The Noh Mask Effect - Archive of Research Materials on Noh Masks and Facial Expression

Contains materials related to research on culture and viewpoint-dependent perception of facial expressions portrayed on masks used in the Japanese Noh Theatre. The archive includes the images used in the experiments as well as various documents related to the project.

Animations

animated gif of the antique Magojiro mask tilting forwards & back

mp4 file with a comparison of new & old masks at different tilts

Article

pdf of article on the research project

atr99.pdf contains a short summary of the project that may be helpful

manuscript of the article (latex source files)

correspondence with the publisher

final versions of the article figures

Composites

composite figures of masks and human face at varying tilts

Experimental Stimuli

folders XA, XC, XH, XT

only XA and XH were used for experiments reported in the article

tilt angles range from -30 to 30 degrees in 5 degree steps

XA: antique Magojiro mask from Edo period

XC: Magojiro mask from the current era (1980s or 90s)

XH: female human face, images rendered from 3D scan

XT: Ko-omote mask made by an amateur carver (collection of MJL)

Misc

'behind the scenes' photos

view of the Noh stage at the Nara Shin Kokai Do in Nara Koen

view of the camera and apparatus used to adjust the tilt angle

shape images rendered from scans of the Ko-omote mask and human face

view of the Magojiro mask from the current era (collection of the Komparu family)

close up of mouth area of the Magojiro mask from the current era

view of the antique Edo period Magojiro mask

view of the reverse of the antique Magojiro mask showing inscriptions

Thank you for your interest in the project.

Michael Lyons, Ph.D.
Professor of Image Arts and Science
Ritsumeikan University
Kyoto, Japan