4.Various styles of Noh

The style of the Noh is divided in two kinds. The first is the style that is called Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor(Yamato Sarugaku Yonza). The second is the Noh that is native thing of the various part of Japan except the Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor. It is four styles, “Kanse-za”, “Syouho-za”, “Konparu-za” and “Kongo-za”. Furthermore, it may be called “Ichiryu-Yonza”. It puts the Kita-style divided from the Kongo-za in thr Edo era together. After the outbreak of the Kita-style, it continued extending the power, and it was said that it was equal with other four styles for the Meiji period. The Kita-style doesn’t make a system to call “Za” since the style was found, and it is called “Yon-za Ichiryu” not “Go-za” because it was not called Kita-za.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi let Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor absorb other medieval Noh farces. Therefore it had most of the medieval Noh farces of Japan as an affiliate virtually when the Edo era began. Today, Noh players of the system of the “Yon-za Ichiryu” organize association of corporate judicial person Noh, and a person joining association of Noh is placed with the Noh player as the careerist. On the other hand, there is the area where the Noh which was not unified by the Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor remains in and can whatch the program which is not played with the “Yon-za Ichiryu” and peculiar dance. For a famous thing, there is Kurokawa Noh handed down to Kasuga Shrine of Yamagata, Osudo Noh divided from Noh of Kurokawa district.

Then, I easily explain the forth-important qualified actor. Kanse-style is the  mainstream style which Kanami of Yamato medieval Noh farce that prospred in Nara early in the Muromachi era completed. It have an elegant, delicate style. Hosho-style was completed by Hoshotayu. It is said that it was protected in last years of Muromachi by Hojo of Odawara. It is a kinsman to Kanze-style for a long time, and the style is near, too. There is a base in Tokyo and Hokuriku and has the style which attached great importance to the splendid chanting of a Noh text. Komparu-style is the family’s social standing that is the oldest in four styles. It bases on Tokyo and Nara, and the relation with Kofuku-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisa Shrine is close. Its feature is free and easy conduct that left an old-fashioned way. Kongo-style’s source is considered that the Sakado-za vested in Horyu-ji Temple for a long time. It play an active part around Kyoto and Tokyo. The characteristic are Realism and daring dance “Kongo-mai”