Noh mask, "waka Onna " Signed Ujiharu Fukakusa

This is a Noh "Waka Onna" mask by Kiyoharu Nagasawa with a wooden presentation plate. signed with the cartouche of Nagasawa Kiyoharu also known as joharu fukakusa Born in 1927, he is the son of Nagasawa Ujiharu, consecrated by the Japanese government as a "living national treasure for noh masks". he learned his father's talented skills the mask comes with its box with "young woman" written on the outside, and its brocade bag, as well as a presentation plaque. for a comparable mask see Bonhams : https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25415/lot/285/nagasawa-kiyoharu-born-circa-1927-a-noh-mask-of-young-woman-magojiroshowa-1926-1989-era-late-20th-century/ Waka Onna: When the Kanze troupe was confronted with other troupes that had adopted the most emblematic young women's masks, it found itself without a mask representative of the troupe. The 10 th master shakon shigenari entrusted Kawachi with the delicate mission of creating a mask to represent the Kanze troupe. Despite all his genius, Kawachi was unable to deviate from the canons that had been established for decades. waka onna is a little fuller-bodied, but still shares the same features as Ko omote and fukishizo. it's simply the acting that sets her apart. Ko omote is charming and pretty, Mago giro a sensual beauty. Waka onna and fukishizo transform sensuality into beauty and grace. the kanze troupe played with elegance and restraint, in contrast to the exuberance of the Kongo troupe (magojiro) or the simple interpretation of the Konparu and Kita troupe.