About This Print

One of 120 prints issued as part of the series Nōgaku hyakuban (One Hundred Prints of Noh), it depicts a scene from the play Kosode Soga by an unknown playwright but often attributed to Miyamasu (1482-1556.)  This print was originally released by the publisher Matsuki Heikichi in the twenty-fourth installment of prints in this series.  This series' prints were offered in monthly installments consisting of three prints packaged in an envelope with additional descriptive information.¹ 

Please see this collection's print Nōga taikan, Kosode Soga by Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927) for another scene from this play.

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.

1 “The series Nogaku hyakuban (100 No plays) by Tsukioka Kogyo (1869-1927),” Claus-Peter Schulz, Andon
67, Society for Japanese Arts, p. 28.

Print Details