Masks play a wide role in Japanese culture. They are worn for play, amusements, folk dances, theatrical performances, and even for protective armor. If you attend any of Japanโs large festivals, you will undoubtedly find a booth selling a variety of facemasks (ไปฎ้ข, kamen). Some of the familiar characters you will find are from folk tales, myths, legends, animals, and anime characters.
Traditionally facemasks were made of papier-mรขchรฉ, wood, lacquer, or even metal. The papier-mรขchรฉ technique developed as the most common method for making masks used by the public. By the Meiji period (1868-1912), plastic had been introduced to Japan and many items once handmade by local artisans were now being mass-produced in factories. Plastic masks for playing and celebrating came to be widely available at shops and festivals. You can even find โjoke masksโ (like a big nose and fake glasses) just to make your friends laugh!
Okame
Shลwa period (1926-1989)
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
9โh x 6.75โw
Gift of A.P. Dennis
1991.016.002
Okame, sometimes called Otafuku, is a beloved folk deity. Associated with fertility, this plump, good-natured character has a simple earthy beauty and is believed to embody the qualities of an ideal wife.
Hyottoko
Shลwa period, ca. 1950s
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
9โh x 6.5โw
Gift of Jody and Denny Scruggs
2008.008.002
Hyottoko, literally โfire-man,โ is a popular folk character. His origins are unclear but many legends also associate him with prosperity. He is always perceived as a sort of clown or jester, and is frequently associated with silly dances.
Cat
By Igarashi Kenji (b. 1943)
Heisei period, ca. early 1990s
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
4.5โh x 7.75โw
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Hiroshi Tada
1994.021.006
Igarashi Kenji is a well-known papier-mรขchรฉ doll maker in Saitama, Japan. He is a second-generation doll maker and his son Shunsuke is continuing the traditions of the family studio. This half-mask features the face of a cat (neko), a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Japan.
Rabbit
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980-1983
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
8.5โh x 42.5โw
Museum Purchase
1983.002.056
In Japanese culture, the white rabbit (usagi) is associated with the moon. Rather than a โman in the moon,โ the Japanese envision a rabbit pounding rice cakes (mochi).
Fox
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980-1983
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
8.5โh x 5.375โw
Museum Purchase
1983.002.055
The fox, or kitsune, is considered to be a messenger of the gods. This particular mask has a flaming jewel on its forehead associating it with the Shintล deity, Inari (God of Rice), as he is often depicted riding a white fox. This mask has a moveable jaw.
Dancer wearing shishi-gashira mask
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980-1983
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
8.5โh x 5โw
Museum Purchase
1983.002.057
This mask depicts a woman wearing a shishi-gashira, or โlion-headโ mask. Shishi, sometimes called lion-dogs, are guardian figures that usually appear in pairs. You can often find one with mouth open on the left and one with mouth closed on the right at entrances to important buildings. The lion dance is also a popular element of New Year celebrations.
Tengu
Heisei period, ca. early 1990s
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
5.125โh x 5.25โw
Gift of Eisha Nakano
1996.030.093
Tengu are mythical creatures that are said to live deep in the forests and mountains of Japan. They train worthy samurai in the magical arts. They have elements associated with both Shintล and Buddhism.
Kappa baby mask
Heisei period, ca. early 1990s
Papier-mรขchรฉ and pigments
5โh x 4.75โw
Gift of Shoko Brown
1994.004.005
Kappa are mischievous water-dwelling creatures in Japan. Parents often remind children of this creature to scare them into being careful near water.
Okame
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.5โh x 7โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.027
Okame, or Otafuku, depicted here in a plastic form showing us that she has transitioned from a deity and theatrical character to more of a pop culture figure.
Hyottoko
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.5โh x 7โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.0127
The clown, or jester, originally linked to theatrical performances has shifted to a more common folk character.
Kamen Raidฤ V3
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8โh x 6.5โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.001
Silver robot
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
9โh x 7.5โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.008
Pink robot
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.5โh x 6.75โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.007
Kamen Raidฤ is a TV series created by manga artist Ishinomori Shotaro in 1971. The main protagonist is a motorcycle-riding human who is part grasshopper (or dragonfly) with super powers. He and two other riders fight the evildoers of Destron to save the world.
Baikinman (Germ-Man)
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.75โh x 7.75โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.029
Baby with fangs
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
Museum Purchase
1987.010.023
Baikinman (or โGerm-Manโ) is the nemesis of the famous Japanese cartoon character, Anpanman (or โSweet Bean Bread-Manโ), who first appeared in a childrenโs book in 1973. The creator, Takashi Yanase, passed away in 2013 at the age of 94. Baikinman came from the Germ Planet to enslave the people of Earth, but Anpanman is always there to save the day.
Little Twin Stars
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
7.5โh x 9โw each
Museum Purchase
1987.010.020 & .021
Little Twin Stars
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
7.5โh x 9โw each
Museum Purchase
1987.010.020 & .021
Little Twin Stars, Lala and Kiki, are a Sanrio franchise that began in 1975. Sanrio is the company that developed Hello Kitty and other characters that are now popular worldwide.
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.5โh x 9.375โw each
Museum Purchase
1987.010.018 & .019
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.5โh x 9.375โw each
Museum Purchase
1987.010.018 & .019
The Walt Disney characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse first came to Japanese movie theaters in 1931. Since that time, there has been a great deal of influence back and forth among animators in Japan and the U.S.
Mario
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
8.25โh x 7.75โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.015
Shigeru Miyamoto created Mario, the most famous Nintendo character, for the hit video game Donkey Kong in 1981.
Bald head
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
3.625โh x 7.25โw
Museum Purchase
1987.010.010
An example of a โjoke maskโ that makes you appear bald.
Topknot
Late Shลwa period, ca. 1980s
Molded plastic with pigments and elastic string
4.5โh x 7โw
Museum Purchase
1994.031.005
This is a hat, but helps to disguise you as a samurai with his topknot.
Funded in part by PNC Art Alive, The Japan Foundation, New York / Center for Global Partnership and the Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation.
To see more masks like this, and others such as theatrical masks and samurai facial armor, visit the exhibition Collecting Stories on-view to the public in the main gallery November 14, 2020 through April 3, 2021.
