Kumadori

File:Kuniyoshi Utagawa, Japan, The actor.jpg

The hero of wearing makeup. Print by

is the stage makeup worn by kabuki actors, mostly when performing kabuki plays in the style. The term also applies to a painting method in which two brushes are used simultaneously, one for the color and the other used to create shading or other details.

makeup generally consists of brightly coloured stripes or patterns over a white foundation, the colours and patterns symbolising aspects of the character. Though was originated and developed extensively by members of the family of actors, some conventions are creations of the line.

Colours

Only a few colours are used in makeup; red, blue, brown and black. Whilst black is simply used to exaggerate features, such as eyebrows and the line of the mouth, the other colours are used to tell the audience about the character's nature.

Red indicates a powerful hero role, often a character with virtue and courage. The most famous role to use red is that of the hero in , , and has come to stereotypically represent kabuki in the West.

Blue makeup is used to represent a villain, human or not, and represents negative emotions such as fear and jealousy. Ghosts in traditional Japanese dramas are often trapped by their attachment to such emotions, and so often wear blue makeup; (fox spirits) such as in wear blue makeup as well.

Brown represents monsters and non-human spirits, such as (demons). One example of the usage of brown is the (ground spider) fought by in .

Patterns

Though only four colours are used, there are over 50 different patterns of . is worn symmetrically on both sides. Some patterns are used for a number of roles, as they have come to represent a specific type of character over time, regardless of the play being performed:

• - this style of features two red lines leading up into the hairline, one leading off the eyebrows and one leading off the eyeline. This pattern is used to express quiet strength in heroes.
• - the most well-known pattern of red , as seen in on the hero . Its dramatic red lines represent the power and righteous anger of the character.
• - a stylish form of red used for young, handsome and virtuous heroes. The character of in wears , and is the epitome of a handsome kabuki hero attempting to win the love of a high-ranking courtesan.
• - the style of used for comic villains; though the is red, the lines used make the character look like an animal, indicating that they should not be taken seriously. Some forms of make the character look like a monkey, or a crab.
• - a dramatic form of blue used to indicate a villainous imperial court aristocrat looking to overthrow those in power. The design used is very similar to that of .

An impression of a kabuki actor's face make-up, preserved on a piece of cloth, is known as an .