Kumadori

Kumadori (Japanese隈 取) is the Japanese term for the mask-like make-up of the actors in the Kabuki theater.

This makeup style is very distinctive; he was probably invented by Ichikawa Danjūrō ​​I for his Aragoto characters, although its actual origin is unknown. Kumadori consists of a white or pink make-up base, supplemented with strong red, blue or brown lines or with a little black. The purpose of the lines is to define the facial muscles that will produce the intended expression and clear as much as possible to emphasize. This was already very helpful, when there was no electric light. The sharp lines are applied with a brush and then blurred by the actor with his finger on purpose, in order to align the transition to the applied there color. This provides a realistic line, which is similar to the veins. A further aspect of the colors is kumadori that the red color that is used for the heroes, this gives an expression as if they were imbued with a sense of righteousness and indignation, while the blue that carry the villains, they appear cold blood leaves. Unfortunately, no kumadori that has been used by I. Danjūrō ​​survived.

The oldest known Kumadori style, which is still in use, is the saruguma, which was in 1690 supported by the actor Nakamura I. Denkuro while playing the character of Asahina on Nakamura -za in Edo. One of the finest styles is the mukimiguma that was worn in the role of Sukeroku. Sukerokus character has a very human side, and he is less fantastic, and so in this makeup only the lips and the eyes are highlighted. The makeup of the Kamakura Gongoro and his opponent Takehira from the piece Shibaraku other hand, are perfect examples of a very eccentric kumadori. Gongoro wearing the red sujiguma style of the superhero while wearing the blue Takehira hannyaguma style that is typical of the kugeaku, the aristocratic villain. While red and blue - always provided with a bit of black at certain points - the main colors are, have the demons, as the Tsuchigumo Spider in the same piece and the demon from the Momijigari a brown kumadori.