Seven masks

Series
18 kabuki plays

Series Number
06

Title in English
Seven masks

Title in Japanese
七つ面 Nanatsu men

Title in French
Sept masques

The play
Nanatsu Men”, which literally means “Seven Masks”, was staged for the first time in 1740 in Edo with Ichikawa Ebizô II playing the role of the mask-maker Gagoze Akaemon, in reality Awazu Rokurô Saemon. This first version was not entitled “Nanatsu Men”, as Ichikawa Ebizô II used only 5 masks on stage. He revived the scene in 1742 in Ôsaka and then received the title “Nanatsu Men” and quickly went into oblivion. It was revived by Ichikawa Danjûrô IX with a new version which was entitled “Shin Nanatsu Men” (New seven masks) and was staged in November 1893 in Tokyo. The 1740 version of “Nanatsu Men” was revived by Ichikawa Sanshô V and the playwright Yamazaki Shikô in May 1936 and the 1742 version of “Nanatsu Men” was revived in January 1983.

The story
The mask-maker Gagoze Akaemon removes the lids of several decorative mask boxes, revealing seven different masks inside including those for old people and demons. He discovers a stolen scroll hidden in the mouth of the last mask (the seventh one), the mask of an evil character. He gives back the precious scroll to its legitimate owner. In the play, the actor uses quick-change techniques to portray each of the masks with a dance.