This volume investigates the historical significance, aesthetic construction, and performative function of masks within the traditional Japanese theatrical forms of Noh and Kyogen. Editor Rebecca Teele compiles a series of scholarly essays and primary source interviews to examine how these physical objects dictate movement, characterization, and the spiritual atmosphere of the stage. The text serves as a technical resource for understanding the intersection of craftsmanship and dramatic practice in classical Japanese performance.

This collection provides a specialized, academic look at the intersection of material culture and performance art. The inclusion of practitioner interviews offers a grounded perspective that complements the historical and aesthetic analysis, making it a valuable reference for students of theater history.