Ryûnosuke Kumoi

Biography

Kumoi was born on Tokyo in 1903. In 1924, he joined Toa Cinema under the name of Kumoi Jun. He appeared in Numata Koroku's Zankan (To Slay the Wicked), said to be the first work of a nameless newcomer, and he also appeared in Kinugasa Teinosuke's Jashumon no Onna with Kojima Yozo. After this, he changed his name to Ryunosuke, and became popular in Kinno, in which he played the half brother of Ichikawa Kobunji. Kumoi went on to achieve great popularity for his leading roles in Kennan Jonan, Sunae Shibari (Spell of the Sand Painting), and Kumoi Tatsuo. He moved on to Kawai, where he took the lead in Kaigara Ippei, but he then transferred to Teikoku Cinema, giving fine performances in films such as Jirokichi Zange and Migawari Monzo. After this, he went from Tokatsu to Nikkatsu, and he starred in Herikudari no Rishichi, a part originally to have been played by Okochi Denjiro. Having passed through Daiichi Fims and Makino Talkies, Kumoi joined Kyokuto Cinema in 1936, starring in Maboroshijo and Furyu Katsujinken (The Dashing Swashbuckler). Among his definitive roles of this time are his portrayal of Komon in Shinpen Mito Komon, and Ino Tadataka in Reimei no Ezochi. Kumoi Ryunosuke was an action actor, at home playing the blind or night-blind swordsman in films such as Toa's Yugiri no Senta, Kawai's Hekireki, Nikkatsu's Jinya no Shotaro.