About us

Noh Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, cultural and educational organization based in New York. The Society’s mission is the promotion of classical Japanese arts in the US, through lectures and performances by acclaimed artists from Japan. Arts such as Noh, Kyogen, and Bunraku have long and illustrious histories in Japan, and provide deep insights into Japanese culture. We believe that bringing artists from these traditions - designated as “Intangible Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO - to the US, provides opportunities for deepening the understanding between the US and Japan.

Our History

Noh Society was founded in 2012 as Magnolia NY to promote Japanese arts and culture and changed its name from Magnolia NY to Noh Society when it was incorporated in New York State and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2016. Since then the Society’s mission has expanded to include sharing the profound traditional Japanese art forms like Noh, Kyogen and Bunraku.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Setsuko Tanaka Bouteillé     President                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Worked as a dentist for 5 years in Tokyo and came to New York in 1998 after living in France and Switzerland for a few years. In 2012 she founded Magnolia NY and organized numerous events and exhibitions of Japanese artists in New York and Kyoto to introduce traditional Japanese arts and culture. She then founded Noh Society to continue the promotion of Japanese arts and culture through Noh and Kyogen Theater.

Mayo Miwa   Vice President                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Mayo majored in Noh theater at Tokyo University of the Arts, trained at Kanze School in Japan. Since moving to New York she has been collaborating with artists from different media to develop the art of Noh in contemporary forms and to explore the physicality of traditional Noh theater. Since she joined Noh Society she has been actively facilitating Noh educational programs by Noh and Kyogen actors from Japan. 

Kaoru Yanase     Vice President                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Art Journalist, exhibition producer and curator. A member of AICA (International Art Critic Association). Has written and edited numerous exhibition catalogues and contributions to Japanese publications, including Artscape. Senior advisor and executive producer for Nakamura Keith Haring Museum in Japan.

Takayuki Sawano

VOLUNTEERS

Sylvain Bouteillé    Chief Financial Officer

Thomas Barratt        Photographer

Akiko Yamazaki-Kleps  Public Relations

Chie Fader Public Relations

Masaki Takizawa Production Team