Noh master teacher Kanze Yoshimasa awarded Foreign Minister’s Commendation

28 August 2025 — Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) is delighted to share that our long-time master teacher, Kanze Yoshimasa, has been awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation by the Government of Japan for his invaluable contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding through Noh. The commendation was announced by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be conferred on 5 September 2025.

ITI Executive Director Justin Deimen said:

“ITI is deeply proud that our long-time master teacher, Mr Kanze Yoshimasa, has been awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation by the Government of Japan for his invaluable contributions to cultural exchange. For over two decades, he has shared the spirit and discipline of Noh with ITI students, shaping our intercultural training in ways that resonate far beyond our hill in Singapore. This recognition honours not only Mr Kanze’s artistry, but also ITI’s world-renowned pedagogy – a testament to the strength of our programme and the kind of transformative training that continues to attract and inspire students from around the world.”

This year, as ITI marks its 25th anniversary, we also celebrate our enduring partnership with master teachers Kanze Yoshimasa, Kuwata Takashi, and the Kanze Kyuhkoh-kai (Kanze School of Noh). For over two decades, they have returned to Singapore to share the wisdom and techniques of their centuries-old art form, allowing each ITI cohort to experience the rigour, discipline, and artistry of Nohgaku: a masterclass in minimalism and control, subtlety and precision — learned through movement, chanting, masks, and props. Their teaching keeps this remarkable tradition alive, inspiring a new generation of theatre artists.