The makeup and costumes of each female stock character have distinct characteristics.
Musumeyaku(Young Woman)
Akahime (Red Princess)
As many young women from samurai families and noble houses are played in gorgeous costumes made of embroidered red silk, they are known as akahime, or “red princesses.” The red color expresses the akahime’s high station and the passion of their love; their hair ornaments are also splendid. The akahime is established as having a quiet, noble, and single minded character.
Musume (Daughter)
The daughter of a commoner is played in the clothes that were popular among young women during the Edo period (1603-1868). The musume is established as having an innocent and lively character. The determined machi-musume (daughter living in the city) wears a brilliant-hued kimono, and the obi (sash) is tied so that long parts hang down. On the other hand, the simple inaka-musume (daughter living in the village) has a costume with plainer colors and patterns than the machi-musume – perhaps a calm green color or a refreshing light blue.
Nyoboyaku (Wife)
Sewa-nyobo (Commoner’s Wife)
A commoner’s wife is established as being devoted to her husband and having a caring temperament. The actor uses makeup to blur the eyebrows, and wears a conservative outfit: a kimono with a subdued hue, and a black collar and obi.
Kata-hazushi (Samurai Wife or Servant)
The stock character of the wife of a samurai family or a lady-in-waiting is known as a kata-hazushi, named after the wig that the actor uses. These roles are established as being as intelligent as the male tachiyaku (lead role), and having an inner strength. The actor uses makeup to blur the eyebrows, and wears an uchikake kimono over a plain kimono. Particularly important roles will have a costume made of red cloth to emphasize the strength of their determination and their gorgeousness.
Keisei (Courtesan)
Keisei are established as courtesans of the highest rank and are essentially beautiful, dignified, and clever. The actor wears a particularly large obi with fantastic ornaments attached over his dazzling, extravagant costume, and his wig, which has a large up-do, is decorated with many combs and kanzashi hairpins. When the keisei is going out, the actor wears high geta (wooden sandals), and walks in a way known as hachimonji (in the shape of the Chinese character for eight (八)), stepping forwards with each step circling towards the outside.
Akuba (Evil Woman)
This woman is audacious and wily. She is established as having a temperament that is perfectly fine with stealing and killing, but is also sexually attractive, and devoted to the man she loves. The actor uses makeup to blur the eyebrows, and wears a costume with a large check pattern and a hairdo known as an uma no shippo (“horsetail”), which sees the hair gathered in a low, loose tie at the back of the head.
Fukeoyama (Older Woman)
This older woman is established as having a stubborn and highly emotional temperament. The actor wears a white wig and blurs the eyebrows; many actors wear a purple cloth called a boshi on their forehead over a receding hairline. The fukeoyama’s costume is plain in color and pattern. If she is a mother in a samurai family, she will have an elegant figure with a straight back, regardless of her age. On the other hand, if the character is the mother of a commoner, she is played in a way that makes her back seem rounded and her body smaller.