Bando Minosuke as Kumagai Naozane (坂東蓑助 熊谷直実)

'Ichinotani Futaba Gunki(一谷嫩軍記)' was performed at Ichimura theatre(市村座) in 1830. This play is categorized as a Jidaimono(時代物, a historical drama). It is based on the Genpei War(源平合戦), which took place between Taira(平) and Minamoto(源) clans in the late 12th century. Kumagai Naozane(熊谷直実) is a central character in the play. He is a warrior who serves Taira clan but is torn between his loyalty to his lord and his love for his son, who is a member of the Minamoto clan. In the period Kumagai lived, the rule prohibiting the use of certain colours according to status was withdrawn, and many warlords immediately tried to stand out by incorporating purple, previously the colour of the highest rank, into their fashions. Kumagai may have been one of these warlords.