Invitation to Kabuki - Guidance for Kabuki appreciation
Expression in Kabuki
さまざまな役の表現
Here, the expression "Sono yaku rashisa" (looks like that role) is explained based on actual roles. Click on each of the following photographs.
 
Umeoumaru Izaemon Sekimori Sekibe (actually Otomono Kuronushi) Sogano Iruka Kamiyui Shinza Sato Tadanobu (actually Genkurogitsune) Miuraya Agemaki Yaegakihime Kirare Otomi
 
Sekibe (actually Otomono Kuronushi)
"Tsumoru koi yuki no sekinoto"
Sekibe is a sekimori (barrier guard) guarding the Osaka no Seki barrier, but this is a disguise. In fact, he is Otomono Kuronushi, a truly evil kuge (court noble) who is plotting to take over the entire country.
 
Sekimori Sekibe (actually Otomono Kuronushi) played by Ichikawa Danjuro 12th, "Tsumoru koi yuki no sekinoto" 'Osakayama sekisho' scene, January 1991
To view video clip
< RealPlayer : 3.2MB >
Role Kunikuzushi
The role of a large-scale villain like Otomono Kuronushi, who is plotting to take over the entire country, is called Kunikuzushi.
 
 
Costume Mechanism of Bukkaeri
As shown in the video clip, as soon as Sekibe himself has revealed his true character, threads holding the top layer of his costume at the shoulders are pulled, and the costume on the upper half of his body flips down in front and back to change the costume instantly. This mechanism is called Bukkaeri. The sekimori costume changes to Sokutai (ceremonial court dress) worn by court nobles. Also, when he takes off his hood simultaneously with the Bukkaeri, his hair style also changes to the Oji style used for Kunikuzushi.
The dramatic technique of changing costumes in accordance with changes of character in roles like this, clearly shows the distinctive use of costuming in Kabuki to make individual roles obvious.