Hazy-night Moon, no. 45 from the series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon

In Yoshitoshi’s Moon series, the moon is sometimes implied by the subject and not visible. This vivid print focuses on a nō actor wearing a mask and magnificent costume, who portrays the 12th-century bandit Kumasaka no Chohan 熊坂長範 in the play Kumasaka, by Zenchiku Ujinobu 禅竹氏信 (1414–1499).

Kumasaka and his followers attacked the famous hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune on a night in 1174. In the play, Kumasaka is confident that the darkness will aid his victory, saying, “The moon does not rise till dawn tonight; and even when she rises, she will be covered by clouds.”