TSUMORU KOI YUKI NO SEKI NO TO
(積恋雪関扉)

aka SEKI NO TO (関扉)
aka JÛNI HITOE KOMACHI ZAKURA (重重人重小町桜)

                 
 
Play: Ume Yanagi Sakura no Kagazome (梅柳桜幸染); Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi (碁太平記白石噺);
Shinrei Yaguchi no Watashi (神霊矢口渡); Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/27/09
Print Date: 02/27/09
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

                 
 
Plays:  Osome Hisamatsu  (お染久松), a  new edition of Shinpan Utazaimon (新版歌祭文);
Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉); Hanratai (半裸体); Solo Singer Hara Nobuko (原信子);
Shinboku Kaichiyo no Nigiwai (親睦會千代廼賑)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 12/12/12
Print Date: 12/1912Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

                   
Matsumoto Kôshirô VII (松本幸四郎) as
Sekimori Sekibei (関守関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/01/17
Print Date: 1919
Artist: Yamamura Kôka (山村耕花)
*Image courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art

Note: Kôshirô VII also appears to have performed this play at the
Yokohama-za, Yokohama, in March 1918.
 
 
 

                 
 
Plays: Airange Kitanin no Ko (他人の子); Higekiyo no Naka (世の中); Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(積戀雪關扉); Fujin Jûryôka (婦人銃猟家)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/01/17
Print Date: 02/1917?
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

               
Sekibei (関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Print Date: 11/15/25
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III (長谷川貞信)
Series:  Kabuki Kumadori Hyakumenshû
(歌舞伎 隈取百面種), Vol. 2
Personal Collection
 
 
 
 

[Kabuki Manga]

Print Date: 1927
Artist: ?
Medium: Machine printed lithograph
Personal Collection

Note: It is unlcear if this is from the same magazine as
Eiga Sutâ Sugao - Manga Hogoita (1927) by Kitazawa
Rakuten shown elsewhere on this site.  The two pieces were
acquired from the same dealer at the same time and are
ascribed the same date, but appear to bear different artist
signatures.
 
 
 
 

                                    
                Matsumoto Kôshirô VII ( 松本幸四郎) as
                Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)

                Play:  Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
                (積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
                Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
                Performance Date: 01/01/26
                Publication Date: 1927
                Artist: ?
 
 
 

Plays: Kuramayama (鞍馬山); Oimatsu Wakamatsu (老松若松); Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(浄瑠璃積戀雪關扉); Sakuratsuba Urami no Samezaya (櫻鍔恨鮫鞘); Haru no Shirabe Musume
Nanakusa (春調娘七種); Kyôran Kumoi no Sode (狂乱雲井袖); Satsuma Odori (薩摩踊)
Performance Place: Teikoku Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date:  01/01/26
Print Date: 01/1926?
Artist: ?
Medium: Woodblock printed ehon sujigaki cover
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 

                   
Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)
[1928 Calendar] Showa San Kotobuki Tatsu Nichiyô Kagami (昭和三寿辰日曜鑑)
 
January: Soga Gorô Tokimune (曾我五郎時致) and Soga Jûrô Sukenari (曾我十郎祐成) in a
Sogamono such as
Soga no Taimen (曾我対面)
February: ?
March: Ōtomo Kuronushi (大伴黒主) in Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
April:  Hanakawado Sukeroku (花川戸助六) in Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura
(助六由縁江戸桜)
May:  Nikki Danjô (仁木弾正) in Meiboku Sendai Hagi (伽羅先代萩)
June:   Omatsuri Sashichi (お祭佐七) in Edo Sodachi Omatsuri Sashichi (江戸育お祭佐七)
July: possibly Hayano Kanpei (早野勘平) and Okura (お軽) in  Kanadehon Chûshingura
(假名手本忠臣蔵; 仮名手本忠臣蔵)
August: ?
September: ?
October:  Kakiemon (名工柿右衛門) in Meikô Kakimon (名工柿右衛門)
November: Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa (鎌倉権五郎景政) in Shibaraku (暫)
December: Fujiya Izaemon (伊佐衛門) in Kuruwa Bunshô Yoshidaya
(廊文章吉田屋; 廓文章  吉田屋)

Print Date: 01/1928
Artist: Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水)
Magazine: New Year's Appendix to Engei Shashin (演芸写真), Vol. 1, No. 2 (Jan. 1928)
Medium: Machine printing

Note:  Hasui designed 34 machine-printed covers for Engei Shashin (and its precedessor
Engei Shashin Chô) between October 1925 and July 1928.  Many of these issues contained
machine-printed forntispieces.  Since they were offset printed, they are outside the scope
of this website.  An exception, however, has been made for this calendar, which appears to
be unique in the Hasui canon.
 
 
 
 

                   
From top left to lower right:
 
1. Tanaka Kôka (田中耕花): Motome (求女) in
Imoseyama Onna Teikin (妹背山婦女庭訓)
2.  Machida Shian (町田紫庵): ? in ?
3.  Takarada Nao (宝田直): Sekibê (関兵衛) in
Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
4.   *mi Tashushi (*見立志): Sumizome (墨染) in
Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
5.  Kitada Haruhiko (北田晴彦): Oiwa (お岩) in
Tôkaidô Yotsuya Kaidan (東海道四谷怪談)
6.  Inoue Matsuyoshi (井上松芳): Goemon (五右工門) in
Sanmon Gosan no Kiri (樓門五山桐)
7.  Uchikawa Eihô (内川英峰): Hanaregoma Chôkichi
(放駒長吉) in Futatsu Chôchô Kuruwa Nikki (双蝶々曲輪日記)
8.  Tsuda Kôraku (津田行楽):  ? in ?
9.  Higuchi Soyama (樋口蘇山): Urazato Tokijirô
(浦里時次郎) in Akegarasu (明烏)
10. Shirai Kôyuki (白井皎雪): ? in ?
11. Mitamura Kaoru (三田村薫): Tadanobu (忠信) in
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本桜)
12. Minami Kichijirô (南吉次郎): Urazato (浦里) in
Akegarasu (明烏)

Print Date: 10/1933
Personal Collection

Note: Most of these artists are known matchbook cover/
adveritsing label artists.  In light of the title cartouche, it
is possible that this is the first panel of a triptych that
cumulatively contains 36 actor portraits.  The seal on
this print is the same as one found on two woodblock
printed postcards that resemble two 1925 prints by
Miyake Hanayama, and is likely a publisher seal.
 
 
 
 

                   
Sumizome (墨染)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki
no To (積戀雪関扉)
Print Date: 10/1933
Artist: ** Tashushi (*見立志)
Personal Collection
 
Note: This is a close up of the
image from the oban sheet.

                   
Sumizome (墨染)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki
no To (積戀雪関扉)
Date: c. 1933
Artist: ** Tashushi (*見立志)
Medium: Woodblock printed
matchbook cover
Personal Collection

                   
Sekibê (関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki
no To (積戀雪関扉)
Print Date: 10/1933
Artist: Takarada Nao (宝田直)
Personal Collection
 
Note: This is a close up of the
image from the oban sheet.

                   
Sekibê (関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki
no To (積戀雪関扉)
Date: c. 1933
Artist: Takarada Nao (宝田直)
Medium: Woodblock printed
matchbook cover
Personal Collection

                 
[Makeup of Kuronushi] Kuronushi no Kuma (黒主ノ痩隈)]

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
Print Date: 1941 or 1942
Artist: Ueno Tadamasa (上野忠雅)
Series: Zoku Kumadori Jûhachiban (続隈取十八番)
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
 
 
 
 

                   
Onoe Shôroku II (尾上松緑) as
Ôtomo Kuronushi (大伴黒主)

Play:  Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (
積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
Performance Place: Tokyo Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 02/01/49
Print Date: 04/1957
Artist: Natori Shunsen (名取春仙)
Medium: Hand-colored keyblock print (版画源画)
Personal Collection
 
 
 

                   
Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII (松本幸四郎) as Sekibê (関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To 
(積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪関扉)
Performance Place: Tokyo Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 12/1949
Print Date: 1950
Artist: Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水)
Personal Collection

Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII (松本幸四郎) as
Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)
           
Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
Performance Place: Tokyo Gekijô, Tokyo
Performance Date: 12/1949
Print Date: 12/1949?
Artist: Sasajima Kihei (笹島喜平)
Medium: Colored woodblock print, likely with
hand-applied color on verso
Image courtesy of the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum

Note:  Kôshirô VIII would reprise this role during the
1950s at the Meiji-za in March 1951, at the Kabuki-za in
December 1953, at the Meiji-za in March 1956, and at the
Kabuki-za in November 1959.  I cannot rule out the
possibility that this print reflects one of these later
performances.
 
 
 
 

Kobikichō Kabuki-za Gekigain Gassaku (こびき町歌舞伎座 劇画院合作)
Print Date: 12/1950
Medium: Sugoroku Lithograph
Personal Collection

Note: This was a collaboration with Torii Tadamasa, Tomita Chiaki, Kamoshita Chôko,
Takane Kôji, Natori Shunsen, Kubota Kinsen, Jinbo Tomoyo, Shimizu Miezô, and
Mori Shunchô.  A panel by Miyao follows.
 
 
 
 

                   
 Sumizome (墨染) and Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)
 
 Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉),
Panel 6 of  Kobikichō Kabuki-za Gekigain Gassaku
(こびき町歌舞伎座 劇画院合作)
Print Date: 12/1950
Artist: Miyao Shigeo (宮尾しげを)
Medium: Sugoroku Lithograph
Personal Collection

                   
Sekimori Sekibei (関守関兵衛)/Kuronushi (黒主)

Play: Seki no To (雪関扉)
Print Date: 1966
Title: Kumadori II
Image courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Note: Copies dated 1968 are also known to exist.
 
 
 

                 
Onoe Shôroku II (尾上松縁)  as
Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)

Play: Seki no To (関の扉)
[Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 11/01/83
Print Date: 11/1983
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Bust Portraits III (Design 27)]
Daisan-ki Ôkubi-e Shirîzu no 27
(第三期大首絵シリーズの27)
Personal Collection (#3/36)
 
 
 
 

                 
Bandô Tamasaburô V (坂東玉三郎) as
Sumizome (墨染)




Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: 11/1997 - 01/1998
Print Title: Ebizori (えび反)
Artist: Paul Binnie
Image courtesy of Binniecatalogue.com
Personal Collection (#47/50)

Note:  This print would seem to have been based on a
special gala performance or a prior broadcast recording of
Tamasaburô V's performance.  Tamasaburô V's last regular
performance as Sumizome prior to the creation of this print
that I could find was at the Kokuritsu Gekijô, Tokyo, in
January 1991 before Binnie arrived in Tokyo.  He also
performed the role at the Kabuki-za, Tokyo in March
1981, the Minami-za, Kyoto, in March 1976, and at the
Teikoku Gekijō, Tokyo, in December 1972.
 
 
 
 

                 
Bandô Tamasaburô V (坂東玉三郎) as
Sumizome (墨染)




Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: c. 1997
Artist: Paul Binnie
Print Title: Ebizori (えび反)
Personal Collection

Note:  This is a variant test print.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                 
Matsumoto Kôshirô IX (松本幸四郎) as
Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)

Play: Seki no To (関の扉) 
[Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積戀雪関扉)]
Performance Place: Kabuki-za, Tokyo
Performance Date: 01/02/99
Print Date: 12/1999
Artist: Tsuruya Kokei (弦屋光溪)
Series: [Culminant Series XIII (Design 9)]
Daijûsan-ki Shûsei Shirîzu no 9
(第十三期集成シリーズの9)
*Image courtesy of Tsuruya-koukei.com
 
 
 
 

                 
Sekibei ((関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To (積恋雪関扉)
Print Date: ?
Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III (長谷川貞信)
Series:  Kabuki Kumadori Shû (歌舞伎隈取集)
Courtesy of Artelino.com

      
       Onoe Kikugorô VI (尾上菊五郎)
       as Ôtomo Kuronushi (大伴黒主)
 
       Play:  Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki
       no To (積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
       Performance Place: ?
       Performance Date: ?
       Print Date: ?
       Artist: Hasegawa Sadanobu III
       (長谷川貞信)
       Medium: Woodblock printed
       pochibukuro
       Personal Collection

        Note: Kikugorô VI performed
        this role five times in Tokyo
        between March 1913 and May
        1937.  Presumably one of those
        productions toured in Osaka.

       

                           
        Ôtomo Kuronushi (大伴黒主)

        Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
        (積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
        Print Date: ?
        Title: ?
        Artist: Clifton Karhu

        Note: The title for this print is possibly Kumadori IV, V, VI,
        or VII and it was likely produced circa 1966.  The image
        was taken from a tiny digital image of an offset print showing
        six Kumadori designs but a separate woodblock print version
        is believed to exist.
 
 
 

                 
Actor as Sekimori Sekibê (関守関兵衛)

Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪關扉)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Torii Kiyotada (鳥居清忠)
Image courtesy of the British Museum

Matsumoto Kôshirô VII  (松本幸四郎)
as Sekibê (関兵衛)
 
Play: Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To
(積恋雪関扉; 積戀雪関扉)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Yoshida Eishô (吉田永昇)
Series: Tokiwazu Awase Mokuroku
(常盤津合せ目録)
Personal Collection

Note: Kôshirô VII performed this role
five times in Tokyo between December
1912 and May 1937.

                 
Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII or IX (松本幸四郎) as
Sekimori Sekibei (関守関兵衛)/Kuronushi (黒主)
           
Play: Seki no To (雪関扉)
Performance Place: ?
Performance Date: ?
Print Date: ?
Artist: Yamamoto Hisashi (山本ひさし)
Medium: Woodblock printed senshafuda
Personal Collection
 
Note: Matsumoto Kôshirô IX performed this role five times between 1986
and 1999.  If this print depicts Matsumoto Kôshirô VIII, he performed this
role thirteen times between 1953 and 1979.