Kan'ami

Kan'ami Kiyotsugu (観阿弥 清次, 1333 – June 8, 1384) was a Japanese Noh actor, author, and musician during the Muromachi period. Born Yūzaki Kiyotsugu (結崎 清次) in Iga Province, Kan'ami also went by Miyomaru (観世丸) and Kanze Kiyotsugu (観世 清次). Father of Zeami Motokiyo (世阿弥 元清).

In this Japanese name, the family name is Kanze and Yūzaki.

Theater

Kan'ami's career began in Obata when he founded a sarugaku theater group in the Kansai region on the main Honshu island. The troupe moved to Yamato and formed the Yuzaki theater company, which would become the school of Noh theater. He grew in popularity and began making trips to Kyoto to give performances. In 1374, the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was in the audience of a performance and was so impressed by it that he became Kan'ami's patron.

Kan'ami was the first playwright to incorporate the Kusemai song and dance style and Dengaku dances from rustic harvest celebrations. He trained his son Zeami Motokiyo in his style, and his son eventually succeeded him as director of the Kanze school of Noh. Kan'ami died in Suruga Province.

Notable works

Further reading
  • Encyclopædia Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, article- "Kan'ami"


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