99. Saga Moor moon (Sagano no tsuki)

In the Noh play "Kogo", the heroine Kogo no Tsubone (1159-1180) is a beautiful and accomplished koto player, and a concubine of Emperor Takakura. When her life is threatened by Taira no Kiyomori, because an eventual son would endanger the position of the Taira clan, she flees to a remote cottage in Saga. This scene illustrates the moment when Minamoto no Nakakuni, who was sent by the emperor to find her, recognizes her koto playing, and draws out his flute to answer her music. (printed 1891)