Demons

This category includes masks for supernatural beings, which covers a range from demons and monsters, to deities and sprites. Tobide masks are used for roles of deities, Shishiguchi  for mythical lions, shishi, Beshimi masks for tengu and Kurohige masks for dragon gods. Many of these masks convey their expressive potential when the actor performs sharp left-right head movements called omote wo kiru (“to cut the mask”). Also, many of these masks have a narrow mouth opening: this is not a hindrance to the actor because the characters portrayed with these masks usually have few or no lines.

Shōjō 猩々

Roles	The wine-loving creature Shōjō
Plays	Shōjō
Act	N/A
Play category	Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Red complexion; bedraggled hair; Smiling mouth, both upper and lower teeth rows are visible.
Wig	Red kashira

Notes: The name of this type of mask derives from the name of the character  and of the play Shōjō where a sea spirit brings prosperity to a wine merchant. The red complexion evokes his love of wine.The bedraggled hair on the forehead suggests he emerged from the water, while the smiling mouth and eyes express his pleasant inebriation. The features resemble those of the youthful mask Dōji, except the red coloring and more sculpted eyes and mouth.

Ko-tobide 小飛出

Roles	Supernatural being.
Plays	Kokaji, Sesshōseki, Nue, etc.
Act	Second
Play category	First, Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Reddish complexion; arched eyebrows; no ears; bulging golden eyes (metal fittings); golden teeth; pointed mustache. gaping mouth, tongue, narrow mouth hole.
Wig	Kashira

Notes: The name of this type of mask literally means ‘small jump out’, referring to the bulging eyes, and to its smaller size in comparison with Ō-tobide (below). This type of mask is used for a variety of roles, including the deity of Mt. Inari in the form of a fox-god (Kokaji). A version of the same mask called saru–tobide (saru means ‘monkey’) is often preferred for the chimaera-like bird in Nue. Despite its male appearance, ko-tobide is also used to portray Tamamo-no-mae, a female fox demon (Sesshōseki), in which case the mustache may be interpreter as the fox whiskers. In addition to saru–tobide, versions are dei-ko-tobide (painted gold) and kiba–tobide (whiteish, with protruding fangs).

Ō-tobide 大飛出

Roles	Deity.
Plays	Kamo, Kuzu, Arashiyama, Kokaji, etc.
Act	Second
Play category	First, Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Full gold paint; thin, arched eyebrows; ears; bulging golden eyes; golden teeth; gaping mouth, with a narrow mouth hole; thin mustache.
Wig	Kashira

Notes: The name of this type of mask literally means ‘large jump out’, referring to the bulging eyes, and to its larger size in comparison with Ko-tobide (above). Its size is considerably larger and more deeply sculptured than Ko-tobide. Used primarily for powerful deities like the Thunder God in Kamo, Ō-tobide may also substitute for the smaller Ko-tobide in some performance variants.

Kurohige 黒髭

Roles	Dragon god.
Plays	Chikubu-shima, Kasuga Ryūjin, Mekari, etc.
Act	Second
Play category	First, Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Hat line; light brown or gold complexion; U-shaped eyebrows; mustache; golden eyes (metal fittings), frowning; gaping mouth, with a narrow mouth hole; protruding jaw.
Wig	Kashira

Notes :The name of this type of mask literally means ‘black beard’, referring to its black whiskers. The bulging eyes and gaping mouth with exposed tongue convey the vigor of the dragon god and group this mask among the Tobide-style masks. The actor would wear a crown with dragon figure to clarify the identity of the role.

Shishiguchi 獅子口

Roles	Mythical lion or demon.
Plays	Shakkyō, Tsuchigumo etc.
Act	Second
Play category	Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Full gold paint with red highlighting the deep furrows; ears; gold eyes and teeth (metal fittings); gaping mouth, with a narrow mouth hole; pointed canines.
Wig	Red or white kashira

Notes :The name of this type of mask means ‘lion mouth’. It is primarily used in the play Shakkyō for the role of mythical lions (shishi), messengers of the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī (Monjū bosatsu). Variations of the mask are used for lion father (ō-jishi) and children (ko-jishi).

Shikami 顰

Roles	Powerful deity or demon.
Plays	Shari, Tsuchigumo, Hiun, Tanikō, etc.
Act	Second
Play category	Fifth
Shite school	All
Features	Reddish complexion; deep furrows; frowning, eyebrows partially covering the eyeholes; ears; golden eyes (metal fittings) and teeth ; pointed canines.
Wig	Red kashira

Notes: The name of this type of mask means ‘frown’, referring to its deep furrows and angry expression. Shikami masks are used for characters representing evil demons (Shari, Tsuchigumo, Hiun, etc.) or powerful deities (Tanikō). Contributor:

Contributor: Diego Pellecchia