Takigi Noh, or Firelight Noh, performed here originated in a Bugaku performance (court dance and music), which was part of the event of welcoming firewoods needed for the ceremony of Shuni-e at the Kofuku-ji Temple, one of the most important rituals. Generally speaking, this type of Noh is an outdoor play which originally started in the Heian period developed from Sarugaku, the prototype of the traditional Japanese farce. In the Muromachi period when Sarugaku was perfected, it reached its zenith with four troupes elegantly performing it. In the Edo period, two out of three troupes except Kanze Troup performed it annually by turns for 7 days from February 5, with the Noh charge of 300 koku given by the government, which is equivalent to money to buy rice feeding 300 people for one year.
In the present day, there is a rite called Shishibashiri on May 11 at the Kasuga Grand Shrine, and a rite called Gosha-nobori is conducted on May 12 at the Wakamiya Shrine. Both rites begin to be carried out at 11 o'clock in the morning. At 4 p.m. on both days, another rite called Nandaimon is held on the lawn of Han'nya (meaning wisdom), where the South Great Gate of Kofuku-ji Temple once stood. This ceremony is followed by the Noh plays which are performed by the four troupes: Komparu, Kongo, Hosho and Kanze, together with traditional farce called kyogen. The dancing figures lit up by the burning fire are reminiscent of the 1,000 year-old history.
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