Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2024 - 13

Shikami mask made by Udaka Keiko. | Photo by Diego
Pellecchia
In addition to the original mask and katagami templates, students also look at research pictures of the mask
from several angles when carving. | Photo by Alessia Carpoca
Two cords of braided silk are attached to
small holes at the sides of the mask and
tied behind the actor's head.
Noh masks are actually quite small.
Young women masks. | Photo by Alessia Carpoca
comfortable. I paint the back of the mask
with urushi lacquer. Urushi is made from
the sap of the Japanese urushi tree. It
makes the mask strong and protects the
mask from the performer's perspiration. "
According to her father, Udaka
Michishige, " The slightest alteration
to the way the wood is shaved from the
back of the mask can profoundly influence
how easy it is for an actor to chant
or speak, and without ample space
around the mouth, the voice will not
carry properly. In otoko-men especially,
the depth of the mouth influences how
the voice is projected in lower registers;
thus to those on stage, are also musical
instruments " (Udaka 2010, 105).
Today, masks are not usually made to
fit a specific actor's face. Small cushions
made of paper or cloth (men-ate) are attached
to the back of the mask to keep
it from being in direct contact with the
skin of the actor and adjust the angle.
This prevents sweat from damaging the
masks, but also helps the actor breathe
with more ease. In addition, the space between
mouth and mask allows the voice
to reverberate. Usually, three cushions
are used-a larger one for the forehead,
and two smaller for the cheeks. Using
a mirror and consulting with assistants,
actors check the uke (angle) of the mask.
" Japanese faces are in general small, but
Noh masks are made even smaller than
that. From the audience's distance, especially
taking to consideration the size and
bulk of the costumes, the face appears
small, " explains Keiko. " It is an aesthetic
choice emphasized by the size of the costume.
It also helps to reinforce the theme
of the supernatural. If the face of the actor
is long, the mask is then tied up high
to still show the chin. Having a small
face is a standard that sets someone
apart as not being an ordinary person.
It's about creating an illusion, making it
more beautiful or seems like something
other than human. When I use a mask
in demonstrations, my face gets fully covered.
When women perform Noh, sometimes
they use a slightly reduced size for
their faces, masks created specifically
for them. It's about making them appear
smaller, perhaps around four heads tall,
creating a certain visual effect. However,
sometimes, this reduction can feel a bit
awkward. So, for women, I've created a
slightly reduced size to provide them a
similar effect. Beauty standards in Japan
generally favor a long neck, small face,
and tall stature. Also, a flawless light skin
complexion. The number of women performing
Noh is increasing, but women
have been performing Noh since the
Showa era. "
ISSUE 3, 2024 | THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY | 13

Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2024

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