How did Mimaji help bring gigaku masked dance to Japan?

In 612, a Korean performer named Mimaji (also known as Mimashi) introduced the Buddhist gigaku processional dance play to the Japanese court. To facilitate the establishment of this art form in Japan, Mimaji founded an official school specifically designed to train Japanese dancers and musicians in the performance of gigaku.12

Following this introduction, the practice was further supported by the invitation of additional performers from the Korean states of Paekche and Koguryo to Japan in subsequent years. These efforts helped integrate gigaku into the cultural landscape, where it became known for its use of stylized wooden masks—the first of their kind in Japan—which were often carved by Buddhist sculptors to feature exaggerated expressions suitable for outdoor performances.21