Foreword from Noh Mask Craftswoman, Mitsue Nakamura

Noh Mask Craftswoman, Mitsue Nakamura The expression of the Noh mask, the way it looks to us, shows as figurative expression of unemotional mask. However, the distinctive characteristic of Noh world is to express compassion and the intimate aspect of the person rather than story line. In this context, the Noh masks appear in the theatrical shows expressing rich emotions. The Noh masks are formatively designated to express the various emotions of humans (truthfully, the spirits and gods), such as: anger, sorrowfulness, joyfulness, sadness, hatefulness, jealousness, shyness, and a pounding heart the way it felt in first love. In fact, the masks change its expression greatly when there is a slight change on its angles.

The Noh actors, who put on the mask, are always concern on the angles when they wear the mask. In this website, you can actually see the Noh masks changing their facial expressions in various ways. Those changes on facial expressions shown in this website use a series taken photographs and not modified by the computer graphics.

 

 

Latest News

On all JAL domestic and international flights, Mitsue Nakamura's productions are used in the in-flight video at the time of disembarkation

The in-flight video that is played when passengers disembark from Japan Airlines (JAL) has been renewed for the first time in 12 years.
Mitsue Nakamura's production scenery is used in the in-flight video.

The film will be broadcast on all domestic and international routes from 24 January 2024, when the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will be introduced.
The film features people active in various parts of Japan who are responsible for culture and technology, and expresses Japaneseness and JAL's character by placing people, such as delicate skills and gestures, at the core of the programme.

 

 

The 22nd Shirakawa-kai Noh mask exhibition Mitsue Nakamura Noh mask class

A joint exhibition of works from three classrooms (Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo)
This year, it will be held at the nationally registered cultural property "Shimadai."
We look forward to your visit.

 

Special exhibition:
copies of masks from the collection of the Umewaka Minoru (Rokuro) family.

November 24 (Fri.) - 26 (Sun.), 2023
10:00 - 18:00 (until 16:00 on the last day)

 

Venue: Shimadai, East Wing

North side, Karasuma Higashi-iru, Oike-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
(70m east of Exit 1 at Karasuma-Oike Subway Station)
TEL : 075-221-5007
《 Admission free 》

View in google map

Nakamura Ichimon Noh mask ExhibitionClick to enlarge

 

 

Noh mask production process was introduced on our YouTube channel.

Mitsue Nakamura's Noh mask production process was introduced on "process X," a YouTube channel that introduces "craftsmanship.

 

 

 

The 4th Mitsuie Nakamura Ichimon Noh mask Exhibition

We are pleased to announce that we will hold a joint exhibition of works by our three schools (Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theater this coming April.

This will be a different exhibition from the one held in Kyoto, which has become a regular event. We hope you will enjoy the exhibition.

 

《 Admission free 》

[Period]
April 6 (Thu) - 9 (Sun), 2023
10:00 - 18:00 (until 16:00 on the last day)

[Venue]
Tokyo Metropolitan Theater
B1F Atelier East
B1F 1-8-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

[Access]
JR, Tokyo Metro, Tobu Tojo Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line
2 minutes walk from West Exit of Ikebukuro Station, directly
connected to Exit 2b of the underground passageway

View in google map

Nakamura Ichimon Noh mask ExhibitionClick to enlarge

 

 

The 21th Shirakawa-kai Noh Masks Exhibition Mitsue Nakamura Noh Masks Class

A joint exhibition of works from three classrooms (Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo)
It will be held again this year at the nationally registered cultural property "Shimadai."

We look forward to seeing you all.

 

Special Exhibition : Satsuki Noma

November 25 (Fri.) - 27 (Sun.), 2022
10:00 - 18:00 (until 16:00 on the last day)

 

Venue: Shimadai, East Wing

North side, Karasuma Higashi-iru, Oike-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
(70m east of Exit 1 at Karasuma-Oike Subway Station)
TEL : 075-221-5007
《 Admission free 》

View in google map

Click to enlarge

 

 

Mitsue Nakamura and Four Disciples Exhibition

In November 2022, I will hold a big exhibition in Tokyo with four of my disciples, in which more than 140 Noh masks will be exhibited. It will be an exhibition full of enthusiasm and the ingenuity of young people.
Please come and visit us.

 

《 Admission free 》

[Period]
November 15th (Tue) - 21st (Mon), 2022
10:30-19:00 (until 16:00 on the last day)

[Venue]
Tanaka Yaesu Gallery
03-3271-7026
1-5-15 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

[Access]
3 minute walk from Yaesu North Exit of JR Tokyo Station

View in google map

Click to enlarge

 

 

Video showing Mitsue Nakamura Noh Mask Workshop Student Exhibition 2021

Here is a video shown at the Mitsue Nakamura Noh Mask Workshop Student Exhibition 2021.

 

 

 

The 7th "Chokoku Kaji to Takumi-tachi"

We are pleased to announce that we will participate in the exhibition, "Chokoku Kaji to Takumi-tachi" at Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
The exhibition will feature works by artists who use advanced carving techniques such as Danjiri carving, Kazari Kanzashi, lacquer craft, carving knives, wood carving, Kirigane, Kumagawa carving, etc., as well as genuine carving knives that show the skill of the carving smiths.
Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

 

[Dates]

Saturday, July 6 - Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 10:30 - 19:30
Closes at 17:00 on the last day

[Venue]

〒150-0012
Gallery Hiroo, Hiroo Plaza 2F, 5-6-6 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1 minute walk from Hiroo Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

View in google map

Click to enlarge

 

 

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