kojō 小尉

Also called kōjijō 小牛尉, sometimes pronounced kōshijō. A type of noh mask *nōmen 能面 representing a dignified old man, jō 尉. A gentle, refined expression is achieved in the soft curves of the upturned mouth and high forehead, lined with shallowly carved wrinkles. The absence of lower teeth combined with painted mustache mark this as the most dignified of the old men masks. Head hair and beard are made of implanted tan horsehair. The main role, shite シテ in the first act of noh plays like Takasago 高砂, Yumiyawata 弓八幡, and Naniwa 難波 wears the kojō. The term for this mask comes from the name of Kōshi Kiyomitsu 小牛清光 (end of 14th century), said to have first created the type. The earliest extant example is owned by the Kongō 金剛 school.