Biography

Lilico Aso is a Noh mask artist, contemporary artist, face researcher, and scriptwriter based in Japan.

Atelier: Yuri-an.

Rooted in a 600-year tradition of Noh mask carving, she extends that practice into contemporary art and research.

 

Noh Mask Artist

Began studying traditional Noh mask carving in 2018.

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Selected Exhibitions
2025 · The Vessel of the Unseen — 't Japans Cultureel Centrum, Amsterdam
2025 · The Vessel of the Unseen — EARTH+GALLERY, Tokyo
2025 · 52nd Nissho Exhibition — The National Art Center, Tokyo
2024 · Nangain Exhibition — Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo
2023 · 4th Nakamura Mitsue Ichimon Noh Mask Exhibition — Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo
2023 · Synchro Art — Ginza Six, Tokyo
2022 · Nakamura Mitsue and Four Students Exhibition — Tanaka Yaesu Gallery, Tokyo

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Selected Performances
2024 · Umewaka-kai Noh Performance Funabenkei — Tokyo
2023 · Umewaka-kai Noh Performance Chikubushima / Matsukaze — Tokyo
2022 · Otsuki Nohgakudo Student Noh Aoi no Ue — Osaka
2021 · Agency for Cultural Affairs National Tour Momijigari — Japan

 

Face Researcher

Associate Director, Japanese Academy of Facial Studies (2026–)
Member, Japanese Academy of Facial Studies (2021–)

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Selected Publications & Presentations
2025 · Essential Role of Real Faces in Face-to-Face Communication
       Japanese Academy of Facial Studies Journal
       Co-researcher: Prof. Emeritus Yoshiki Oshida, Indiana University
2025 · How Does the Noh Mask Generate Omokage?
       Forum on Face Studies 2025, Japanese Academy of Facial Studies
       Co-researcher: Prof. Emeritus Yoshiki Oshida, Indiana University
2025 · Laughing, Talking Noh Mask — Generating Face-ness in 3D Models through Virtual Light Manipulation · Audience Prize
       Forum on Face Studies 2025, Japanese Academy of Facial Studies
       Co-researcher: Yoshito Tanaka, TOPPAN HD
2023 · How Do People See and Feel the Noh Mask?
       Forum on Face Studies 2023, Japanese Academy of Facial Studies
2023 · Analysis of Gaze Movement in Noh Mask Appreciation
       25th Annual Conference, Japan Society of Kansei Engineering
2023 · Media Art Presenting the Appeal of Noh Masks in a New Form
       INTERACTION 2023, Information Processing Society of Japan

 

Scriptwriter

2012 · Science Drama Award, Grand Prize — Japan Science and Technology Agency

 

Media

2025 · République des Arts — Featured
2024 · CNN Documentary Artisans — Featured
2023 · The New York Times — "The Female Artisans Honoring, and Reinventing, Japanese Noh Masks"