Angling the mask slightly downward is known as kumorasu, or “to make a sad face,” and angling the mask slightly upward is known as terasu, or “to make a happy face.” In Noh, an unmasked face is known as a “straight face” and the same terms are used when the unmasked face is similarly moved. Kumorasu literally means “to cloud” and is used to communicate emotions like sadness, while terasu, which literally means “to shine” is used to communicate brighter emotions such as happiness. However, the nuanced performances of the Noh actors communicate a range of lively emotions in addition to kumorasu and terasu.
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