About This Print

One of 200 prints issued as part of the series Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays) depicting a scene from the play Kosode Soga by an unknown playwright but often attributed to Miyamasu (1482-1556.)

The Play - Kosode Soga

Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 85-86.
Characters:
tsure - the mother of the Soga brothers; kyōgen - Kasuga no Tsubone, their old nurse; shite - Soga no Jūrō; tsure - his younger brother Gorō; tsure -  Danzaburō and Oniō, two retainers.

United in their resolve to take advantage of an approaching hunting expedition to kill their father's enemy, the Soga brothers return home to take leave of their mother.  But the younger one, Gorō is disowned by her for going against her wishes by abandoning the priesthood, and she refuses to forgive or even to see him.   Jūrō (the older brother) then tells her that she can have no love for him either if she would send him off on the dangerous mission alone and, with these words, goes to leave.  At this, however, his mother relents and, calling them both to her, pardons Gorō and gives them her blessing.  Overjoyed at this, the brothers perform a dance together and then take a final farewell of their mother.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#596
Title	Kosode Soga  小袖曾我
Series	Nōga taikan 能画大鑑 (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays or A Great Mirror of Noh Pictures or A Great Collection of Noh Pictures)
Artist	Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927)
Signature	Kōgyo
Seal	Kōgyo seal
Date	1925-1930
Edition	unknown
Publisher	Seibi Shoten (or Seibi Shoin), Tokyo
Carver	Uchida Eikichi
Printer	Yoshida Takesaburō
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	excellent
Genre	ukiyo-e
Miscellaneous
Format	oban yoko-e
H x W Paper	9 3/4 x 14 3/4 in. (24.8 x 37.5 cm)
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