Japanese Noh masks are carved from blocks of Japanese cypress, and painted with natural pigments on a neutral base of glue and crunched seashell. Noh masks are used in Noh theatre, a traditional Japanese form of theater that combines music, dance, and drama. Noh theatre is known for its stylized acting, its use of masks, and its focus on themes of death, loss, and redemption. There are approximately 450 different masks mostly based on sixty types, all of which have distinctive names. Some masks are representative and frequently used in many different plays, while some are very specific and may only be used in one or two plays. Noh masks signify the characters' gender, age, and social ranking, and by wearing masks the actors may portray youngsters, old men, female, or nonhuman (divine or demonic) characters.
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