Traditionally used in theatre, Noh masks are considered to be supernatural. There are many different types of Noh Masks, many are equally unsettling to look at. Most Noh masks represent both a smiling face and a sad face when you look at it from different angles. If you tilt upwards while wearing the mask, it will have a smiling expression. If the mask is tilted downwards, it will seem sad and depressed.
These usually expensive masks used to be kept primarily by wealthy people and weren't that commonly spread. Some of the famous Noh masks in Japan include kitsune (fox) masks, Oni (devil) masks, and Onna (female kei) masks.
Legend has it that, when worn, the masks begin to absorb the negative emotions of the wearer. The masks feed off negative energy such as anger, hostility, or jealousy. Therefore, if the owner constantly has these negative emotions, the mask will use this energy to come to life. The mask then starts to persuade the owner to continue to wear it, softly whispering to them that it will help them fulfill their greatest wishes. Once on the face, the mask sucks the owner's life until the body begins to rot.
When the owner has passed away, the mask will continue to use the dead body while it searches for a new victim. After that, the mask will stick the body of its previous victim onto the new owner.
In other words, the Noh mask becomes a pile of decomposing bodies with a persuasive mask on top. The more you think about it, the more disturbing it becomes.
But, even with this urban legend around, many people still love Japanese Noh masks. There are even ceremonies that include every individual wearing a Noh mask. The reason this urban legend started is probably since the old ones look ten times creepier than the modern ones we use today, and Japanese folklore always consists of evil spirits and mythical ideas.
Trust me, if you look up a kitsune mask now, it looks pretty cool, but if you look up the extremely old ones, it looks like a terrifying cat monster. I personally love kitsune masks, and might even buy one soon myself, so hopefully this legend isn't real at all.
And if it is... I'm still buying one anyways.
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Japanese Urban Legends
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