What Are Noh Masks?

Noh masks are the masks worn by Noh actors in the traditional form of classical theatre. They have specific names and roles; their format being as set as the traditional theatre itself. Traditionally only the main actor will wear a mask but the secondary actor may wear a mask in certain circumstances. This is particularly common if the character is female, a deity or an animal.

The masks depict sex, age and status. There are masks for youths, whilst characters that are adult males in their twenties and thirties are represented by a bare face. The Noh mask also depicts emotion; they are designed to be able to show different emotions in relation to the angle of the head and lighting variations. This is particularly common in the female character masks. The most flamboyant masks are those of deities and monsters, but emotion is difficult to portray on these masks and so body movement and gesture are relied upon in these instances.