Noh mask Chorei-beshimi

The ‘Beshimi’ refers to a type of Noh mask used for ogres and other creatures. This mask represents a ghost of a bandit chief named Kumasaka Chohan and is used for the Nochi-shite (a leading role in the latter half of Noh play) in “Kumasaka.” It has a mouth clamped firmly shut, metallic ball implants for the eyes, a W-shaped projection from the brow and a black kamuri-gata cap on the top of the forehead. Each of these characteristics well expresses the features of the mask in Beshimi style, but the whole impression gives us something humorous.