Shojo - [Noh Mask]

Shōjō - "Mask of the heavy drinker." - [Noh Mask]

• About this mask: Shojo are happy go lucky monkey-men yokai, who are said to live off the coasts of japan & china (in china they're known as "xing-xing") they delight in drinking and brewing magical sake. - Due to the red face and orange hair of this yokai, their name is also the word used for 'orangutang' - 'shojo' is also slang to refer to someone who is a heavy drinker! – There is a popular noh play by the same name:

 "Shōjō Midare" - 猩々乱 - is a story about a wine seller from china who dreams of selling alcohol and becoming rich enough to support his parents: he does so, and he succeeds in selling lots! - But one day, he meets an interesting customer who's never satisfied and drinks like a fish! He will not get drunk, no matter how much he drinks!! Curious, the seller asks the strange customer his name: the customer happily responds that his name is shōjō and that he lives in the ocean!  The mystery man then leaves (without paying.) –Feeling suspicious (& ripped off), the seller goes to a nearby beach with liquor in hand and he ready's a trap for this so called shojo: a big ol' crock pot full of sake. But, when he gets there. the Shojo is already red in the face flat-out-drunk, noticing the crock pot, it drinks some more, does an amusing, clumsy dance. When hes done. It notices that the seller has come to visit. Absolutely jubilant over the fact that the seller came out to see him (and grateful for more wine/sake) He rewards the seller with a crock pot which will never ever run out of drink! - The two then share a toast, rejoice and dance one more dance before they both pass out. - However, the man awakes the next morning, it seems that was all a dream.. He laments about his friend: but he is pleasantly surprised to realize that the magical pot is right next to him when he gets up!!

See also: Shojo, Kameosa

[Art sticker by @samkalensky part of my 'Did you Noh?' collection of stickers check my shop and support for more!]