Hōshō (Noh school)

Hōshō (宝生) is a Japanese theatrical school. It specializes in Noh (能), a classic musical drama. Five schools specialize in shite (シテ, the role of protagonists in Noh): Kanze (観世), Hōshō (宝生), Kita (喜多), Kongō (金剛) and Komparu (金春). All schools except Kita were founded in Nara around 600 years ago. Kanze, Hōshō and Kita (derived from Kongō during Edo period) are mainly based in Tokyo, Japan.

Hōshō is the second largest of the schools (Kanze is the largest) and holds the main Noh theater in Bunkyō, near Tokyo Dome. Most Noh players who attend the school live in Tokyo, including the Sōke (宗家, the hereditary head of the family). Kanazawa (金沢, the capital of Kaga province) has been famous for Noh of Hōshō; the feudal lords of Kaga were ardent patrons of Hōshō Noh style. Similarly to Tokyo and Kanazawa, Hōshō was popular in Sado, Kurume, Nagoya and Kyoto.