Hagoromo (Celestial Maiden Robe) is one of the most popular Noh plays in Japan. One morning, a fisherman preparing to go fishing discovers a splendid robe hanging from a pine tree branch. As he is about to take it home, a celestial maiden appears, claiming the robe as hers. She explains that she cannot return to heaven without it. The fisherman agrees to return the garment in exchange for a dance. This song marks the poignant conclusion of the play, just before the angel gracefully ascends back to heaven. About Noh theater With a 600-year history, noh is a symbolic form of theater adapted from Japanese traditional literature. Originally performed for the shogun (the military ruling class) and nobility, it has over the centuries become a more popularized form of entertainment. Noh is a striking blend of traditional carved masks (omote), elaborate brocade costumes, and instruments, in which the main actors (shité), secondary actors (waki), musicians and chorus are perfectly synchronized. A key feature is the main actor, who wears an iconic mask representing his character, and who through symbolic and highly stylized movements expresses an elegant beauty and a deep feeling of humanity. The noh theater, or Nogaku-do, is an austere yet dignified space, with a stage designed around specific historical elements that heighten the experience of the traditional performance. As one of the oldest surviving forms of theater in the world today, noh has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, recognized as a classical form of Japanese dance and musical theater.