 The Hannya mask is used in many noh and kyōgen Japanese plays, as well as in Shinto ritual kagura dances.The Hannya mask portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy (similar to the Buddhist concept of a "Hungry ghost").Plays in which a person may wear the hannya mask include "Aoi no Ue" and "Dōjōji"; its use in these two plays, two of the most famous of the Noh repertoire, and its distinctive and frightening appearance make it one of the most recognizable Noh masks.