The Noh
Theater of Japan is an extremely
ritualized tradition, and traces of the Noh Theater are found in Western theater.
This paper explores many of the distinctive elements of the Noh
Theater, such as the use of masks, the themes presented within plays, and the evolution from the old Noh Theater to a more modern presentation of Noh techniques. While the focus of this paper is on the Noh Theater, comparisons are drawn between the Noh Theater and traditional Western theater. There is also a discussion of the more dialogue-driven kyogen style of Japanese theater in respect to the more
ritualized Noh Theater.