The popularity of the “Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko” film series is evident in this old photo of the Osaka Toei Gekijo theater taken in the Dotonbori district of Osaka’s Chuo Ward in 1958. (Provided by Akiyoshi Takada)

KYOTO--Kimono and obi sashes worn by actor Ichikawa Utaemon in the “Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko” samurai film series were found stored at Toei Studios Kyoto in the city’s Uzumasa district.

Hajime Ishikawa, an assistant professor specializing in modern literature at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (IRCJS) in Kyoto’s Nishikyo Ward, discovered the costumes during research with the help of Toei Co., operator of the film studios.

The garments will be put on display at a symposium on Japanese popular culture to be held in Paris in October.

Ishikawa found 114 kimono and 12 obi worn by Saotome Mondonosuke, played by Ichikawa (1907-1999), in 20 installments of the series released between 1950 and 1963 were kept at the studios in Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward.

Mondonosuke, aka Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko (bored samurai or idle vassal), was known for his gorgeous wardrobe and famous line, “Behold this battle-incurred, authority-bestowing injury.”

The film series became popular during the heyday of Japanese movies before TV sets became commonplace in homes.

All the kimono and obi were designed by Japanese painter Tadaoto Kainosho (1894-1978), who was originally from Kyoto. Many of the garments are characterized by brilliant colors, including ones illustrated with large flying fish or Japanese iris.

Kainosho was in charge of supervising customs and folkways and achieving historical authenticity in director Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Ugetsu,” which won the Silver Lion Award at the 1953 Venice Film Festival.

“(The garments feature) bold designs, as well as dyeing and embroidery work made possible by the use of sophisticated skills unique to Kyoto,” Ishikawa said. “They have been well-preserved, and gave me goose bumps the moment I saw them.”

According to the assistant professor, Utaemon had told his close circle: “If you try to make a costume equal to mine, it could go over the entire production budget.”

In many cases, wardrobes worn in period dramas would be used for other films and then scattered and lost. But Utaemon had apparently instructed staff to keep all the kimono recently found by Ishikawa.

Some of the kimono were dyed with beautiful colors even though they were produced before the introduction of color films.

“They are reminders of the golden age of Japanese cinema, and they are art and culture just like ukiyo-e,” Ishikawa said. “I think they will also gain popularity abroad. I was also moved by the fact that the studio staff have been protecting and taking over the culture.”

The symposium will be hosted by the IRCJS. In addition to the exhibition of the kimono and obi, a video of highlights from “Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko” movies will be shown.