History

The International Noh Institute was founded in 1986 by Udaka Michishige, master-actor of the Kongo School and master noh mask carver, in response to the urging of his international students and participants of intensive courses. Through INI programs Michishige taught students from all walks of life: actors, dancers, designers, mask makers, musicians, psychologists and scholars who came from countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Thailand, Spain, and the United States. He also trained four foreigners licensed as Noh instructors (shihan), Rebecca Teele Ogamo (the first foreigner to become a Noh Association member), John McAteer, and Monique Arnaud, INI representative in Italy, and Diego Pellecchia.