Often inaccessible to travelers on a truly meaningful level, every now and then exclusive opportunities arises for well-connected visitors to fully indulge in the most enchanting traditions of Japan. Here we introduce some of the very same.
With 700 years of history, the traditional theatrical form of Noh is just what you might imagine of
classical Japanese culture: dignified, spiritual, highly refined, and mysterious.
Keizo Nagayama, a lead performer in the fifth generation of the Kanze school of Noh, is dedicated to
conveying one of the world's oldest performing arts, the pride of Japan. Hence his custom-built private
theater: the Setagaya Nagayama Noh Stage. By experiencing Noh for yourself, you can feel the unique
spirit and aesthetic sensibilities cultivated in Japan.
And as an official bearer of the "Important Intangible Cultural Property" of Noh, Nagayama is active on
the forefront of the stage in Japan. Booking his private performance and interactive introduction to Noh
allows you to experience and explore the practice, don the costume for yourself, and learn the thinking
behind what can be a truly mysterious performance. An exclusive opportunity and rich cross-cultural
experience that most can only dream of.
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Brushwork, be it painting or calligraphy, is another window to the soul of Japan. As a practice with
such deep roots and rich history, an authentic entry to its world requires the right introduction. The
highly regarded Rimpa Sumie Heritage Club is committed to preserving and passing on the Edo Rimpa style
originating in Tokyo. They provide this initiation in upscale Omotesando, frequently instructing embassy
representatives and foreign VIPs.
Discerning visitors can practice the style of Nihonga painting that club
instructors inherited from the late sixth-generation master of the Sakai family that founded the school.
Painting colorful Japanese themes using all-natural materials unlocks a treasure-trove of artistic
heritage. Alternatively, taking a Meditative Ink Painting class one might glimpse the Zen quality of the
deceptively simple Japanese calligraphy.
The practice of Edo Sarasa hand-dyeing is a traditional Japanese craft with deep
roots in Tokyo (formerly "Edo"). Built on waterways ideal for dyeworks, Edo was a birthplace of the
techniques and fashions that now epitomize the sophisticated elegance of Japanese tradition.
At the workshop called Some-no-Sato Ochiai by the Myoshoji River, indulge in a genuine Edo Sarasa fabric
printing experience with rare English instruction. Preserving a heritage of more than 100 years, the
masterful artisans of Some-no-Sato Ochiai readily share their art with visitors, either for groups, or
exclusive private bookings to have the master's attention and expertise to oneself.