Comic plays that evolved from the earlier tradition of sarugaku. Often part of a Noh performance or an independent piece performed between two Noh plays.

Short, satirical plays, providing comic interludes in No drama.

A comic interlude with masks, separating the acts of a Noh drama.

1) The independent, humorous plays performed between noh plays. 2) The interludes within noh plays are technically called aikyogen or simply ai. 3) The actors who perform both 1 and 2 ( kyogen kata). There are currently two schools of kyogen actors: Izumi and Okura. The Sagi school no longer performs.

Comical interludes between noh plays

Kyogen (Japanese: 狂言 Kyōgen, literally "mad words" or "wild speech") is a form of traditional Japanese theater. It developed alongside noh, was performed along with noh as an intermission of sorts between noh acts, and retains close links to noh in the modern day; therefore, it is sometimes designated noh-kyogen. However, its content is not at all similar to the formal, symbolic, and solemn noh theater; kyogen is a comical form, and its primary goal is to make its audience laugh.