Nō Masks: The Subtle, Shifting Faces of Japan’s Centuries-Old Performing Art

Ko-omote, a young woman’s mask. Kitazawa Hideta. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Transferring the pattern for an okina mask onto a block of cypress. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

The various stages of carving an okina mask. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Adding detail with a chisel. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

The lacquered interior of a nō mask. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Water-based pigments used by Kitazawa, mixed with gofun for the final touches. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Painting the mouth of a waka-onna (young woman) mask—an especially delicate task. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Hannya, an expression of a woman’s jealousy and rage. Kitazawa Hideta. (© Kitazawa Sōta)

A mask of a sacred old man used during the latter half of the play Okina. Kitazawa Hideta. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

A mask used in the kyōgen play Fuku no kami (The God of Fortune). Kitazawa Hideta. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Chisels used in mask carving, selected according to the stage of work. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

A chisel worn down after many years of use. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Kitazawa examining an okina mask in progress from different angles. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)

Kitazawa smiles while working on a waka-onna (young-woman) mask, vowing to continue honing his craft. (© Kuratani Kiyofumi)