木賊山
Tokusa Yama – Noh: Poignant Separation & Reunion Tokusa Yama features the central figure from a noh play and chant, “Tokusa,” by the 14th-century genius Japanese playwright and philosopher Zeami. Tokusa is the horsetail plant, and the central character cuts horsetails for a living to make scouring brushes. In the play, his young son left home, went to Kyoto, and became a Buddhist monk. For most people in the 14th century, when people left home no one knew what became of them. The horsetail-cutter encounters a group of monks, shows them hospitality by inviting them to stay with him, and soon talks tearfully about his long-lost son, wondering what became of him. One of the monks reveals himself to be his son, and the two dance for joy.