As to Shinsaku-Noh works created before World War II, many works employing the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and the Pacific War as their subject matters were produced ('Takachiho,' 'Kaisen' (marine battle), 'Seiro-no-dan' (Story of Conquering Russia), 'Ko-gunkan' (Imperial battle ship), 'Uchiteshi-yamanu' (shooting goes on), 'Gyokusai' (to die in battle rather than surrender), etc).
第二次大戦前の新作能では、日清戦争や日露戦争、太平洋戦争に題材を取ったものも数多く制作された（「高千穂」「海戦」「征露の談」「皇軍艦」「撃ちてし止まむ」「玉砕」など）。