ENGI x NOH ~Japanese Noh Workshop New Year’s Special Edition~

“Engi”（縁起）is originally a Buddhist terminology but is also a concept closely connected to Japanese mentality in daily life basis. Especially in the New Year, Japanese people follow various traditions related to engi to wish for luck for the entire year. Following this mentality of Japanese people, Noh also closely connects to the idea of engi in many ways. Convention has been developed over a long period of time, and some specific classical plays are performed often in the New Year.

In the workshop, we will closely examine “Oimatsu”, one of the classical Noh plays often performed at New Year’s events.

The participants will get to sing a part of “Oimatsu” together. They can also practice dancing a very short section of the same piece with the singing.

This event is free of charge but registration is mandatory.

About the speaker:

Sakurako Tanaka is Noh practitioner trained and taught by Akira Matsui (Kita school Noh master), Gasho Yamanaka (Kanze school Noh master), Richard Emmert (Kita school registered shimai instructor), and Ashley Thorpe (Reader at Royal Holloway University of London, specialised in Noh). She performes shimai (Noh dance section, highlight of Noh play) in different events, including but not limited to Japan Matsuri, Japan House London, Royal Holloway University of London, SOAS University, Yokimono Japanese Market, Japanese pre-school, etc.She is running Noh workshops at different places both for kids and adults and also working as an interpreter & assistant for professional Noh actors who come to the UK (Noh Training Project UK, Noh Reimagined, From Tradition to Modernity UK tour, etc.).

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