Tools used in Noh

Noh Masks
Noh Costumes
Ōgi, fan
Set pieces in the Noh
Instruments

Noh Masks

Masks used in Noh are called Noh masks, and are used for many roles, such as elderly people, women, and demons. The term “Noh mask” is sometimes used as a metaphor for an expressionless face, but Noh masks can show a variety of expressions depending on the slightest change in angle or light. Masks may also be used in Kyogen for some roles, such as animals or ghosts, and these are called Kyogen masks.

These masks were carved by Hisato Iwasaki, a Noh mask artist living in Yokohama. There are very few Noh mask artist who can make masks that can be used on stage, but the Noh and Kyogen masks produced by Mr. Iwasaki are used in many Noh and Kyogen performances.

Noh Costumes

Noh costumes are dedicated stage costumes used in Noh plays. Depending on the play and role, various types of noh costumes are used.
“Karaori” costumes, which are woven with silk threads in beautiful and gorgeous patterns and are used mainly as outer garments for female roles, and “Atsuita” costumes, which are often used for male roles or for the roles of demons, are featured in this exhibition.
These Noh costumes were produced by the Sato Yoshihiko Memorial Yamaguchi Noh Costume Research Center, which has earned an international reputation for its exact reconstruction of Noh costumes from the Edo period.

Ōgi, fan

The fan is an indispensable tool in Noh. Not only is a fan used for performing dances, but everyone on stage has a fan. During a performance a fan may be used to represent such things as a sake cup or a sword. There are a variety of kinds of fans with many different designs and which fan is used depends on the type of role it is used in.

Set pieces in the Noh

As the basic principle in Noh is to express the scene of a play through dance and chant there is no need to change the background or use realistic props and stage equipment as is the case in other forms of drama. However, depending on the play, simple stage set pieces or stage properties called “tsukurimono”, are used. The framework of such set pieces is made of bamboo or wood which is then wrapped in white cloth to represent an ox cart, mountain, or big bell, and so on.

Instruments

Fue, Flute (Noh-kan Noh flute)

This is a transverse flute made from bamboo. Unlike a western instrument, it is not specifically tuned so that the pitch and tone of each instrument is different. It is the only instrument in Noh which plays the melody.

Kotsuzumi, Small shoulder drum

This is a percussion instrument which has horsehide drumheads lashed with hemp cords to either side of a hollowed- out base of cherry wood. The sound of the drum is adjusted by breathing on the horsehide drumheads, especially the one at the back, to keep them moist. It makes a soft “Pon” sound.
Listen to how it sounds: “Pon.”

Otsuzumi, Large hip drum

The materials and construction of this drum are the same as that of the small shoulder drum. Before this drum is played, the drumheads are “tuned” by heating them over charcoal to dry them out thoroughly. The drum makes a sharp high-pitched “Ka-n” sound.

Taiko, Stick drum

This percussion instrument has two drumheads of cowhide lashed with hemp cords to a hollowed-out drum base of a wood such as Zelkova. It rests on a special stand and is played with a pair of drumsticks. It makes a light “Tonton” sound.