Theatrical Masks of Animals
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Kyōgen Mask: Saru
Muromachi–Azuchi–Momoyama period, 16th centuryJapanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 14
August 26, 2025 (Tue) - November 9, 2025 (Sun)In its long history, Japan has seen a blossoming of a range of performing arts in which performers would put on masks. They include gigaku, a Buddhism-related performing art that entered the country during the Asuka period (593–710) via continental Asia; bugaku, which developed as a masked theatrical performance of the imperial court; and noh and kyōgen, which were perfected in the Muromachi period (1392–1573).
Among various masks used for these traditional performing arts of Japan, masks representing animals are especially remarkable. This exhibition presents a variety of animal-themed masks used for traditional Japanese performing arts. We hope that these distinctively featured masks of animals will give you a glimpse into how people of the past observed animals.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | "Bugaku" Mask: "Korobase" | Heian period, 1042 | Lent by Tamukeyama Hachimangū Shrine, Nara | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | "Bugaku" Mask: "Ryō'ō" | Kamakura period, 1211 | Lent by Masumida Shrine, Aichi | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Noh Mask: "Dei no Kotobide" | Passed down by the Konparu Troupe | Muromachi period, 15th–16th century | C-1557 | ||
| Highlight | "Kyōgen" Mask: "Saru" | Muromachi–Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century | C-1145 | ||||
| Highlight | "Kyōgen" Mask: "Usobuki" | Azuchi-Momoyama–Edo period, 16th–17th century | C-180 |