The Nomura Art Museum’s collection of Noh masks and costumes was acquired by the founder of the Nomura financial group, Nomura Tokushichi (1878-1945) — known in the arts world as “Tokuan”. He developed a deep appreciation for Noh theater, particularly during the last decade of his life, and purchased many of these items with the intention of personally using them. 

Tokuan began lessons in utai (Noh chanting) around 1913, in his late thirties. At the time, his focus was divided between his demanding business ventures and his continued passion for the tea ceremony, so his initial engagement with Noh appears to have been modest. Tokuan’s encounter with Kanze Sakon (1895–1939), a prominent figure in the world of Noh theater, apparently sparked a change that gradually led to Noh standing alongside the tea ceremony in terms of significance to him, both having a profound influence on his character and life. 

Tokuan’s contributions to Noh went beyond direct and indirect support for Noh theater and beyond his personal enthusiasm for performance. Concerned that the whereabouts of valuable Noh masks might be forever lost during the financially strained times of World War II, he actively worked to purchase or otherwise preserve these cultural treasures. Historical records suggest that his mask collection once contained as many as 200 pieces. Many were eventually returned to their original owners during Tokuan’s lifetime, and some were lost in the 1945 air raids that destroyed his Kobe residence, leaving today’s Nomura Art Museum with approximately 50 Noh masks. 

Most of the masks in our current collection originate from the Kanze family (one of the most prominent and influential lineages in Noh theater), from whom they were acquired in 1939, and from the Tokugawa family of Mito (a Tokugawa lineage that supported the shogunate and remained an influential part of Japan’s aristocracy through the mid 20^th century), from whom they were purchased in 1918. Tokuan’s collection of Noh costumes began with the purchase (from Kyoto’s Nishi Honganji Temple in 1916) of a legendary piece known as the Kurofune Danori Atsuita, said to have once belonged to 16^th-century shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This led to Tokuan’s further acquisition of costumes from the Tokugawa family and the Date family (also descendants of a powerful samurai clan). The majority of his collection, however, can be traced to a 1936 sale by the Maeda family (also descending from an influential samurai clan) of Kaga. Not content to merely collect, Tokuan employed these masks and costumes in his own Noh performances, earning recognition for both his artistic passion and the cultural value of his collection.

This exhibition highlights the Noh masks and costumes that Tokuan collected and personally performed in, complemented by tea utensils related to the world of Noh. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into a unique confluence of art, culture, and personal dedication.

Hours: 10:00-16:30 (admission until 16:00)
Closed: Mondays (Exception: Open Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6.

Closed Wednesday, May 7)
Admissions: 1000 yen for adults, 300 yen for students,

free admission for junior high school students and younger

*Please be aware that exhibits may be changed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Thank you for your understanding.

 
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