Kurokawa Noh

This is a Shinto Noh ritual performed for Kasuga Shrine in Kurokawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture (formerly Kurokawa, Kushibiki Town). Its traditions, large scale, and strong organization are unmatched by other folk performing arts. The largest festival is the Ougi Festival on February 1st and 2nd, but in addition to the regular festivals on March 23rd, May 3rd, and November 23rd, there are also performances at Mt. Haguro on July 15th and at Shonai Shrine in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture on August 15th. Other events include a Candle Noh performance at Kasuga Shrine on the last Saturday of February and a Water Flame Noh performance on the outdoor stage in the Kushibiki area on the last Saturday of July.

There are about 160 Noh actors, who are parishioners and farmers, and the tradition is almost hereditary. It is unclear when and how Noh was passed down, but it is believed that it was consciously introduced to the village on a certain scale. There are records that Noh was in decline in 1689 (Genroku 2), but was still at about the present scale, so it is assumed that Noh was established by the end of the Muromachi period. It is divided into upper and lower troupes, each led by a leader. The competitive structure between these two troupes was a major force for the succession. There are many parts that convey a different performance style from the five central schools of Noh, and the costumes are also quite different. The musicians and kyogen actors are each professionals, but the waki roles are played by the shite actors. The jiutai is considered an honorary position for the elders. In addition to Kurokawa's original "Tokoro Bussoku no Okina" and "Daichifumi" performed by a young boy, there are 540 pieces, twice as many as the current pieces of the five schools, which are divided between the two theatres, but only about 100 are in regular use. There are also many performances of pieces that have disappeared from the five schools, such as "Kasui" and "Kanemaki." There was a time when the tradition of Kyogen was lost, and over 40 pieces are shared between the two theatres.

Life in Kurokawa for one year revolves around the Ougi Festival. On February 1st, the two theatres welcome the deity into their homes (chosen in order of longevity) and perform an all-nighter with candles lit indoors, and the following morning, the two theatres compete in Noh and festival activities on the stage of the worship hall of Kasuga Shrine, which has bridges on either side. Participation by outsiders is determined by lottery, with the Kurokawa Noh Preservation Society acting as the liaison office. In 1976, the performance was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and has also been performed in the United States.

[Masuda Shozo]

"Kurokawa Noh" by Makabe Hitoshi (1953, Kurokawa Noh Research Society)" ▽ "Kurokawa Noh" edited by Yokomichi Mario (1967, Heibonsha)" ▽ "Kurokawa Noh - Peasant Life and Art" by Makabe Hitoshi (1971, Japan Broadcasting Publishing Association)" ▽ "Illustrated Guide to Kurokawa Noh Masks" edited by Sonobe Kiyoshi and Masuda Shozo (1979, Tohoku Publishing Planning)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山形県鶴岡(つるおか)市黒川（旧櫛引(くしびき)町黒川）の春日神社(かすがじんじゃ)に奉仕する神事能。その伝承と規模の大きさ、組織の強固さは、他の民俗芸能に類をみない。2月1、2日の王祇祭(おうぎさい)が最大の祭りであるが、3月23日、5月3日、11月23日の各例祭のほか、7月15日には羽黒山で、8月15日には山形県鶴岡市の荘内(しょうない)神社でも演能がある。また、イベントとして、2月最終土曜日に春日神社において蝋燭(ろうそく)能、7月最終土曜日に櫛引地区の野外ステージで水焔の能が行われる。

　氏子であり農民でもある能役者はほぼ世襲で、およそ160名。伝承の経路、時期は明らかではないが、ある規模で意識的に能が村に導入されたと思われる。1689年（元禄2）には衰退したとしながらほぼ現在程度の規模であったという記録があることから、室町末期には定着していたと推測される。上座と下座に分かれ、それぞれの座長が統率する。この二つの座が競い合う形態が、継承のための大きな力となった。中央の五流の能とは別の演技様式を伝えている部分が多く、扮装(ふんそう)なども相当に異なる。囃子(はやし)方、狂言方はそれぞれの専門職であるが、ワキの役はシテ方から出る。地謡(じうたい)は長老の名誉職とされる。黒川独自の『所仏則(ところぶっそく)の翁(おきな)』、少年の勤める『大地踏(だいちふみ)』のほか、五流現行曲の2倍にもあたる540番と称する曲目は両座に二分されているが、常用は100番ほどである。『河水(かすい)』『鐘巻(かねまき)』など、五流に絶えた曲の上演も多い。狂言は一時伝承が絶えていた時期があり、40番余の曲目は両座共用とする。

　黒川の1年の生活は、王祇祭を軸として動いていく。2月1日、神体を迎えた両座の当屋（長寿の年齢順に選ばれる）で、室内に蝋燭を立て回しての徹夜の演能があり、翌朝からは左右に橋掛(はしがかり)をもつ春日神社拝殿の舞台で両座が能と祭事を競い合う。外来者の参加は黒川能保存会が窓口となって抽選による。1976年、重要無形民俗文化財に指定され、アメリカ公演も行われた。

［増田正造］

『真壁仁著『黒川能』（1953・黒川能研究会）』▽『横道萬里雄編『黒川能』（1967・平凡社）』▽『真壁仁著『黒川能――農民の生活と芸術』（1971・日本放送出版協会）』▽『薗部澄・増田正造編『黒川能面図譜』（1979・東北出版企画）』

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