Actor in the Role of the Dragon God Kasuga 1925 - 1928

Tsukioka Kôgyo created this print of an actor in the role of the Dragon God Kasuga sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kôgyo dedicated his career to Noh prints during the Meiji period, a time when Japan was modernizing and traditional arts faced an uncertain future. Here, the actor’s elaborate costume and mask transform his identity, embodying the powerful deity. The dragon god is associated with water, rain, and agricultural fertility, and the actor mediates between the human and divine realms. During these performances, gender and class distinctions are blurred, offering a space for alternative narratives. The actor's body becomes a site of cultural expression, where ancient myths are reimagined and made relevant for a contemporary audience. Kôgyo’s print invites us to consider how we embody and perform our own identities, and how cultural traditions shape our sense of self.