UDAKA Michishige is both a professional Noh actor and a Noh mask carver. He was designated a representative of a National Intangible Cultural Asset by the Japanese government in 1991. He not only teaches and performs extensively in Japan, but has performed Noh and exhibited Noh masks internationally... Welcome to the INI Official Website
Noh drama, Japan’s traditional theatre of masks, music, and abstract and mimetic movement, is the world’s oldest masked performance tradition. It has ben performed uninterrupted for over six hundered years. In 2001 Noh was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible World Heritage.
Noh performances portray a world where the boundaries of past, present, and future blur and our consciousness of memory, the moment, and anticipation of what is to come unite. The exceptional experience of such a moment is certainly a primary reason for the appeal of Noh. In this singular environment, the spirits of elegant ladies and fierce warriors, gods and goddesses, flowering plants and demons appear and share nostalgic memories of their desires and attachments. Experiences of solace and redemption, which dissolve these desires and attachments, are common themes in Noh.
The International Noh Institute offers training in chant (utai), dance and mimetic movement (shimai), and mask carving with UDAKA Michishige, Master-actor of the Kongo School of Noh and master Noh mask carver.
INI was founded in 1984 in response to the urging of foreigners already studying with Michishige as members of his Keiun-kai student group and participants of intensive courses. Since then, Michishige has taught students from all walks of life: actors, dancers, designers, mask makers, musicians, psychologists and scholars, from thirteen countries through INI programs. Currently, Michishige is guiding the Noh studies of students in and from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United States.
The voice and movement of Noh and the unique world encompasing spirits of ladies and warriors, gods, goddesses, plants, and demons are introduced through a unique curriculum developed by Michishige. This curriculum combines meditation along with vocal and physical exercises to prepare students thoroughly for experiencing the essence of Noh. Lessons emphasize traditional values, including the language and manners that express the relationships between master and student and between fellow students, values that consitute the discipline of Noh. All students, amateur or professional, are taught with the same exacting discipline.
Michishige has trained three foreigners licensed as Noh instructors (shihan), Rebecca TEELE-OGAMO (the first foreigner to become a Noh Association member), John McATEER, and Monique ARNAUD. They teach and promote Noh through INI as they also continue with their own training.
In addition to offering on-going Noh training and support for students - training and support sensitive to individual students' needs - INI offers information on all aspects of Noh to enhance understanding and accessibility.
Contact
INI, Keiun-kai, and Men-no-kai headquarters are located in Kyoto. To contact us concerning event and lesson information, please use the following information.
Email: ogamo-tr@mbox.kyoto-inet.or.jp (c/o Rebecca TEELE-OGAMO)
TEL: +81 (075) 701-1055
FAX :+81 (075) 701-1058
International Noh Institute
111 Kamitakano, Satsuta-cho,
Sagyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0047
Japan