Shinsenen Temple, Kyoto

In this classic Japanese performance art, masked actors entertain the audience with their animated gestures. Wearing colorful costumes and accompanied by gongs, flutes, and taiko drums, the actors perform at the historic Shinsenen temple. Kyogen, literally meaning “mad words,” is a traditional comedy that teaches Buddhist beliefs through comic stories. Unlike more widespread kyogen styles, all the actors wear masks and play without dialog in Shinsenen Kyogen.