Noh Mask

MOA: University of British Columbia

3139/22 a-b

Carved wooden Noh mask of “Ja”. Painted stringy black hair and very faint eyebrows at the top of its forehead. The skin is painted red and dark pink, the fangs are dark grey and gold, and its lips are red. The lower jaw is jutting forward, and it has protruding gold eyes and two horns. There is a dark purple cord on the back of the mask attached through small holes at the temples. There are holes carved in the eyes and nostrils. The back of the mask is dark brown wood stamped with the maker’s mark. Part b is a grey fabric bag for part a, decorated with a pattern in blue, pink and grey circles. The inside of the bag is made with white fabric, written on with black ink Japanese characters. The bag closes with white cloth ties.


  • Type of Item mask
  • Culture Japanese
  • Material wood, paint, silk fibre
  • Measurements height 11.6 cm, width 15.5 cm, depth 23.5 cm (part a) height 2.0 cm, width 24.5 cm, depth 29.5 cm (part b)

  • Previous Owner U.B.C. Centre for Japanese Research
  • Received from U.B.C. Centre for Japanese Research

  • Made in Japan

  • Ownership Date before October 1, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on October 1, 2015

  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3139/0022 a-b