Why Are NOH Masks So Scary?

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Let's ask Shogo | Your Japanese friend in Kyoto

Күн бұрын

Even if you’re not a noh theater trainee like I am, I’m sure you’ve seen noh masks somewhere before. They often show up in many anime and video games as something scary but many of my friends don’t even know about their connections with the traditional stage culture. Noh theater is a mask play, so obviously they are crucial items within the show.
However, if they are simply stage items, why are they all so scary looking? Is NOH all about horror stories and ghosts?
Today, as a noh theater trainee in Kyoto, I will talk about the history of both noh theater and noh masks and explain what the 3 most famous noh masks represent.
Also at the end of the video, I will talk about the 3 reasons why noh masks are created to be so spooky and scary, so I hope you can enjoy this video till the end.
Deepening your understanding towards noh masks will not only be a chance for you to know more about the traditional theater art, but it will also allow you to enjoy anime and video games that they appear in too.
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Kongo School Noh “雪 Yuki/Snow”
• Noh -- "雪 (Yuki/Snow)"...
[Time codes]
0:00 Let's START!
1:54 The History of Noh and Noh Masks
5:13 The Three Major Noh Masks
8:32 Why Noh Masks are Creepy
13:03 Today's Conclusion
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I’m Shogo, a Kyoto born & Hiroshima raised Japanese, that grew up in Michigan USA for 6 years, and studied Mandarin in Beijing university for a year! I live in Kyoto now, as I train in Iaido(katana), Sado(tea ceremony), and Noh theatre(traditional stage art).
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Пікірлер: 440

@PeteSaJut6499 2 жыл бұрын

I guess you could say, this was a video with a lot of NOHwledge

@LetsaskShogo 2 жыл бұрын

😎😎😎

@risingstar9903 2 жыл бұрын

We got a pun lad!

@chrismayer3919 2 жыл бұрын

HEY! I do the bad puns around here; it’s NOH contest!!!

@mpgguy566 Жыл бұрын

567 likes with the creator replying and 4 replys CRAZY

@Red80008 Жыл бұрын

I NOH, right?

@JosephKerr27 2 жыл бұрын

I agree that portraying multiple emotions is the most fascinating aspect of these masks. When I learned that a simple tilt up or down of the head could change emotions, I immediately appreciated the genius of using forced perspective in such a way. Truly worthy of UNESCO designation!

@TokyoPinkCatGirl 2 жыл бұрын

I feel like another reason for why they look scary is cause of "uncanny valley". You see it a lot when video games try to make hyper realistic models, but just "aren't quite right", such as how they move.

@ChickinSammich 2 жыл бұрын

I thought the same as well!

@games_on_phone89 2 жыл бұрын

that's just what i thought about

@bravomike4734 2 жыл бұрын

Except this isn't an hyper realistic attempt so I don't think it's that. I think its seriously because of the mixture of the expressions in the masks.

@Algorithm_God_Cult 2 жыл бұрын

@@bravomike4734 it's almost that, it works like the Michael Myers mask, it's a human face, but the static expression of the face causes discomfort because it has no reactions, it resembles a human, but it doesn't act like a human

@ChloeKruegerSenpai 10 ай бұрын

@@Algorithm_God_Cult meanwhile Jason Voorhees's Mask *Hockey intensiifies*

@kamikaze00007 2 жыл бұрын

I remember hearing somewhere that one of these Noh masks actually change expressions from smiling to frowning when you look at it at an angle from either above or below. It's supposed to be a purposely engineered design feature and making a mask that is able to properly accomplish that illusion is what differentiates a master Noh mask craftsman from a novice. Is this true?

@LetsaskShogo 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for leaving a comment! And yes I believe that is true✨

@skye387 2 жыл бұрын

I'd love to actually see that effect :0

@mikotagayuna8494 2 жыл бұрын

At this point, it is easier to list aspects of Japanese culture that Shogo is NOT training in. Gotta admire the energy and enthusiasm.

@sourround2002 2 жыл бұрын

I took drama courses in highschool where we learned about different theater arts from various cultures. When we learned about Noh, we were taught about how the single mask was used to convey multiple expressions by tilting the mask up or down (I didn't know about left and right) and I thought that was very clever. Using the masks to portray gods and spirits reminds me also of how ancient Greek theater would use masks to portray their gods as well!

@user-kv4yb8ec8i 2 жыл бұрын

OH MY GOD THE LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE BEING DIFFERENT EMOTIONS BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE THEATERS IS GENIUS!!!! You get the impression of the right side first, and as they leave, their hidden inner face Wow

@Player-re9mo 2 жыл бұрын

Shogo: What does this mask represent? Me: A fat white man Shogo: A beautiful young woman Me: 🤯

@eeeithan6588 2 жыл бұрын

White is more for skin tone not the asian, African, american, europian thing.

@Player-re9mo 2 жыл бұрын

@@eeeithan6588 well, I was referring to the skin color, not the race.

@amosamwig8394 2 жыл бұрын

@@eeeithan6588 We dont say white in europe aswell, we refer to ethnicity

@TimothyLau55 Жыл бұрын

Me: so beautiful 😍

@secangkir-kopiplaymate1765 2 жыл бұрын

So It's like in every culture of many countries while they are doing something with Mask, they are going into Trance Mode.

@astranova970 2 жыл бұрын

I had the female mask at the front entrance of my house in Japan. It was creepy but I felt kind of 'protected' as she watched the visitors that entered my house.

@bill6177 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you for this video. These are questions I've had for a long time. Even native Japanese people I've asked really had a hard time explaining this to me.

@sydneymulder9930 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video! I'm in the middle of a project for my Japanese art class and the topic I'm covering is Noh masks, so this is super helpful!

@LetsaskShogo 2 жыл бұрын

I am very happy that you say so😊

@foderator8277 2 жыл бұрын

played Tomb Raider, and they introduced these mask changing expressions simply by tilting it up and down truly a cool way to showcasing it in the game

@risingstar9903 2 жыл бұрын

That kind of trick does also exist

@jorgegarzon1269 2 жыл бұрын

I watched two noh plays in Japan, and was amazed by the masks and the music. I didn't know about the left-right differences! :)

@RDAalltheway 2 жыл бұрын

Do you know who’s face this is? Me: Noh

@sevenproxies4255 2 жыл бұрын

As my profile picture might reveal: i'm somewhat fascinated with masks and mask making (the one in the picture is my own creation). I've always liked the hannya mask the most. I especially like the very stylized ones where the facial features have very sharp corners and angles. I'd like to get a hard plastic one someday to work on and adding lights to it.

@duVallonFecit 2 жыл бұрын

Really surprising to know that Noh theatre started so late!!!! It reminds the origins of western theatre in archaic Greece (6th-5th centuries BC), when mithological stories were played with masks of the gods. They believed that the spirit of the divinity entered in the body of the masked person (it was called "enthusiamos"). Also the time Noh was a street performance and a funny show resembles the "pantomima" made by ancient Romans. Historians and archaeologists had found lot of evidences that religious/mythological plays with masks were played by shamans since prehistoric times all around the globe. So I really believed Noh was a kind of theatre that came from the origins of Japan history.

@xaagripha7326 2 жыл бұрын

the poly expression is what creeps people out. the faces of those masks will make one project ones introspective reflection upon it and be over stimulated do to it, the faces of these masks will also boast a void like feeling associated with emotionless predatory behavior. its actually the same reason venetian masks are creepy as well as Micheal Myers mask.

@patrickstewart3446 2 жыл бұрын

There’s a documentary (circa 1979) called “Budo: the Art of Killing” that uses Noh actors to segue between the different weapons. Appropriately, the Ko-Omote mask was used for the naginata. 🙂

@DarksteelHeart 2 жыл бұрын

I learned about the Noh Hannya mask because of Majima Goro's Yakuza back tattoo. Hannya has a pretty intense story and it's very fitting for Goro-San.

@billspooks 2 жыл бұрын

Again, as before, Thank You SO Much...!!! I wanted to know more about these masks after seeing Ghibli Studios, "Spirited Away" in which the "No Face Man" wears this mask. They are SO COOL. You put an enormous amount of work into making such wonderful videos.

@easterntrees 2 жыл бұрын

Shogo, thank you for this excellent video. I'm interested in many traditional japanese performing arts, but often western resources discussing them are lacking. I would much rather learn from a japanese person, and you are very skilled at conveying these difficult to explain intangible cultural concepts. would you consider making a video on bunraku? I'm extremely interested in it in particular, and it seems to be the art form on which there is the least amount of information in english. thank you for all your hard work!

@martag029 2 жыл бұрын

What a fascinating video, Shogo! I think the masks of the women are creepier than the demons because they are more lifelike but odd and uncanny.

@robertcontignon 2 жыл бұрын

I completely loved your lesson about the Noh masks ! 😃 This video is perfectly structured and hence very easy to follow. 🙂 You explain things with lots of passion and in a funny way so that I feel very passionate as a spectator. 😄 Thanks to you, I completely understand the history of Noh masks and theater and have a new look on it ! 😊 You are the best teacher for learning about Japanese culture, Shogo san ! 😃

@nero6271 2 жыл бұрын

My obsession with Noh theater started thanks to Tekken 6’s Noh Theater stage. The music, the visuals. It genuinely made fall in love with this aspect of Japanese culture.

@RubykonCubes3668 2 жыл бұрын

That was such a relaxing and interesting video! Tbf, now that i've learned about Hannya's backstory (which i also thought was meant to be a demon or sth like it), i smh feel sympathetic? She seems to be that one tragic character, so looking at the yet still oddly unsettling mask also makes me feel kind of bittersweet.

@WaveLissy 2 жыл бұрын

When I remember this right... there was an episode of Inu Yasha whith a cursed Noh mask.... it scared me so much, when I was younger And thank you for this amazing video! This topic is so interesting! Have a nice day 😊

@AmyraCarter 2 жыл бұрын

Ko' Omote: *Existential Dread* combined with *Hopes and Dreams* (I definitely dropped a reference here). Hannya: *Terminal Exhaustion* combined with *Sorrowful Angst* Hakushiki' Jo: *Peaceful* combined with *A Little Tipsy* I can see why these masks would incite fear. For me, watching a Noh Theatre performance would likely put me in a trance because of how fascinating and enchanting I find the masks. It's different vibes for me, but I'd enjoy it. Absolutely.

@Midnight_BRAZIL 2 жыл бұрын

You have no idea how much I love your videos, thank you!

@marcelapontes7033 2 жыл бұрын

Loved to learn all this! Thank you!

@jy3523 2 жыл бұрын

This video caught my eye as I realised I had seen these Noh Masks in a museum I recently visited. I did not have a lot of knowledge on Noh Theatre beforehand so this video was really interesting and informative! Thank you for shedding a light on this form of art, I now feel honoured to have seen these masks up close! ⭐️

@ajayredonkulus6628 2 жыл бұрын

I see a lot of parallels between this and Graeco-Roman mask use in theatre. Fascinating to see the history behind these. Absolutely love this channel!

@baditude41 2 жыл бұрын

Shogo, thank you so very much for explaining this, as I've always wondered what these masks represented. Thank you for helping me understand more about them, and Noh Theater!

@Ghostshark83 2 жыл бұрын

I've been looking forward to this video topic and you did not disappoint! Thank you so much for the informative video about noh masks! They are creepy masks but knowing their backgrounds, I have a lot of respect for them.

@moonflow5133 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Covering parts of the face and seeing different expressions was so cool. I'd love to see a Noh performance when I next go to Japan!

@ariloiola 2 жыл бұрын

I got lost along the random KZfaq videos highway but I'm glad I found this channel. Excellent content and presentation. Keep up the good work, mate.

@WhiteDragon689 7 ай бұрын

I love your videos. They are so much fun to watch. Thanks

@Momo-tc7sc 2 жыл бұрын

Just found your channel and I am really enjoying it! Japan is a People with such a rich heritage and history! Thank you for making this accessible to me and others who want to know more so we can properly appreciate your culture!

@hackieagoncillo1577 2 жыл бұрын

I really like how you calmly speak on these vlogs of yours. You are also always looking handsome every now and then. Keep it up!

@paulsimonik9103 2 жыл бұрын

Outstanding video. Certainly enjoy learning more about Noh theater as I build my collection of Japanese Noh and Festival masks. Cheers, and keep up the amazing work :D

@marenkuether-ulberg3311 Ай бұрын

Thank you very much for this concise lesson! It feels quite familiar to me because I spent ten years or so doing classical Greek theatre where we often wore masks to portray gods and spirits as well. Putting on and wearing masks was one step deeper into your character and was called “inhabiting the mask” and stepping back from the self. Noh theature is fascinating to me like that. Quite the art.

@zzzzzx308 2 жыл бұрын

Remember when Zuko from avatar wore a mask, that was badass.

@jacquehohenheim7934 2 жыл бұрын

This was a very interesting video! I especially like the Hannya mask, and even mentioned one of my OCs that I made months ago (a Futakuchi-Onna Shamisen player) wearing one during her performances when I was writing her backstory

@_prof.paradox_ 2 жыл бұрын

I love these videos. they are complete research material providing the best filtered information. favourite KZfaq channel

@georgepitts1057 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for making easy the process of learning about the culture and history of Japan .

@amb4367 2 жыл бұрын

Very Interesting Topic and Video! Thank You! I Enjoyed it a lot!

@TekkenTagokOCiD 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video (as well)! Since I live in Japan I try to understand a lot of things and it’s help very much.

@dsgdsg9764 2 жыл бұрын

So very comprehensive and informative thank you

@MackerelCat Жыл бұрын

Fascinating. Im in Japan now and planning to see some Noh in the next week or two! This background helps with context!

@ashorasdeanna Жыл бұрын

This channel is just amazing. Hello from Brazil.

@Vykkkk 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! I've always been fascinated with masks and the traditional Japanese ones might be my favorites. If you have the time, I'd love if you could deep dive into that subject, specially with your background!

@tofuschnitzel96 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your video. I never thought. that these masks are so more complex than "oh its scary-looking". You clarified it up a lot. Greetings from germany!

@GenOceanWolf_tWo_TookieTaliban 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for everything you do

@MidokuTensei Жыл бұрын

the goal of 1 million by 2023, you guys utterly shattered it

@TheMainManBD 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent content and presentation. I find Japanese mythology very intriguing so I would love to see videos about them on this channel.

@CMCustom112 Жыл бұрын

Awesome explanations. I love Art history

@fabio.n4458 2 жыл бұрын

great insight! thank you very much!

@okami433 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video Shogo, love this topic! Want to see more videos about Noh masks; also...maybe it'll be good to have one video for each one. Greetings from Argentina!

@LetsaskShogo 2 жыл бұрын

I actually have plans to interview my Noh instructor, and there is a craftsmen who make the masks in Kyoto where I live, so I would love to visit her someday too!

@nikthev Жыл бұрын

awesome video. Thank you so much!!

@theofilos4202 2 жыл бұрын

Well, it all reminded me of a seminar class on Japanese art I had been attending since many years ago. Very nicely presented and explained.

@topgatta 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful, I learned a lot. Thank you.

@incogniftoar3943 2 жыл бұрын

You've probably have heard or read this too much but I'll gotta say your English is so good!

@thecatthatateaflyinduoling2513 2 жыл бұрын

Earned my sub. Amazing video, and great to Noh 😁

@lk8856 2 жыл бұрын

So good. Thank you!

@juanpablogonzalez8528 Жыл бұрын

i just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the mastery that goes into the crafting of the masks, just the description of all they need to portray and the importance they have sounds daunting already

@therebel9094 2 жыл бұрын

The arrangements of the three open green fans on the wall of the Kenbu centre you visited reminded me of the tree on a Nō stage.

@lucianasser 2 жыл бұрын

What a fantastic video!

@ronlussier8570 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!

@emanueladu9510 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this interesting video!

@bloxelite26 Жыл бұрын

Came from KSLV Noh

@pugman99 Жыл бұрын

Shogo, I had the great privilege of seeing a Noh performance in 1980, when I was at N.I.D.A. in Sydney. We studied mask use in performance in many cultures, for instance, Commedia dell'arte is another famous theatre style using masks. Enjoyed your mini lecture very much, thank you. j

@Lazh-_- 11 ай бұрын

I found this so fascinating! I am especially a fan of the hannya mask, it creeped me out as a kid.

@V1C10US 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! I have a hand-carved Hannya mask carved over 100 years ago in the 1900s!

@art3mis196 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite mask is Hannya, i love its story and how it looks like. Thank you very much for another interesting video, Shogo :)

@Huntertainment1 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your excellent lesson.

@CineShinya Жыл бұрын

I was touched to see this video, as 12 years ago it was my thesis subject in first year in university. Back then it was so difficult to find any information about the subject and there was nothing written about it in my language. Even so, with hard work and a lot of translation, I managed to complete and ace it. And I had the honour to have Japanese Embassy of my country taking my thesis (which was about 140 book pages) in their Educational Department.

@zezimarules1 2 жыл бұрын

Love the video 😻

@Bobbias 2 жыл бұрын

I had heard of お歯黒 but never heard that explanation before. Very interesting.

@midtwnscott 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting video. I confess I'm a bit ignorant about Noh theater; the only play I know is Tsuchigumo so I'm quiet ignorant and loving learning about this.

@mahsarahimi7457 Жыл бұрын

thankss i needed this for my class

@the_infinexos 2 жыл бұрын

I always thought it was just an "uncanny valley" situation with the humanoid ones

@alecintrench 2 жыл бұрын

I'm going to definitely have to show my fiancé this video. I was trying to explain the reasoning behind Hannya mask symbolism the other day, and I think the way I explained it confused her, but this was perfect. Thank you!

@rainyu223 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! My Music Class is on this topic right now. Which I little have known knowledge about.

@putuseptiawan4209 2 жыл бұрын

I learn something new today, thank you.

@brendapaws7933 2 жыл бұрын

The first time I've seen a noh mask was in Inuyasha. This video is that second time I've seen them. I really like your videos.

@171QA 10 ай бұрын

Great video.

@pete8993 2 жыл бұрын

I actually learned about the Hannya mask from the game identity v where the "hunter" named "Geisha" (Also called Michiko by her own name) has three forms and one of them is Prajna which is another way to call the hannya mask

@wilomica 2 жыл бұрын

Whenever I Hannya in anime or games I am sure something scary is going to happen! I love that.

@lizawinslow4773 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Shogo. Very informative! Can you do a segment with the Indigenous peoples(tribes) of Nippon? Thanks

@Muazen 2 жыл бұрын

Wow Shogo, you really know masks. I'll be here all night.

@1337million 2 жыл бұрын

I wrote a paper once for university about Noh and Kyogen when I studied theatre and I absolutely fell in love with the masks and all the characters and emotions they represent. My personal favorite is the Usobuki mask from Kyogen. It is always surprised or scared, but it can't talk. It can only express itself by whistling!

@websurfer8670 2 жыл бұрын

Ive actually loved NOH mask since i was a child. The scariness is what i love

@l0stndamned 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting video, I hadn't noticed the multiple emotions thing before. I think part of the scary may also come from the uncanny valley affect for some folks. I've met a few folks creeped out by masks in general.

@EddyTeetree 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Shogo-san. Thanks for this. I’ve been to see Japanese theatre in Tokyo. Sumo too. And may even have seen you when we watched the kenjutsu show in Kyoto. In Noh the actions of the characters seem to explain the mask. Ancient Greek theatre (Dionysus) also used masks I believe to hide the actors intentions so that the audience had to work out the meaning and direction of the story themselves? What always intrigues me mask wise are those always worn by human spirit characters in anime. Usually like a sheet covering the face with a Chinese character applied. Very mysterious. Be Well 🌞 By the way I watched Rashomon (1950 Kurosawa) last night and Harakiri(1962 Kobayashi) I think Tetsuya Nakadai may be my favourite actor! (It was Jack Nicolson 😅) What really great films. Rashomon is an intriguing film about honesty and human frailty. I’m want to find an English translation of the original story. Anyone reading this please watch these two films. They are downloadable or available from Criterion. If you like good movies I don’t think you will be disappointed 😁

@yoboihawj6976 2 жыл бұрын

Always thought to watch and subscribe to this channel for months but never did, now I regret.

@dmweibel7423 Жыл бұрын

I believe that I saw a famous Noh stage at the Nishi Hangwanji Ha temple in Kyoto. Very beautiful

@garydell2023 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I had questions about this

@leavonfletcher4197 2 жыл бұрын

Very good video. Very informative. These masks play a prominent part in the anime Demon Slayer so it was great to learn about them. Could you do a video on traditional Japanese musical instruments? The anime Scissor 7 has an awesome intro that highlights a guitar like instrument and I would love more information on it. Thank you and keep up the great work.

@richknives9114 2 жыл бұрын

This really explains that scene in avatar the last Airbender when he had to be expressionless in front of that face stealing yokai...Arigato gozaimasu

@armorbearer9702 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the Koh mask seemed to be his favorite face.