Katsukawa Shunzan

The story of the pine spirit Takasago (identified by the rake), who every night visited his love (represented by the broom) at Sumiyoshi, is taken from a famous No play. In addition to symbolizing the pines for which these two places were famous, the two spirts also stand for eternal fidelity and longevity.

The image of a bamboo broom and rake underneath an ancient pine tree alludes to a famous Noh play in which the pine spirits of Takasago and Sumiyoshi (two scenic places once blessed with beautiful pine trees) symbolize not only two of Japan's earliest, most important anthologies of poetry, the Manyoshu (8th century) and the Kokinshu (10th century), but also longevity and conjugal devotion.

In the drama, the pine spirits are personified by an elderly, loving couple. The old man, who carries a rake, journeys nightly from Sumiyoshi to visit his wife in Takasago, who holds a broom. His eternal devotion makes the theme a celebratory motif, and it is still customary to recite lines from this play at wedding ceremonies.