The Japan Foundation will give a free introduction to the “Noh” style of Japanese performance on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

The lecture will cover the history of Noh and its continued status as live performing art, the meaning behind body movements and a short demonstration.

Noh is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed for more than 650 years. Its subjects are based on history or classical literature, and it is structured around song and dance. The most obvious characteristic of Noh is that the main actor performs while wearing a mask on stage.

Master Michikazu Taneda will give the demonstration. Taneda is a fourth-generation professional Noh performer (known as shokubun, and the highest level). He has been designated with an important intangible cultural heritage certification in Japan. He received the Best Young Artist Award by the city of Kyoto in 1993. He has lectured on Noh at the Urasenke Gakuen since 1981. He is also as a director of the Nohgaku Performers’ Association, vice director of the Kongo School of Noh, Urasenke Chado (tea ceremony master name: Sodo) and the chair for Noh performance of the Taneda Supporters’ Association.

The event location is at the Japan Foundation at 5700 Wilshire Blvd.

Admission is free. RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/noh-dance-noh-life-invitation-to-a-seven-century-long-tradition-tickets-41970430688.