Waka Onna Noh Mask

A Waka-onna mask of exquisite delicacy, distinguished from the Ko-omote variant by its distinctive hairstyle: two of the three delicate strands emerge from a center part and fall elegantly across the upper forehead before meeting at the temples. While retaining the serene expression of the Ko-omote—with the corners of the mouth slightly turned up—this mask reveals a more refined and sophisticated beauty, in keeping with the character it represents.

The Waka-onna depicts a young woman more sophisticated than the ingénue Ko-omote, her face expressing refined grace while retaining the freshness of youth. The delicacy of the carving reveals the subtle transition from girlhood to womanhood, capturing that fleeting moment between innocence and experience.

Signed 田中巧斎作 (Tanaka Kōsai saku), with the artist’s seal affixed to the original storage box, matching the seal engraved on the back of the mask.