Amenokoyane Mask

It has been a long time since I have had the time to finish any masks, but finally......

It is Amenokoyane, and he appears in the Iwato dance as one of the kami performing rituals to try and entice Amaterasu out of the cave. A friend of mine who dances this character says it is one of the most difficult to perform because the knees are bent all the time to emulate the movements of an old man.

Amenokoyane is considered to be the ancestor of the Nakatomi, who became the Fujiwara, virtual rulers of Japan for centuries.

For any new readers, here is a link to my other masks.

Iwami Kagura Masks