Hōshō (宝生) is a Japanese theatrical school that specializes in Noh (能), a classical musical drama of the country. There are five schools that specialize in shite (シテ, the role of protagonists in Noh): Kanze (観世), Hōshō (宝生), Kita (喜多), Kongō (金剛) and Komparu (金春). All schools except Kita were founded in Nara about 600 years ago. Kanze, Hōshō and Kita (derived from Kongō during Edo period) are mainly based in Tokyo.
Hōshō is the second largest of the schools (the largest being Kanze) and owns the main Noh theater in Bunkyō, near Tokyo Dome; most Noh players who attend the school live in Tokyo, including the Sōke (宗家, the hereditary head of the family). Kanazawa(金沢, the capital of Kaga province) has also been famous for Noh of Hōshō; the feudal lords of Kaga were ardent patrons of Hōshō Noh style. Similarly to Tokyo and Kanazawa, Hōshō was popular in Sado, Kurume, Nagoya and Kyoto.
The style of Hōshō is expressed as "introspective", compared to Kanze. The choreography of Hōshō is simpler and more abstract, which may be more difficult to interpret. The Hōshō school also has a complex musical scale in their songs, called Utai (謡). Utai generally has many different notes and melodies that frequently rise and fall. Due to its own system of Utai, they have called the school "Utai Hōshō".
Hosho gives performances several times a month, in both Tokyo and Kanazawa. In Tokyo, it organises two series of monthly performances by professional actors: "Goun (五雲, five clouds)", and "Tsukinami (月並, performed monthly)". The name of "Goun" comes from the symbol of Hōshō, which is drawn on fans during Hōshō training.