Izutsu

Izutsu as depicted by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in a Meiji period woodblock print

• Author: Zeami
• Japanese: 井筒 (Izutsu)

Izutsu is a third-category Noh play, composed by Zeami Motokiyo, a particularly representative play of that category (women plays).

Based on the 23rd chapter of the Tales of Ise, the lead (shite) role is that of the ghost of a lover of Ariwara no Narihira, who recalls fondly playing around a well with Narihira when they were both young. In the play, she appears at the Buddhist temple housing his grave, her soul still attached to this realm and unable to rest because of her undying longing for him.

References

• Shelley Fenno Quinn, Developing Zeami, University of Hawaii Press (2005), 124.