This ancient play from an unknown author depicts a scene from the life of one of Japan's most prominent heroes - Minamoto no Raiko. It is one of the most spectacular and action-oriented plays in the repertoire of Noh drama. The legendary hero, Lord Raiko, is bedridden with a mysterious illness. His servants bring him medicine and try to cheer him up, but to no avail. One night, a strange Buddhist priest enters Raiko's room. When asked to reveal his identity, he suddenly hurls a spider web at Raiko. The hero retaliates and manages to injure the fleeing attacker. Startled by the ruckus, Raiko's retainer, Hitorimusha, rushes into the room. He discovers a blood trail and decides to follow it in order to kill the fiend. The blood trail leads Hitorimusha and his men to a rock mound in Mount Kazuraki. The group demolishes the mound, and from within it appears the vicious monster-spider Tsuchigumo. After a fierce battle, the fiend is finally slain.