The History of
Ohtsuki Noh Theatre
The History of
Ohtsuki Noh Theatre
A modern noh theatre supporting the kamigata culture of the Kansai area is born.
The Ohtsuki Noh Theatre was built in 1935 and was the first noh theatre in the nation that had chairs for the audience. As the only noh theatre in Osaka that escaped the ravages of war, it has contributed to the promotion of the kamigata culture in the years since.
A large-scale renovation program began in 1980. The original noh stage was reassembled and restored to its original state. Careful consideration was given to design aspects such as the acoustics of the theatre and the full-scale replication of the largest stone in the rampart of Osaka Castle for use as the background for the bridgeway. The construction was completed in 1983.
From 2020 to 2021, renovation work was carried out to provide a more comfortable viewing space. The seating, air conditioning, and audio equipment were also updated.
The noh stage of Ohtsuki Noh Theatre was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on April 25, 2014.
- Message from Ohtsuki Bunzo
A noh actor involved in the re-envisioning of lost plays,
the preservation of tradition, and the continuation
and development of noh
- Ohtsuki Bunzo,
Living National Treasure
Ohtsuki Bunzo (b. 1942), President of the Ohtsuki Noh Theatre Foundation, is one of Japan’s leading Kanze school shite performers. He was designated a “Living National Treasure” in 2016.
Bunzo has performed the most exacting noh plays at the highest level––Higaki, Obasute, and Sekidera Komachi. He is also actively involved both in reviving old noh that are no longer in the repertory and in creating new plays. He is committed to training future generations of noh performers, which is crucial for the transmission of traditional arts.
