I’m sure you’ve seen this mask often in Japanese horror anime and video games. This is actually a mask called 小面 Ko-omoté, which is originally used in the Japanese ancient stage art: Noh Theater. With such a scary face, it must represent a horrible monster or something right? But it actually stands for a young and beautiful woman. Yes you heard me correctly. lol There are three main reasons why this mask looks so scary. 1. They represent gods and spirits The reason why masks are used in noh theater in the first place, is because “performers want to act as someone/something that they are not.” 2. The aesthetic sense was different from what it is now Expressionlessness was the standard of beauty for people of high ranks in the past. 3. There are multiple emotions expressed with one face Every noh mask’s facial expression is created by combining multiple emotions with one face, so it might seem unnatural and somewhat ominous. If you’d like to learn more about Japanese traditional culture, Kyoto, and social problems in Japan, please check out my channel & subscribe! *The content is based on personal studies and experience There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects

@boi6yearago266

Жыл бұрын

Interesting I am gonna watch more video on this. Nice vid btw

@lostinmoss4323

Жыл бұрын

Is this a transcription? Thanks thats quite useful

@martialcat653

Жыл бұрын

Shogo, what about the mask wore by samurai? I see lots of it in the movies or video games they only cover their mouths and its got like fangs and moustaches

@troyayoso7066

Жыл бұрын

Hello Mr. Shogo, thank you for explaining those Ko-omotés! Can you do a vid about triangle thingies on japanese ghosts?

@darthvaper4776

Жыл бұрын

Young woman are horrifying makes sense 😂😂😂

Anya Forger be like:

@twitzmixx8374

Жыл бұрын

Heh

@theredhood7342

Жыл бұрын

Heh

@Knee-Lew

Жыл бұрын

Heh.

@kaptenkukang

Жыл бұрын

heh

@hankj.wimbleton1815

Жыл бұрын

Heh

I never really found the mask creepy, just a bit uncanny valley, an effect that inherently does creep people out. When people see something so close to human but just a bit off, it triggers a natural instinct to be wary because something is not as it should be.

@l_z1478

Жыл бұрын

Bc they shaved her eyebrow...she must be furious, :D

@glasscardproductions4736

Жыл бұрын

@@l_z1478, that was considered beautiful in many different eras and many places, so I wouldn't doubt it's the same for Japan when this was made.

@cosmicsunshines

Жыл бұрын

same here.

@ryand.3858

Жыл бұрын

I’ve heard that phenomenon is also what causes the popular fear of clowns. Personally I find neither scary but I understand the reason why such things give people the creeps.

@nickhyuga4058

Жыл бұрын

That's why youre freaked out by it too. Uncanny valley

Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks for educating us, as always!

@user-rx5qe7iz5v

Жыл бұрын

This mask reperesents how Japanese people look basically

@rickcardo1966

Жыл бұрын

Bot

@normanmai7865

Жыл бұрын

Heh

This specific Noh mask brings Inuyasha to mind. They had this cursed mask that possessed people and melted their bodies into a homogeneous sludge. That kind of genuine grade-A horror was a real surprise coming from a romantic fantasy isekai series.

@maichidao263

Жыл бұрын

that’s exactly what i thought of too!

@chanmarr8118

Жыл бұрын

Glad I wasn’t the only one that thought of this. That was terrifying

@AshAngelV

Жыл бұрын

Right? That was so unsettling.

@Pickledsnicker

Жыл бұрын

That episode permanently scarred me, I had literal nightmares when I watched it as a kid. I still avoid watching that episode when I rewatched Inuyasha.

@zyborg4737

Жыл бұрын

I skip that episode whenever I rewatch Inuyasha because it makes me so uncomfortable... The fact that it is a filler episode (for the most part) makes it feel more eerie-as if it was detached from the reality of Inuyasha's universe.

That face looks like my mom whenever get a C+ in math😂

@monoremu3200

Жыл бұрын

👁👄👁 like this?

@leoncalusic51

Жыл бұрын

@@monoremu3200 Ahhh... What a young and beautiful lady

@feitansumbrella

Жыл бұрын

@@leoncalusic51 should be a model 😇

@SoapiiBFDI

Жыл бұрын

@@feitansumbrella she should be a queen

"it represents a young and beautiful... ... performers want to act as something they are not" 💀💀💀💀💀

@Olive-qb1uk

Жыл бұрын

💀💀 NAH

@Soldier_Sprout

8 ай бұрын

Damn, they really need an old and hideous man to play it then?

"Why is this mask so creepy?" Me : the eyebrows, the eyebrows, THE EYEBROOOOOOOOOWS

I remember first seeing this mask on Inuyasha. Thanks for the lesson

@sugarstar6215

Жыл бұрын

Same

Japanese culture never fails to amaze us👌.

@hyun_0_0_0

Жыл бұрын

It’s not that amazing

@kom2876

Жыл бұрын

^ you simply never know about it if you ever travel out there, you always get this new breath of fresh air

@DccAnh

Жыл бұрын

@@hyun_0_0_0 if that was the case, Japan wouldn’t have been famous, but since they are what you said automatically becomes bullsh*t

"Young and beautiful woman" *Anya Forger steps in*

@okikartika5830

Жыл бұрын

Heh

@ajinkyatarodekar9099

Жыл бұрын

What about Tako facemask?

@roll7642

Жыл бұрын

no wonder damian fell for her it's all in the heh

▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼ kzread.info/dash/bejne/oJx5w8-Blt3fqco.html ▼Related videos in this channel▼ -Why Are NOH Masks So Scary? kzread.info/dash/bejne/YpyWyJSJntC2pcY.html -Why Ghosts of Samurai Often Appear in Noh Theater kzread.info/dash/bejne/hoaE1rhtdpqpeJc.html -The 3 Differences Between Noh Theatre and Kabuki Play kzread.info/dash/bejne/nqRn2bmpqJOagtI.html ▼MY DREAM▼ kzread.info/dash/bejne/d5uj2auPj87Hl6Q.html “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in” I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more. ▼Join our Membership▼ kzread.info/dron/n7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw.htmljoin ●Membership benefits -Limited behind-the-scene videos -Weekly Zoom call or live stream -Priority reply to comments ▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼ kzread.info/dron/ZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA.html Please subscribe!! The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores. Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments. ▼[Listen to the real voices of the Japanese] "Voices from Japan series"▼ kzread.info/head/PLpIWoYf9KNFXxLyeQa85jDudDKqkwPg-2 ▼[Places recommended to visit in Kyoto] "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼ kzread.info/head/PLpIWoYf9KNFU7LIIFB0P_reDt_oMdkCOq ▼Instagram▼ instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠️I do not use e-mail）

"Why is this face so creepy." --On android, the thumbnail has a picture of Shogo

@jamesoliver9278

Жыл бұрын

And opening the video gives you a jumpscare.

@MerkhVision

Жыл бұрын

I don’t think the operating system should change the thumbnails, it looks like that on iOS too

I've actually seen a few nō masks in real life, and they were even creepier. Because the light was coming from the top, so that it cast more shadow

That look like Anya's heh

@pesayLigaBRC

Жыл бұрын

Underrated

@MarcoAdventures

Жыл бұрын

Heh

@BurntToastGae

Жыл бұрын

Heh

Something I’ve always been curious about… how did the theatre masks affect the performance of the actors? I feel as though the masks would drastically reduce the ability to project one’s voice… did they have a counter measure to this? Or was the mask designed with this in mind?

@moma-b

Жыл бұрын

I think they didn't speak. There was music and body language.

@nidohime6233

Жыл бұрын

I guess there also practice with their voices, and the structure of the theater might also help to amplify the sound effect, like how greek theaters where designed in a way you can hear the actors on any seat.

@viktoriaschmied6627

Жыл бұрын

Iirc there was a story teller, but the actors themselves didn't speak. It was all about body language and music.

Also uncanny valley. It looks human and familiar but it's not quite human looking.

@emberandfriendsanimations2454

Жыл бұрын

Exactly

@ghostratsarah

Жыл бұрын

It's the eyebrows. Draw realistically placed eyebrows on it and it won't be so creepy. It's a proven psychological phenomenon that missing or misplaced eyebrows trigger a fear in people.

@boatingbrookcosplay7447

Жыл бұрын

@@ghostratsarah that's fascinating

Even though I knew you were going to talk about something else, I saw the title and you in the thumbnail and was thinking you're face is too cute to be creepy.

I guess it also falls into the uncanny valley

@linkedius2532

Жыл бұрын

thats what i was gonna say yeah

I immediately remembered the girl from Asobi Asobase as soon as I saw that mask

I have seen this mask a few times but I don't find it scary, it definitely looks beautiful. I must have seen it in Noh theatres and probably in anime too.

Aha I was correct about the mask being a young and beautiful woman!

"Why is this face so creepy" My dumbass: "it has no eyebrows"

I remember when I was 7 years old and being absolutely terrified of the Inuyasha episode with the Ancient Man Eating Noh Mask. Now, years later, I like the way there designed. It gives off an ominous feel to it, and I strangely like that. :)

"Epressionlessness was a standard beauty" Now, I see why some expressionless female anime character looks attractive

@menhera-tan

Жыл бұрын

Apparently smiling causes wrinkles so there are some people that lives on with a neutral face and doesn't smile or laugh at all to conserve their beauty!

How i look like when camera flash is on facing parallel to my face. My eyebrows, gone. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I found this mask in Animal Crossing recently, I use it to scare friends 🤣🤣

I actually find the woman masks quite beautiful, and the oni masks very impressive! I have used the technique of multiple expressions on my own masks, it’s surprisingly difficult to get right. In Greek theatre, they also used masks with expressions that changed depending on the angle it was viewed. I had a class two years back that was all about the history of theatre all over the world, I really enjoyed learning about Noh.

Shogo: "It is a young and beautiful woman" Me: So it is a monster

@Soukonoon

Жыл бұрын

True

@dupql

Жыл бұрын

Xd

@BurntToastGae

Жыл бұрын

Thats anya dude xd

what kind of mythological creatures appear in noh that uses masks too?

@gloomiette

Жыл бұрын

Oni are a creature that come to mind! Other one however I'm not too sure..

In Eiji Yoshikawa's Musashi, I think he references these to describe Otsu's madness when being abandoned by Musashi. Haven't finished reading it yet, but I get the feeling things don't end well for her.

Me when i just watched spy family: "anya? That u?"

I think the first mask shown was beautiful. It looks very old.

That mask look like my mom so it's not that scary

**Shows the mask with horns** **KSLV Noh music starts playing**

@fairuzjumain8425

Ай бұрын

Go to Germany to meet KSLV

Now KSLV Noh's aesthetic (and name) make much more sense to me, thank you

When you said it was based on a beautiful, young woman, my first thought was to say "nothing scarier than a beautiful, young woman"

@AB-5482

Жыл бұрын

If you're a male that lets itself be controlled by its genitals, sure I guess. Weak 😂

This explains why in anime and mangas one character or more is always emotionless and doesn't speak much.

@nidohime6233

Жыл бұрын

That's has to do more with lack of funding. Since there have a very strict budget there had to be creative inside the art.

She may look like a scary monster in isolation, but in comparison to the other noh masks, she’s the prettiest girl in class

Reminds me of the masks in ancient greece. Similar to those, they were often used in theatre during plays.

@warlockpaladin2261

Жыл бұрын

I've thought about this too, and it does make one wonder.

so it's the opposite of what it's supposed to represent?🤔

I always loved Noh masks and Kabuki makeup 😍😍😍

Growing up with fatal frame and other Japanese horror series I’m used to it now and it’s one you quickly recognize

I first saw this mask in a huge college textbook on art, and it did look well crafted and pretty - The face appears serene, but yes, a little creepy, like a ghost. So now I know why it seemed creepy when I first saw it. BTW, I think they used masks in ancient Greek theater, too. Thanks for the info!

i first learned abt noh masks from a character hata-no-kokoro. it does look ominous but i can see the aesthetic. it's intriguing and also a well crafted art.

So interesting! Never knew thank you for always sharing your wise knowledge I love learning new things about Japan, I love Japanese culture💗

I remember seeing it in Magical Girl Site! Giving the fact that it means beautiful woman, it makes a lot of sense on why it was in Magical Girl Site

"why is this face so creepy" KZread Shorts compression:

That’s cool about combining two emotions into one. Now that I see it with the monster looking mask, I can’t unsee it

It's creepy...and mysterious! I can definitely see that side as well, much like the "Mona Lisa smile". You're intrigued, you want to know more about the person behind the facade.

i actually always thought it was very pretty 😭 reminds me of those ancient japanese paintings of those elegant graceful women usually dancing or holding a parasol

I love how Japan is literally the saying "Beauty is just a social construct."

My face expression literally looks like that mask this is me when I'm not doing anything 😑

KSLV Noh be like:

My only exposure to this was in Avatar where Aang had to confront some monster that had this face and if he had any reaction they he wouldn’t return. It’s been years so my details could be off but it makes a lot more sense now

Reminds me of another European theatre type in the past. Short amount of costumes, several capable actors able to use them to represent the costume's character. I think it is called "Theatre De l'Arte".

I finished watching it and when the video replayed (KZread shorts), I misheard "creepy" as "creamy".

I really like all of your videos. They give me a little window into Japanese life and tradition. Something I'd otherwise never know!! Thank you!!

Reminds me of the comedy/tragedy masks in western theatre. Those can be pretty creepy in the right context, too.

So that's where Anya got her inspiration from.....

I have a hannya mask as a tattoo. ~ everyone always goes oh that's a nice demon and then I have to explain to them it's used in theatre ^^;

OHHHHHH! I was playing animal crossing the other day and I found a mask like this in the clothing shop! It was literally called a Noh Mask. Thanks!😅

Thank you for sharing traditional Japanese culture to KZread

I remember this mask from the game Aka Manto. Amazing horror game btw.

I think one anime that has Mask sorta like these. Almost the whole premise of the anime/manga is High Rise Invasion kinda revolves around these people that wear mask. If you watch or look at the picture from it, it definitely feels unsettling.

My brain : *"Anya."*

I think the hannya mask is one of my favorites for the duel emotion aspect

Let's ask Shogo.... how his skin is so PERFECT

my grandma has one up in her spare bedroom and everytime i go and stay at her home in japan, i see it looking over me. it’s been watching over my sleeping self since i was a little kid and i’ve always hated it so much

She looks so intent and focused

The expression of the face also changes depending from what angle you look at it, or at least the shadows it casts are supposed to have that effect.

Whenever I hear about Noh theatre or see Noh theatre masks I think about kslv noh and the Noh masks he uses in his songs

YES! We learn this in theatre school. It's all in the lighting and how the actor turns his head. The shadows on the masks can change the expression completely. It takes years of training and generations of mastery for him to become the best of the best. I say him because Noh theatre is reserved for only male performers. Even in a modern setting, it's very rare to have a woman play a woman.

I actually saw that mask from an old shoujo manga "glass mask" that focused on theatre. The teacher wore that mask for a play called "red angel" to represent the lady beautiful face since her face is disfigured from an accident. So I never really saw that mask as scary

Thanks so much. Your clear explanations capture so many of our conflicting feelings. Your insight is a relief.

I think it falls a bit on the uncanny valley like, other masks i have seen have mostly very exaggerated expressions and shapes so they can be scary but they never made me uncomfortable, but these ones are like trying to mimic a human face and at the same time show many emotions, it makes it uncomfortable bc it looks soo similar to a human face yet is soo far from being one.

Nah i think for this specific mask it's the fact that her eyebrows are completely misplaced and with the fact that the eyes are kinda closed it makes an expression that shouldn't be possible

in the videogame snk vs capcom I think the character of Mr Karate is transformed into a woman using that mask, there’s a character from capcom named Demitri and he is a vampire, one of Demitri’s super attacks is transform all characters into more feminine persons even the male characters and he transform Mr Karate that is using originally a Tengu mask

i grew up seeing it in Inuyasha episode "Terror of the Ancient Noh Mask"

I've seen this mask allot of times in the anime called Kakuriyo no yadomeshi

I didn't know people got genuinely spooked by these masks. Thank you for the lesson. 😁

My grandma had a really old Meji Noh mask she’s had for forever, I remember I was Terrified of it whenever I went to see her, it was just hanging on the wall, felt like I was being stared at

You have a video for every question I have, Shogo! Thanks for being awesome!

Hata no Kokoro would love this kind of video

She hasn't blinked in an hour Such a beauty

Ooooh that's why anime punks always make those FURROWED BROW EXPRESSIONSSSSS

Thanks, Shogo. Very interesting.

Thank you very much for educating us on this mask! I always wondered it’s meaning! Also, I have a huge question: what type of kimono should I wear for winter? I want to show my respect towards Japanese culture and fashion in a respectful way, and I would like to know what type of kimono to wear in the winter!

In animal crossing, i used to buy “Noh masks” and give them to villagers for the memes, and scare my sister with them. It’s awesome to learn its real name.

That one episode of Inuyasha where Kagome gets chased around by an evil Noh mask

That is a beautiful combination of greens. I kind of like the look of the mask, though.

She’s beautiful. I love her and think she is valid

You forgot to mention. As with all masks used for theater throughout history, they are designed from the perspective that you will see it far away as an audience member. Oftentimes, we have bias and think people in history weren't clever, but actually usually these "ugly" masks look beautiful from a distance, while a "beautiful" mask looks ugly. Lastly, if the mask has a smile, then the character is always happy or sinister, and it becomes difficult to portray sadness for example. About perspective, look up the architecture of the Parthenon for instance. The pillars look straight, but actually they have all been placed at angles so appears straight from a distance, very ingenious.

"Whats the matter Glen? You dont look completely emptionless"

Ah, so that's why it reminded me of Ghibli's Princess Kaguya, after she got her make over as a noble princess.

Dude I don't know why but I love your channels

noh masks could also convey multiple emotions by the way they were carved. some were made so that the expression conveyed on the mask looked different depending on the angle it was seen from, sort of like an optical illusion.

Psychologically explained: 1. It resembles a human face. 2. It's decently realistic but has stuff giving it off that it's not a real person's face. 3. The presence of multiple emotions. 4. The blend look of the mask.

I think is the lack of eyebrows that turns off people. Since eyebrows are so important for non verbal communication and to express emotions the lack of them can feel uncanny to many. I know is because back then noble ladies used to shave them, but is something that didn't aged well.

I assumed it was because of the uncanny valley effect, where we get creeped out by things that look and/or act like humans but clearly aren't.