masks

an extensive array of masks, some representing deities, others animals... here is a grinning face. and here's a scary -looking fox. Japanese masks are very diverse. masks play an important role in festivals. since ancient times, people in japan have be lived in a multitude of different deities. and festivals feature various deities as characters; people act out these roles wearing masks.
these characters delivering delightful dance moves are called HYOTTOKO and OKAME. they are familiar faces at some festival, which has been celebrated since around 17th century. HYOTTOKO is often regarded as a good of fire. His twisted mouth symbolizes him blowing on the fire to make it burn even more. And the plump female deity is OKAME, she is said to be a goddess of the arts who brings good fortune.

Masks become richly expressive the moment people put them on and begin preforming. This man is wearing a mask of DAIKOKUTEN, a god who brings wealth. With flowing hand ans arm movements, the wearer brings the mask to life. Japan's many deities have diverse powers. By wearing masks of various gods at festivals, people can assume their roles and dispense their respective blessings.

Another context in which masks play a major part is NOU Theatre.NOU is a performing art which uses dance to express the full range of human emotions. With minimal, high-precision movements, an actor conveys subtle shifts in mental state. Many female masks are used in NOU, Young women, fearsome crones, pure celestial maidens.

There are more than 20 kinds, each made for a specific character type. It is the NOU mask-makers who endow the masks with amazing expressiveness. the most difficult part of colouring a mask is harmonizing the light skin tone and the stark black lines of the eyes and hair. To achieve this, Indian ink is mixed aged soot. to give a deep , aged look to the mask , pigments that have been aged for three or four years are used, and several coats are applied over a period of one week, while using additional materials like soot for shading. bye employing a whole gamut of subtle techniques of this kind, an artisan breathes lift into a mask.

From festival masks to those used in performing arts... there are literally so many faces to japan masks.