Question on BLACK mouth.

[Ito, Michiko]

Hi,
 
I think you are talking about "ohaguro."  According to Encyclopedia Japan:
Tooth blackening, also known as kane. Until the late 19th century the custom was believed to enhance sex appeal and help maintain healthy teeth. The mixture used was made by soaking iron or nails in tea, sake, and other ingredients to produce a liquid blackened by the metal's oxidation. Until about the 12th century tooth blackening was a sign of a girl's coming of age. During the 12th century the custom spread to male nobility and samurai. By the 18th century it was again confined to women and was fairly universal. Later, however, it was used by married women only, and the custom continued until the end of the 19th century, when Western influences rendered it obsolete.

I don't know about movies on "kokeshi" wooden dolls. . . 

Michiko Ito
Japanese Studies Librarian
East Asian Library
University of Kansas Libraries
Watson Library
1425 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 60045-7544
TEL: (785) 864-4669
FAX: (785) 864-3850 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of Mathieu St-Pierre
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 9:41 AM
To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Question on BLACK mouth.


Hello Kine-Japaners!
 
Since im in Japan right now for about 1 month 1/2 I watch a lot of tv at night while drinking sake. I was wondering about one thing on some Japanese historical movies... Why do all women have the mouth "painted" in black??? While the male actor have nice teeth and no black mouth?
At first I thought it was only one old movie that wanted to make the effect of bad teeth or something, but all historical movies including recent ones show women with black mouth. I'm not sure but I think for the exception of tv drama women dont have black mouth?
 
Also, my second question is; Do you know any movies that show, talk or make portrait of Kokoshi? (The little wooden Japanese doll)?
 
cheers!   <http://graphics.hotmail.com/i.p.emcocktl.gif> 
 
 
Mathieu

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