theater’s “Main Stage” is the oldest stage located within a dedicated Noh theater. A historic stage that anyone can use freely at any time—this is perhaps the defining characteristic of the Yokohama Noh Theater, a venue truly created by its citizens.
This stage was designated as a Yokohama City Cultural Property in 1996 under the name “Former Somei Noh Stage.”

Since January 2024, the Yokohama Noh Theater has been closed for extensive renovations. During this closure, the Noh stage has been protected and is now in a state of quiet slumber.
In the summer of 2026, the Noh stage will awaken from its slumber and reveal itself to the public. Having endured five eras—Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa—it will continue to carve its place in history.