The Importance of Subtle Movement and Stillness in Japanese Dance Movement Therapy

This chapter provides an insight into dance/movement therapy in Japan. In it Miyuki Kaji particularly addresses healing through the Japanese traditional performing art of ‘Noh’. DMT was introduced to Japan in the 1980s. Ways of expression, physical skills and a concept of the body that is unique to Japanese culture have been incorporated into Japanese DMT methods. In this chapter, Kaji discusses characteristics of Japanese DMT from the viewpoint of the healing capability of the Noh, one of the Japanese traditional performing arts, and is considered representative of Japanese ways of expression and views of the body. A case described in this chapter provides an example of Japanese style DMT, which holds a similarity to Noh training.