Keywords
Art History
Sculpture
Also usofuki, sometimes written 嘯吹. Lit. "bluffer or whistler"; a humorous mask used in kyōgen 狂言 plays. Characterized by pursed lips, sunken cheeks, bulging round crossed eyes and a furrowed forehead, usobuki appears to be blowing with all his might.
This comic mask is used for a wide range of kyōgen roles, particularly the spirits of plants, fish, and insects, including ants and cicada. Usobuki represents mushrooms in the play Kusabira 茸 (Mushrooms), a scarecrow in Urinusubito 瓜盗人 (The Melon Thief), a mosquito in Kazumō 蚊相撲 (Wrestling with a Mosquito), and the spirit of pine resin in Matsuyani 松脂 (The Spirit of Pine Resin). In the play Yao 八尾 (A Sinner with References), usobuki is used to play a sinner on his way to hell.