Noami (能阿弥)

Noami (1397 - 1471) is a painter, master of ceremonial tea, and a renga (linked poem) poet who lived during the Muromachi period. His real name is Saneyoshi NAKAO. His hogo (a Buddhist name) is Shinno. He has Osai and Shun O Sai shi as his go, or names other than his real name. Geiami is Noami's son, and Soami is Noami's grandson.

Originally a subordinate of the Echizen-Asakura clan, Noami served Yoshinori ASHIKAGA and Yoshimasa ASHIKAGA as a member of Doboshu (Shogun's cultural curators or experts) and called himself Noami; and he appraised and managed things imported from China such as paintings and writings, and he also established higashiyama gyomotsu (things, such as paintings, tea utensils, flower vases, collected by Yoshimasa ASHIKAGA, shogun of the Muromachi bakufu - Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun). Noami was especially excellent at Suiboku-ga (ink painting) and is considered the founder of the Ami-ha group of painters; and it is said that Noami's painting of cranes was highly praised by Yoshimasa. The 'Hakui Kannon zu' (painting of Kannon (Buddhist deity of mercy - wearing white) in Myogon-in, Sennyu-ji Temple was painted by Noami in 1471. In Sado (tea ceremony), Noami completed the shoin kazari (decoration of shoin (one of Japan's most important residential architectural styles, established in the Momoyama period - rooms and buildings) and established the formalities for daisu kazari (decorating the utensil stand), among other achievements, and is described as an 'expert of the companions' in "Yamanoue no Soji ki" (book of secrets written by YAMANOUE no Soji, best pupil of SEN no Rikyu, a great tea master). Furthermore, Noami also excelled at renga and kado (flower arrangement); and he was named one of the Seven Wise Men in Renga and served Renga Bugyo (magistrate of renga party) of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.

Noami is the author of "Kundaikansochoki" (book of secrets about zashiki-kazari - decoration of room or study with shoin).
(Kundaikansochoki was completed by Soami)

[Original Japanese]