“Noh always begins from the point where the play has ended.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「能は、いつも劇の終ったところからはじまる。」
English
“Noh always begins from the point where the play has ended.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima reflects on the nature of Noh, a traditional form of Japanese theater, emphasizing its unique structure and philosophy. The statement suggests that Noh does not simply begin with the initial action of a story, but rather starts at a point where the narrative has already reached its conclusion or culmination. This reflects a deeply philosophical view of the art form, where the performance is seen not just as a storytelling device but as a ritualistic expression of time, memory, and spirituality. Noh often deals with themes of death, the afterlife, and the passage of time, and by beginning where the action has already ended, it invites the audience to engage with the echoes and aftermath of the narrative, rather than its immediate plot.
Mishima’s observation underscores the timeless nature of Noh, where the present moment is always intertwined with the past, and the meaning of events is often understood only after they have transpired. This concept challenges the linear narrative structure typically seen in Western theater, where stories unfold from beginning to end. In Noh, the emotional and spiritual resonances of past actions, particularly those that have already concluded, are explored and brought to life in the present. This style reflects Mishima’s broader themes of impermanence, death, and the cyclic nature of existence, where the end of one thing leads to a new understanding or rebirth.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words about Noh may invite reflection on how closure and continuity are experienced in our own lives. In a world often obsessed with beginning and ending—in both stories and personal journeys—this view of Noh suggests that true understanding may come not in the immediate but in the reflection on what has already passed. Mishima’s perspective on Noh can also be applied to how we process our own experiences: life’s stories don’t always unfold in neat, linear patterns, but often require us to look back and find meaning in what has already ended.
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