Matsui Akira

Matsui Akira is an actor-teacher of the Kita School of classical noh based in Wakayama, Japan. He began studying noh at the age of 7 and took on numerous child roles.

At age 12, he became a ‘live-in apprentice’ to Kita Minoru the 15th head of the Kita School. He has for over 50 years been active teaching, performing and collaborating with international performers in over 25 countries.

In 1998, he was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Asset by the Japanese government and has been awarded four major cultural prizes from the Wakayama Prefectural and City governments.

In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London.