Kabuki Make-up
Kabuki Kumadori 歌舞伎隈取
Kabuki Kumadori is the specific kabuki make-up which emphasizes the face contours and express the emotions growing out of the character's personality. The Kumadori make-up (literally Shadow painting) have been created in the second half of 17th century and are mostly used in Aragoto-style roles.
Kumadori's three basic colors are red, black and blue applied over a white or reddish base. Additional colors such as ochre, gold or purple can also be employed. A brush is used to apply the colors working from the top of the face to the bottom. The actor uses his finger tips to shape and shade.
The two main categories are beni-guma (red) indicating strength, passion and vitality and ai-guma (bleu) indicating fear, supernatural and evil. The other colors such as green indicate ghosts while purple or gold indicate nobility.
Ota Masamitsu made 72 prints describing the different make-up styles in 1928 (Vol.1) -1929 (Vol.2-vol.12) in 12 albums of 6 prints. (All images below courtesy of Darrel C. Karl (https://mjpap.com/index.html)
Volume 1 with envelop
(Image Artelino)
Volume 1 with explanation note
(Image Artelino)
#01 (vol.1)
Role: Kanabôhiki
Play: Kuruma-biki (Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami, Act 3, scene 1
Make-up: Congratulations for the imperial coronation
#02 (Vol.4)
Role: Tora (Tiger)
Play: Ryûko
Make-up: Tiger
#03 (Vol.1)
Role: Lion spirit
Play: Shakkyo
Make-up: Red Lion
#03 (Vol.1)
Role: Lion spirit
Play: Shakkyo
Make-up: Golden Lion
#04 (Vol.1)
Role: Otokonosuke
Play: Meiboku Sendai Hagi
#05 (Vol.9)
Role: Seitaka Dôji
Play: Takinoba (Fudô)
#06 (Vol.3)
Role: Kajiwara Kagetaka
Play: Soga no Taimen
Make-up: "Old Kajiwara"
#07 (Vol.10)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Shôjô
#08 (vol.6)
Role: Kumagai Jirô Naozane
Play: Ichi-no-ani Futaba Gunki
Make-up: Kuma (Bear)
#09 (Vol.7)
Role: Kajiwara Kagetaka
Play: for in play "Soga-no-Taimen"
Make-up for "Young Kajiwara"
#10 (Vol.8)
Role: Oni (Red devil)
Play: Various
#11 (Vol.2)
Role: Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Genroku Shibaraku
#12 (Vol.5)
Role: Kaidomaru
Play: Yamanba (The old woman in the Mountain)
#13 (Vol.3)
Role: Seimen Kongo
Play: Enmusubi
Make-up: Aisen Myoô
#14 (Vol.2)
Role: Seimen Kongô
Play: Hidari Jingorô
#15 (Vol.6)
Role: Fudô
Play: Fudô
#16 (Vol.4)
Role: Kani (Crab)
Play: ?
#17 (Vol.3)
Role: Asagao Sempei
Play: Sukeroku
#18 (Vol.2)
Role: Matsuomaru (Pine)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: Old
#19 (Vol.10)
Role: Benkei
Play: Kanjincho
Make-up: Antique Benkei
#20 (Vol.2)
Role: Benkei
Play: Gosho Zakura Horikawa no Youchi
#21 (Vol.6)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Gama (Toad)
#22 (Vol.8)
Role: Sakuramaru (Cherry-tree)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
#23 (Vol.11)
Role: Puppet impersonating Kwan the Minister Sugawara
Play: Tenjinki
Make-up: Kanshôjô of Mt. Tempai-san
#24 (vol.10)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Nihon (Two-lines)
#25 (Vol.12)
Role: Gokumon Shobei (Shobei the scaffolded)
Play: ?
#26 (Vol.5)
Role: Shirabyôshi Hanakô as Kiyohime
Play: Musume Dojôji
#27 (Vol.9)
Role: Shirabyôshi Hanakô as Kiyohime
Play: Musume-Dojôji
Make-up: Demon-witch
#28 (Vol.9)
Role: Higuchi
Play: Sakarô (Hirakana Seisuiki)
#29 (Vol.8)
Role: Umeômaru (Plum-tree)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: Two-lines
#30 (Vol.12)
65 Role: Konkara Dôji
Play: Scene Nachi waterfall in Mongaku Shônin
#31 (Vol.8)
Role: Songôku
Play: Tsuizoku Sayûki
Make-up: Saru (Monkey)
#32 (Vol.10)
Role: Matsuomaru (Pine)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: Two-lines with flame
#33 (Vol.5)
Role: Kuretake
Play: Uwanari (Jealousy)
#34 (Vol.2)
Role: Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Suji (with stripes)
#35 (Vol.6)
Role: Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Suji (Black circle)
#36 (Vol.9)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Suji (Black circle)
#37 (Vol.11)
Role: Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Simplified Suji (Black circle)
#38 (Vol.11)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Akanuri (Red painting)
#39 (Vol.7)
Role: Kagekiyo
Play: Kagekiyo
Make-up: Old
#40 (Vol.1)
Role: Moronoa
Play: Kanadehon Chushingura
Make-up: Kensaki
#41 (Vol.10)
Role: Kagekiyo
Play: Kagekiyo
Make-up: Modern
#42 (Vol.8)
Role: Kagekiyo
Play: Kagekiyo
Make-up: Modern
#43 (Vol.11)
Role: Moronoa
Play: Kanadehon Chushingura
Make-up: Modern Kensaki
#44 (Vol.6)
Role: Spirit of the Eel
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Eel
#45 (Vol.10)
Role: Namazu-Bôzu
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Modern Namazu (catfish)
#46 (Vol.1)
Role: Kijo
Make-up: Yamanaka Heikurô Kijo
#47 (Vol.11)
Role: Tosabo
Play: Imo Arai Kanjincho
#48 (Vol.7)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Sôsei
#49 (Vol.5)
Role: Umeômaru (plum-tree)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: One-line
#50 (Vol.7)
Role: Umeômaru (plum-tree)
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: One-line
#51 (Vol.10)
Role: Haradashi
Play: Shibaraku (Just a moment)
Make-up: Haradashi (Unclad abdomen)
#52 (Vol.4)
Role: Warriors Haradashi
Play: Shibaraku (Just a moment)
#53 (Vol.4) Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: 63 days
#54 (Vol.12)
Role: Kanabô-hiki
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
Make-up: Kanabô-hiki (Fore-runner with staff)
#55 (Vol.1)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Mukimi
#56 (Vol.9)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Antique Mukimi
#57 (Vol.3)
Role: Yakko
Play: Yakko Dako Sato no Harukaze
#58 (Vol.7)
Role: Tadanobu
Play: Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Make-up: Antique fire
#59 (Vol.12)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Abridged Kayen (Fire and flame)
#60 (Vol.12)
Role: Kijô
Play: Shinkyoku Momijigari
Make-up: Momijigari (The demon-witch in "Admiring the autumn foliage")
#61 (Vol.9)
Role: Asahina
Play: Shôfudatsuki Kongen Kusazuri
Make-up: Asahina #1
#62 (Vol.12)
Role: Asashina
Play: Shôfudatsuki Kongen Kusazuri
Make-up: Asashina #2
#63 (Vol.2)
Role: ?
Play: ?
Make-up: Namanari
#64 (Vol.3)
Role: Kugeaku
Play: ?
Make-up: Kuge-are #1
#65 (Vol.6)
Role: Kugeaku
Play: ?
Make-up: Kuge-are #2
#66 (Vol.7)
Role: Kugeaku
Play: ?
Make-up: Kuge-are #3
#67 (Vol.5)
Role: Kugeaku
Play: ?
Make-Up: Kuge-are Simple
#68 (Vol.4)
Role: Abe-no-Nakamaro
Play: ?
Make-up: for a court noble
#69 (Vol.8)
Role: Prince Shiheikô
Play: Sugawara Denju Tenari Kagami
#70 (Vol.5)
Role: Servants
Play: Shibaraku
Make-up: Bat
#71 (Vol.3)
Role: Soga Goro
Play: Kanadehon Chushingura
Make-up ancient for the intruder Soga
#72 (Vol.4)
Role: Tadanobu
Play: Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Make-up: Old