"Noh & Animation Experience TOKYO 2026" runs July 26 to 30 at the Kanze Noh Theater, built around The World Is Dancing, a currently airing TV anime that follows the childhood of Zeami — the historical figure who perfected the art of Noh during the Muromachi period — back when he was known by his childhood name, Oniyasha. The series explores the question "Why do people dance?" through young Zeami's story, and the event brings that world into the very theater built on his legacy.
Saburota Kanze, eldest son of Kiyokazu Kanze — the 26th head of the Kanze school of Noh and a direct descendant of Zeami — serves as the event's special ambassador, appearing alongside voice actors from the anime across the event's talk sessions.
The event is designed to welcome visitors from abroad, with multilingual support throughout. Worth noting upfront: no live Noh performance is staged during the event itself — the program centers on screenings, talks, and hands-on experiences rather than a traditional stage performance.
Event Overview
| Dates | July 26 (Sun) to July 30 (Thu), 2026 |
| Hours | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (re-entry allowed; last admission 30 minutes before closing) |
| Venue | Kanze Noh Theater, B3F GINZA SIX, Tokyo |
| Admission | Premium Seat: JPY 2,000 (reserved, limited to 80 seats per day) / General Admission: JPY 1,000 / Free for ages 15 and under (a Premium Seat ticket is still required for reserved seating) |
| Organizer | Noh & Animation Committee |
| Sponsors | GINZA SIX Retail Management Co., Ltd.; The World Is Dancing Production Committee |
| Supported by | The Nohgaku Performers' Association, ORICOM CO., LTD., Nohgaku Pro Co., Ltd., Kanze Noh Theater |
| Program schedule | https://kanze.net/publics/index/824/ |
Admission may be restricted during periods of high attendance.
Stage Area: Screenings, Talks, and Workshops
The daily schedule varies — check the program link above for exact times.
Movie Screenings
- A specially edited presentation of Okina, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the Kanze Noh Theater
- A screening of The Spectacular Noh Trilogy: Gods, Demons, and Beauty
- A specially edited screening of The World Is Dancing, Episodes 1 and 2, with English subtitles
Talk Sessions and Workshops
Noh performers, voice actors, and members of the anime's production team appear throughout the event to talk about the craft of Noh and share behind-the-scenes stories from The World Is Dancing. Workshops cover the beauty of Noh masks and dance, with hands-on practice in basic Noh movements and stage techniques.
The guest lineup changes daily:
| Date | Noh Performer | Voice Actor | Also Featured |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 26 (Sun) | Kohei Kawaguchi | Yumiri Hanamori | Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (Director), Kan Mizoguchi (Animation Producer) |
| July 27 (Mon) | Saburota Kanze | Shimba Tsuchiya | Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (Director), Kan Mizoguchi (Animation Producer) |
| July 28 (Tue) | Saburota Kanze | Yoji Matsuda | Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (Director), Kan Mizoguchi (Animation Producer) |
| July 29 (Wed) | Saburota Kanze | Shimba Tsuchiya | Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (Director), Daisuke Shinoda (Music) |
| July 30 (Thu) | Saburota Kanze | Romi Park | ...and more |
Lobby Area: Mask Try-Ons and Anime Displays
Open throughout each day's operating hours, and photography is welcome here.
- An authentic Noh mask try-on experience booth
- A giant photo spot featuring The World Is Dancing artwork
- An exhibition of original animation drawings and related artwork
- The Kanze Noh Theater's original goods shop
Visitors who share photos from the event on social media during their visit can also enter a prize drawing for gifts.
Tickets
- Kanze Kai: on sale from July 3, 2026. Tel: +81-3-6274-6579 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM; closed Mondays). Online reservation and convenience-store ticket issuance at www.kanze.net.
- Ticket Pia: on sale from July 9, 2026. https://t.pia.jp (P-code: 661-584)
About The World Is Dancing
The World Is Dancing is based on the manga by Kazuto Mihara, serialized in Kodansha's weekly Morning magazine from 2021 to 2022 and collected into six volumes. It's also available digitally through Comic DAYS and Magazine Pocket.
The TV anime adaptation premiered in July 2026 and airs on TOKYO MX (Thursdays at 10:00 PM) and BS Asahi (Fridays at 11:00 PM), among nine networks nationwide, alongside major streaming platforms. Toshimasa Kuroyanagi directs, with Tsumura Reijiro supervising the Noh movement, Kaiji Moriyama on choreography, and Satoshi Nemoto on title calligraphy.
Official website: https://sh-anime.shochiku.co.jp/worldisdancing-anime/en/
