You don’t say which book you bought on Notan? I don’t have a particular book on it myself but there is usually brief mention of the term in books on Design.
Both “the Art of Color and Design” by Maitland Graves and “Art Structure” by Henry N. Rasmusen refer to it and put it into the broader context of Design.
As you know Notan is a traditional Japanese design concept involving the play and placement of light and dark elements usually presented in paint or ink using a flat pattern treatment.
Chiaroscuro is another way of using light and shade but in a naturalistic way, the two can be combined as in Dean Cornwell’s Library Murals.
And converted to grayscale to emphasise the design element.
Not sure how you want to use Notan but it’s best used for its decorative and design possibilities.
“What peaches and what penumbras! Whole families shopping at night! Aisles full of husbands! Wives in the avocados, babies in the tomatoes!—and you, Garcia Lorca, what were you doing down by the watermelons?”
— Allen Ginsberg
Are you ready for a Journey
PS Critiques always welcome but no plaudits or emoting please.