Noh Theater
Experience Noh, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, in Kyoto — Instruction and Performance by a Living National Treasure’s Disciple —
Hold a fan, put on a mask, step onto the stage, and experience the sliding footwork of Noh performance. Perform alongside the disciple of a Living National Treasure, and become one with 650 years of tradition.
講師 小笠原由祠 Ogasawara Tadashi
A Noh performer of the Izumi school of Kyogen and a holder of the Comprehensive Designation for Important Intangible Cultural Properties. He studied under Nomura Man (the first, a Living National Treasure) and Nomura Mansaku IX. He serves as the representative of the Man-Kyogen Kansai Branch and is also a maker of Noh masks. He hosts the annual Noh performance "En'nen no Kai" in Paris, Kyoto, and Tokyo each year. While performing extensively around the world, he also provides acting guidance for domestic television dramas.
Cultural Experiences with World-Class Instructors
The instructors at Sogoo are award-winning artists with extensive international performance experience — some have even appeared in Hollywood films. They represent the highest level of authenticity in their respective art forms.
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Samurai Sword Experience
The battlefield arts, refined into a path of spiritual discipline
リー村山先生
His areas of expertise include battōdō, iaidō, karate, Chinese martial arts, Ryukyu kobudō, tate (stage combat choreography), horseback riding, Japanese dance, and Western dance. He has appeared in numerous films, stage productions, and television dramas, including The Last Samurai. For the Takarazuka Revue, he has choreographed stage combat and dance sequences. He has also been invited to perform martial arts demonstrations in countries including Romania, China, and Vietnam.
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Japanese Dance
Physical expression woven from mai, odori, and furi — the three elements of Japanese dance
西川影戀先生
A licensed instructor of the Nishikawa school of Japanese dance and a visiting lecturer at Doshisha University. She is also an associate professor of the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony and directs the Nishikawa Eiren School of Japanese Dance, with locations in Kyoto, Hyogo, Osaka, and Tokyo. She serves as the representative of Ren, an organization dedicated to promoting Japanese culture. She teaches at educational institutions both in Japan and abroad, and has held numerous performances incorporating Japanese dance throughout Europe.
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Traditional Music (Shakuhachi)
Wavering tones, subtle rasps, and silence elevated into beauty
三好芫山先生
He began playing the shakuhachi in early childhood and, at the age of 39, attained Chikurinken, the highest rank in the shakuhachi world. He has performed alongside pop and jazz artists and, at the request of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has toured extensively abroad, making major contributions to introducing Japanese culture internationally. He is one of Japan's leading shakuhachi performers.
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Noh Theater
A 650-year tradition that draws out the deepest truths of the human condition
小笠原由祠先生
A Noh performer of the Izumi school of Kyogen and a holder of the Comprehensive Designation for Important Intangible Cultural Properties. He studied under Nomura Man (the first, a Living National Treasure) and Nomura Mansaku IX. He serves as the representative of the Man-Kyogen Kansai Branch and is also a maker of Noh masks. He hosts the annual Noh performance "En'nen no Kai" in Paris, Kyoto, and Tokyo each year. While performing extensively around the world, he also provides acting guidance for domestic television dramas.
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Traditional Music (Koto)
Wavering tones, subtle rasps, and silence elevated into beauty
三好晃子先生
A performer of Ikuta-school koto and sangen (three-stringed shamisen), as well as Kyo-ryu Yanagawa-school shamisen. Her grandmother was Miyoshi Atsuko (Ikuta-school, Kyoto branch), and her father was Miyoshi Gensan, a Grand Master of the Tozan-school shakuhachi. She began studying music from an early age and has taught at educational institutions while performing extensively abroad.