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What major changes did the Meiji Restoration bring to Noh theatre?
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Japanese performing arts
Bugaku, a court dance adapted to Japanese tastes from the dance and music of 8th-century China and Korea.
The Meiji Restoration (1868) brought significant upheaval to Noh theatre, primarily due to the abolition of the feudal system.12
- Loss of Patronage: Noh had historically served as a ceremonial drama for the warrior class. With the elimination of the samurai, the art form lost its primary base of economic support, leading to a period where performances ceased entirely for several years.12
- Economic Hardship: Many professional Noh actors were forced to retire to the countryside to work as menial laborers to survive.2
- Public Transition: The survival of Noh required a shift toward cultivating a new, broader audience. A pivotal moment occurred in 1881 when a public stage was constructed in Tokyo’s Shiba Park, supported by the newly formed Noh Society and the aristocrat Iwakura Tomomi.2
- Institutional Stability: Over time, the study of Noh became a respected activity among the middle classes. This shift allowed the five major Noh schools—Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, and Kita—to achieve financial stability, enabling them to sponsor their own performances and construct dedicated theatres in major cities.2