The play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" (five acts) was originally written for the puppet theater and staged for the first time in Ôsaka at the Toyotakeza in the 12th lunar month of 1751. It was adapted for Kabuki the following year and staged for the first time in Edo at the Moritaza in the 4th lunar month of 1752 [casting]. It was also performed for the first time in Ôsaka in the 11th lunar month of 1752 at the Naka no Shibai as a kaomise drama [casting].

"Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki" is made up of five acts. The "Jinmon" is the opening scene of the 2nd act.

Jimmon
The Camp Gate

Yoshitsune, under whom Kumagai and his son Kojirô are serving, has planned an attack on the Heike Camp. Kojirô, although still but a youth, is in the van of the attack. It is night and inside the camp someone (in fact Atsumori) is playing a flute when Kojirô appears outside the walls. While the youth pauses, listening to the music, another Genji warrior, Hirayama, appears. Hirayama tells Kojirô that they must attack the camp together but when Kojirô rushes to the gate of the camp, shouting his name, as is customary, Hirayama hangs back and Kojirô, unable to beat off single-handed the Heike warriors his challenge has aroused, is dragged into the enemy camp.

Kumagai enters and Hirayama pretends that Kojirô was so reckless that he would not let himself be restrained by Hirayama and consequently has been captured. Kumagai immediately rushes forward to rescue his son but once again the cowardly Hirayama hangs back from the fighting. Kumagai reappears carrying his wounded son and tells Hirayama to fight off any pursuers so that he may get Kojirô back to their own camp. No sooner has Kumagai left than Atsumori appears and attacks Hirayama but the latter, true to form, runs away.

Source: Hironaga Shûzaburô

The actor Onoe Kikugorô VI playing the role of Kumagai Kojirô Naoie in the "Jinmon" scene of the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which was staged in January 1925 at the Ichimuraza

The actor Ichimura Uzaemon XV playing the role of Kumagai Kojirô Naoie in the "Jinmon" scene of the drama "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", which was staged in April 1936 at the Kabukiza

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