Izutsu. Nögaku hyakuban

Noh theater originated in rituals related to the rice harvest at Buddhist temples. During the performance, the characters move slowly and gracefully across a nearly empty stage. Four musicians sit at the back of the stage, accompanying a kind of chorus that solemnly chants the story as the act unfolds. The main character often wears a mask representing a specific figure, such as a young man or a ghost. The mask's expression indicates the character's mood.

Tsukioka Kōgyō was the most important ukiyo-e artist to depict Noh theater. He created five series of prints throughout his life. The "Nōgaku hyakuban" series, produced between 1922 and 1926, consists of 122 vertical prints depicting 100 Noh plays; some of the prints are diptychs and triptychs.