1996/07/20 - 1996/09/01

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Kokuritsu Gekijo-the National Theater for Japanese Traditional Performing Arts, this exhibition introduces the history and appeal of the traditional Japanese performing arts: Gagaku (ancient Imperial Court music), Noh, Bunraku (traditional Japanese puppet theater), Kabuki and Public Entertainment. Two hundred valuable items were displayed including Ukiyoe and screen paintings depicting the origin of Kabuki, as well as original calligraphy by Zeami, the founder of Noh, and Monzaemon Chikamatsu, the great Bunraku playwright, along with famous musical instruments from the Kishu Tokugawa family.