Japan Creative Centre (JCC) is delighted to co-organise a Kurokawa Noh lecture and demonstration with The Japan Foundation, in cooperation with the Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society for the very first time. Originating from Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture, Kurokawa Noh has over 500 years of history and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. This designation reflects its distinct style, which is rather different from the orthodox Noh performances that we are more familiar with.

The lecturer will be Associate Professor Lim Beng Choo, Head of Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore, and the lecture will explore the spiritual foundations and aesthetic qualities of Kurokawa Noh as a form of “shinji noh,” (神事能) a sacred ritual performance rooted in local community traditions, through live demonstrations of the Noh performers. Join us at JCC for a memorable evening of Kurokawa Noh!

The Kurokawa Noh troupe will be performing in Singapore as part of A Tapestry of Sacred Music Festival at Esplanade on 30 April and 1 May.

This event is part of the official celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan (SJ60).

Due to overwhelming response, the event at JCC has reached full capacity. The waiting list is also full, and people on the waiting list will be informed once there is a cancellation.

Kurokawa Noh has been preserved and passed down by the ujiko (shrine parishioners) of Kasuga Shrine in Kurokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, as a form of Shinji Noh—a sacred ritual performance dedicated to the deities.

While Kurokawa Noh shares the same roots as the five main contemporary Noh schools (Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, and Kita), which evolved from the Sarugaku Noh traditions perfected by Zeami, it does not belong to any specific school. Instead, it has maintained its own unique oral traditions, preserving ancient styles of performance and repertoire that are said to predate the modernisation of the art form.

For over 500 years, Kurokawa Noh has been preserved and handed down through generations, overcoming numerous hardships thanks to the deep faith and devotion of the local people. On 4 May, 1976, it was designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

In addition to performing ritual services and dedicatory performances at local festivals, the troupe has also performed across Japan and internationally upon request through the Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society.

Is this your first time to Japan Creative Centre? Follow the map below to Japan Creative Centre now.

Getting to Japan Creative Centre
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Tel: +65-6737-0434

By Public Bus:
Bus services: 7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174E, 502, 502A, 502B (Alight in front of Delfi Orchard)
For latest information on bus routes and fares, please refer to SBS Transit.

By the MRT:
You may also take the MRT to the nearest MRT station, Orchard (NS22).
Train fares, travel times and route maps are available on the SMRT website.

Driving to JCC:
Nearest parking is at Orchard Hotel, Delfi Orchard and Orchard Rendezvous Hotel.