Noh is a classical Japanese performance art which developed into its present form during the 14th and 15th centuries under the patronage of the shogunate. Noh drama consists of dance and music. Utai-bon, a book of lyrics, was made for each song in the drama. Noh was most popular during the 17th century. The ruling class regarded Noh as one of their favorate hobbies. So many Utai-bon, Noh libretti, were published during the 17th century. This is one of them.

This is a part of an Utai-bon of Kanze-ryu, one of the schools of Noh, printed with wooden types during the Keicho period (1596-1615). There are 100 poems in 100 volumes, and this is one of them, titled "Akogi" or "Akoki." The types in this book are the Koetsu school style. The Koetsu school's Utai-bon are divided into several groups according to the decorations and printing style. This book is of the "special style" as it has mica-like patterns all over the covers and pages. "Special style" books are the most beautiful of all those of the Koetsu school because they have delicate decorations in every part of the book.

"Akogi" is the name of the bay, Akogi-ga-ura. Akogi Bay was in the sacred domain of the Ise Shrine where fishing was prohibited. In this Noh drama, the ghost of a fisherman who had been put to death by drowning for fish poaching in Akogi Bay tells his story of agony. Ghosts or the restless dead, recounting their own tragedies, is one of the most typical story patterns in Noh drama.

*You can see the whole text (Japanese only) and images of this book in the Rare Books Image Database in the NDL website.