Collection: Did you noh? - [Masks]

[DID YOU NOH?] - ALL ABOUT NOH/KYOGEN/FESTIVAL MASKS.

These stickers are focused on popular Japanese theatre and festival masks; you'll probably recognize them from various Anime, Pop Culture (etc) or sold at festivals, events & conventions. – However, did you know? – Many of these originate as a staple prop in Noh & Kyogen theatre; Some are Yokai, others are Kami! – Lets take a closer look behind each of these masks origins...

To start: There are well over 250+ different types of Noh mask, these masks are categorized into twenty large groups and about two hundred name-types, which are created with various plays in mind, each is typically expertly hand carved & traditionally made out of wood. – In Japanese, a 'blank face' devoid of expression is described as “noh-mask like." – Most masks are carefully carved not to resemble a particular persons face, but are instead intended to symbolize the character or an emotion which the actor in the mask is representing; Depending on how the light hits the mask, it might display a different emotion or mood, and that all depends on the actors performance. So, Noh is performed very, very slowly to bring out that feeling of elegance, Noh plays are usually supposed to portray a mood, rather than your traditional action-packed narrative story. - [On that note: One should take care not be confuse elegant Noh theatre, with exaggerated theatrical, Kabuki theatre. (Known for elaborate props, action, and red vs blue face-paint rather than masks.)]

[These mask stickers where lovingly drawn & researched by @SamKalensky 2018 onward. – I drew & wrote most of these bios these back when I was quite young; with the intent of making something both fun & educational for my booth at our local Vancouver anime & comic con events. - I had noticed that a lot of booths featured the characters from anime and Japanese folklore, but nobody was taking the time to talk about or tell us their origins, that kind of annoyed me; and so I wanted to fill that void. so i did my best to draw & researched 'em all! – Each of these bios where also featured in my Yokai Zine Part 2! - Recently, I wanted to add a few more obscure or misunderstood masks to my collection; so i decided to add a proper collection to my website around mid-may 2025. - Please look forward to more Noh masks and perhaps some updated deeper dives into each soon! as well, I'll be offering sticker size or full page (mask size) here exclusively! This section will also feature yokai which either originate or stories feature popularly in Noh theatre & plays.]