GALLERY

Koomote (Yuki-type)

Even though the name translates to ‘small mask,’ Koomote doesn’t mean a small face. In the same way the French word ‘petite’ means both small and pretty, Koomote means a sweet, young, elegant woman.　Onna masks are the centerpiece of Noh theatre and Koomote is the original and basic model for Onna masks.

There are three types of Koomote which are Yuki (snow), Tsuki (moon) and Hana (flower). Ishikawa Ryuemon Shigemasa, a Noh mask craftsman, gave three masks to Toyotomi Hideyoshi who named them "snow," "moon," and "flower," which are said to have been treasured by him.