Izutsu
is a classic Noh play written by Zeami, the dominant figure in the early history of Noh theatre. Izutsu is based on an old story, Tsutsu-Izutsu (筒井筒), from the Ise monogatari, a 10th-century collection of stories, many of which are based on stories about the romantic encounters of a "certain man", traditionally identified as the poet Ariwara no Narihira. Tsutsu-Izutsu A boy and a girl knew each other from early childhood. They were good friends and one of their games was to see who was taller by measuring each other against the local well. As they grew older, they began to feel more self-conscious in each other's company and they drifted apart, although they continued to love each other. The girl's parents offered to find her a husband, but she declined as she still had feelings for the boy. The boy eventually composes a tanka: 筒井筒 井筒にかけし まろがたけ 生いにけらしな 妹見ざる間に The wooden frame [of the well]... I was shorter than the frame [when we last compared our heights], but I have outgrown it in your absence. The girl replies: くらべこし ふりわけ髪も 肩過ぎぬ 君ならずして 誰かあぐべき We compared the lengths of our hair also, but my hair has grown past my shoulders.