Iwami Kagura Mask Kobayashi Kobo [Yunotsu-cho, Ota]

Experience Iwami Kagura mask painting with the owner, Mr. Kobayashi, who is full of love for Iwami Kagura

Kagura masks are a traditional craft essential to Iwami Kagura. Each Iwami Kagura mask is carefully hand-made, mostly from light and strong Sekishu washi paper. Mr. Taizo Kobayashi is a kagura mask maker, Iwami Kagura performer, and the owner of Ishikawa Kobo. The kobo is located close to the old hot spring town of Yunotsu, a World Heritage site.

He started learning the technique of kagura mask making at the age of 11, and since then he has been energetically working both in Japan and overseas as a young inheritor of the traditional art of kagura mask making, and sometimes as an ambassador of the splendor of Iwami Kagura to the world. He also offers visitors to Yunotsu the opportunity to experience the world of Iwami Kagura in a casual way by trying their hand at the painting of kagura masks.

Miwa Ishihara tried it right away. From four types of masks, she chose the mask of “Shoki,” which represents the wish to ward off plagues.

While receiving polite instruction from Mr. Kobayashi, Miwa’s expression when using the paint brush was very serious. The mask was already made from layered washi paper and painted with a base coat. She drew a beard and hair on the surface and put her soul into it. It takes approximately 60 minutes to complete a single mask.

“Many people paint while looking at a sample, but the interesting thing is that it comes to look like the face of the person who painted it.”

As Mr. Kobayashi said, it is up to the person to decide whether to follow the sample or to express their own originality. However, he said that even if people think they are following the sample, when they see the finished mask, it is strangely unique and no two masks are the same.

The Shoki mask on which Miwa worked very hard was for a powerful male deity, but with a soft, feminine tenderness.

“It’s done! I'll take it and display it at home.”

With the finished mask in her hands, she couldn't help but smile.