< Kyogen (Comic Plays) > Kyogen is closely connected with noh, with these two arts collectively called nohgaku. They are often likened to nonidentical twins in that although they are distinct from each other in appearance and style they both have the same origin and are still performed alternately on the same stage. Noh mainly expresses profound poetic beauty, depicting stories of warriors who fought the Taira-Minamoto War or other famous battles, or episodes from ancient literature including the Tale of Genji. In contrast, kyogen is based on ordinary events happening in daily life, depicting such characters as easygoing feudal lords, the mischievous servant Taro-kaja, bogus mountain priests, merchants, and even animals. While the focus is on comedy, kyogen uses wide-ranging elements of humor in its performance, from happy congratulatory laughter as in the saying, “Laugh and grow fat,” to satire on social contradictions. This feature of kyogen provides a sense of familiarity. Even so, the laughter in kyogen is more than a mere reaction to prankish behavior; it is also the laughter of pure pleasantness, of sophisticated depth refined over generations. As a traditional performing art with more than 600 years of history, kyogen has various conventions and rules regarding its performance. But the best way to appreciate kyogen is just to sit back and sense the depth of humor. Feel free to relax and enjoy the show! (Kyogen and Osaka) Military commander TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi, who established a basis for Osaka as it is today, is said to have practiced kyogen in addition to his passion for noh. Written records indicate that he performed kyogen in the presence of the emperor in 1593.

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