About Noh Mask Atelier
“Omokage (the impression of someone)”
When you think of someone,
you may have an “image”- more precisely,
the person’s face itself in your mind.
The “face” symbolizes
the person’s existence itself.
The Noh Mask in the play also symbolizes
the whole feature of the Shite (main actor).
We are pinning our hopes
on the name of Atelier as Omokage,
with deep affection,
admiration and inexpressible
feeling towards the Noh Mask.
*Shite means main actor in Noh play.
The place where we weave tradition
Our atelier is located in the area of traditional
wooden townhouses (called Machiya),
near the center of Gion, Kyoto.
It faces Shinmonzen dori street,
where the antique shops stand side by side.
Shirakawa river, running at the back of the atelier,
brings the change of the seasons.
The Noh mask atelier Omokage is here,
operating in the 100 year-old traditional wooden
townhouse preserved in the area.
It serves as the place to pass down
the traditional crafting technique and is dedicated
for self-improvement in a quiet and honest manner.
Techniques appear in the Noh mask
When a Noh mask is slightly tilted, its facial expression changes suddenly as if the corner of its eyes and lips move.
Is this facial expression change caused by the imagination of the appreciator?
Due to the curving and coloring on the corners of the eyes and lips, the authentic Noh mask casts its eyes down, looks upwards, and looks sad or smiles.
How can the crafter give the Noh mask this “infinite expression”, which includes all emotions such as joy, anger and sorrow?
We believe that this is the profoundness of Noh mask crafting.
From person to person
The crafting of the Noh mask starts with cutting squared Japanese cypress timber, using a broad-bladed knife and saw.
Then using only an engraving knife and chisel, the craftsperson shapes the wood to make the face, followed by painting and finishing.
This process is done by one person.
In our atelier Mentsukasa Omokage, the masters hand down the skill of the predecessors to apprentices, which have been improved continually for 600 years.
One crafter’s search for skill over one’s entire life is a limited time: at our atelier, we inherit skill which has accumulated for many times more than one life, and help to hand it down to the next generation.
What is Noh mask?
“Noh” has more than 600 years of history and is called the “world’s oldest performing art”.
Even today, “Noh” is performed in the same traditional style from the past. It is a unique mask performance with high-spirituality. The most important and symbolic tool used in the play is the “Noh mask”. The multilayered facial expression of the Noh mask synchronizes with the physical expression of the Noh actors and can express the emotions freely.
About “Mentsukasa Omokage”
“Mentsukasa Omokage” is the Noh mask atelier which is operated by Noh mask craftswoman Mitsue Nakamura. It was established with the thought of protecting the Noh mask tradition and passing it on to the next generation.
She creates masks upon request, repairing and restoring masks, and operating the Noh mask crafting class with her disciples.
Noh mask crafting class
We offer Noh mask crafting classes in 3 locations in Japan: Kyoto (main class), Tokyo and Osaka. Participants can learn the entire hand crafting process – beginning with cutting a square log, using broad-bladed knife and saw, followed by carving and coloring.
We will give you the instructions to create Noh masks aiming at achieving the quality that is worth using in actual Noh performances.
