Costumes
There is a general tradition as to costumes.
Coloured garments cannot be interchanged for
white. The general colour is a matter of record,
but not the minute patterns, which may be changed
from time to time. It is not necessary that one
dress should be reserved for one particular character
in one particular piece. Even in Tokugawa days
there was not always a costume for each special
character. Some were used for several parts and
some were unique; so also were the masks.
The general colour and colour-effect of the dress
cannot be changed: say it were small circular
patterns on a black ground, this must remain, but
the exact flower or ornament inside the circles may
vary. The length and cut of the sleeve could not
be altered, but only the small details of the pattern.
The size of the pattern might be changed just a
little.
