Noh Costume (Nuihaku)

This is a nuihaku, a kosode type of Noh costume meant for the inner garment. It also refers to the metallic leaf and embroidery techniques used to create them. The patterning on this garment features books and Nandia branches. The red of the berries on the branches promotes youth, and the gold background evokes the aristocratic, so this would have been worn by an actor to play an upper-class woman. The books also evoke the aristocratic attitude in a similar sense, also referencing well-known literacy such as The Tale of Genji. Again, it was a costume for a female role and played by a male actor. Noh performances were not just meant for entertainment, but also aimed to educate women and young people that were able to watch these performances (Denney 123). So, the references to the aristocratic can be understood to show this audience what they should ideally be, through the association of the actor’s dress and performance.