The Kyoto Cultural Arts Creation Hub Project

The Kyoto Cultural Arts Creation Hub Project — NOH AR Application was a pioneering initiative released in January 2018 that combined traditional Noh theater with augmented reality (AR) technology as part of the Cultural Arts Creation Hub program in Kyoto. The project developed an AR application that used wearable devices such as smart glasses to overlay 3D visualizations of Noh performers’ movements onto the real world, allowing audiences to experience the dynamic physicality of Noh in new, immersive ways. This AR experience was featured within the Japan Media Arts Festival Kyoto Exhibition “Ghost” at ロームシアター京都, where visitors could engage with traditional performing arts through interactive digital media. By digitally capturing and replaying the motion of master performers and blending it with AR, the project reimagined how classical Japanese performing arts can be appreciated in contemporary cultural contexts, bridging artistic heritage and cutting-edge technology.