NOH & EXPERIMENT 2025 – Noh and Sound: A Crossroads of Tradition and the Present

Since the Taisho era (1912–1926), the Noh stage at Atsukushihiko Shrine in Sado’s Nagae district had fallen into slumber. Today, Sado Island—now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site—still preserves about one-third of all existing Noh stages in Japan. Yet among them lies one particularly forgotten place: the Atsukushihiko Shrine Noh Stage.

As part of Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival 2025, this historic stage will finally be revived in a one-night-only special event.

• Witness the solemn revival of Noh, performed by local masters carrying forward centuries of tradition.
• Experience groundbreaking live performances by eight contemporary music artists, blending electronics, laptop sounds, keyboards, guitar, flutes, and even bamboo instruments crafted on Sado.
• Following the Noh performance and symposium, the opening will feature a special guest appearance by the parent-and-child duo Reishu Fukushima + Satoshi Fukushima, who blend shakuhachi with electronic music, inspired by their encounters on Sado Island.
  

This extraordinary night, where the sacred world of Noh intertwines with the subtle, experimental resonance of contemporary sound, will sharpen your senses and deliver an experience found nowhere else.

Dive Deeper into Sado’s Culture

• Celebrate the release of the new LP “Sound Surrounding On Sado”, documenting the people and music of Sado in 2025. Advance sales will be available at the venue on the day of the event.
• Join a symposium exploring the essence of Noh and experimental music: Why did Noh flourish so strongly on Sado? What role can Noh play in today’s society? Critics, Noh masters, musicians, and cultural leaders will share their insights with the audience.
• Enjoy local food and drinks unique to Sado, adding another flavor to this immersive cultural journey.

Program Highlights

Noh Performance

• Hosho Style “Gakuyo-Yubu no Kai”

Live Performances

• Reishu Fukushima + Satoshi Fukushima
• Masayasu Maeda (Kodo) + Yuta Sumiyoshi (Kodo)
• Kota Aoki
• Morito Yoshida
• Charles Munka
• Gilles Stassart

Symposium Speakers

• Noi Sawaragi (Professor, Tama Art University; Institute of Anthropology of Art & Design; Advisor to Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival)
• Tadao Iwai (Hosho School Master / Head of Gakuyo-Yubu no Kai)
• Masato Hoshino (Director, Experimental Rooms)
• Morito Yoshida (Representative Director, Sado International Arts Promotion Organization, General Producer, Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival; Artist)

…and more

Event Information

• Date: Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
• Doors Open: 10:00 (TBA)
• Start Time: 10:30
• Venue: Atsukushihiko Shrine, 854 Nagae, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
• Admission: 5,000 JPY

NOH & EXPERIMENT 2025 is more than a performance—it is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter where tradition and innovation meet on Sado Island.

【Reservation & Payment】

・ Upon receiving your inquiry, we will confirm availability.
・ If seats are available, we will provide you with a PayPal payment link.
・ Your reservation will be finalized once payment has been received.
・ On the day of the event, please present your confirmation email at the reception desk for entry.
・ Kindly note that payments are non-refundable.

【Important Notice】

• The entire event will be conducted in Japanese.
• No interpretation or translation services will be provided.
• The reservation confirmation email from our company will serve as your admission ticket.
• Please present the email (on your mobile screen or a printed copy) at the reception on the day of the event.