Image Missing: Hearst Museum object titled Netsuke, accession number 9-7429, described as Netsuke: Noh musician (Manzai dancer), wearing hat, carrying drum. Gown decorated with white crane designs. ••According to the donor's catalog: "Netsuke in ivory of a Ho-musician. He is capped-standing and carries the Ho-drum. He is laughing and his face is clever with all of the verve of the artist. His gown with white cranes the Mon of the ancient feudal family Nambu of Mutsu, one of the key old feudal families which emerged from the hundred years of war in 1600. The Ho plays were organized by Kitanami (a Shinto priest not of low rank) and his son Isami in the reign of Shogun Yashimitsu circa 1363-1444. They were characterized by the wisdom of the obvious, light, illusive and leading the audience to suppose rather than conclude. The actors were accompanied by the Ho music and dancing—sometimes with the actors—sometimes as was the Greek chorus as an explanation of what was to come. The singing was never part-singing. The music the Ho drama and flutes had intricate control over every postured gesture and rhythmic utterance of the actor. The Ho was set aside by Arai Hakuseki soon after 1710. He was a Confucian scholar and high minister to the Shogunate and persuaded the Shogun (who reluctantly) under Hakuseki's advice replaced the Ho plays with ancient Confucian drama.