Special Exhibition Commemorative International Symposium 
"The Tale of Genji and Noh: New Narrative Interpretations through English Translation"  
October 25, 2026

The Tale of Genji has had a wide-ranging influence not only as a literary work but also as a quintessential representation of Japanese culture. This symposium, which is being held in conjunction with the Kyoto National Museum’s autumn special exhibition The Tale of Genji: Radiant Culture of the Japanese Imperial Court, reconsiders from an international perspective the significance and appeal of Noh theater plays based on themes from the classical novel—popularly known as “Genji Noh.” The kinds of costumes and masks used in Genji-themed Noh plays are a special focus of the exhibition at its Kyoto venue.
British scholar and translator Arthur Waley (1889–1966) was inspired to undertake a complete English translation of The Tale of Genji after seeing paintings based on the tale while working as a keeper at the British Museum. His The Tale of Genji (1925–1933) generated tremendous interest in Europe and North America. Immediately before translating Genji, he had published The Nō Plays of Japan (1921), a collection of English translations of Japanese Noh plays.
This symposium considers, from the perspectives of cultural context and contemporary performing arts, how The Tale of Genji and the theatrical tradition of Noh have intertwined in shaping images of Japanese culture, and how viewing them through an international perspective can deepen our understanding of both.
*Advance registration is required. If you wish to participate, please register via this page.