Monkey-music moon (Sarugaku no tsuki)

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon # 92

Sarugaku (literally Monkey-music) involved acrobatics, juggling, and mime, combined with drum dancing. It is considered to have been one of the sources from which the Noh theatre developed. The people passing behind a rather stern and aloof looking samurai rush to find seats for the New Year Sarugaku performance on the grounds of Edo Castle. The samurai may be the envoy that was yearly sent by the emperor in Kyoto, as the on stage screen shows a red-crowned crane and the rising sun, both symbols of the imperial family.

Condition: This print is not backed, thin spot on top left corner, some staining as shown.

Date: May 1888

Publisher: Akiyama Buemon.