Katsura Bunji

Japanese: 桂文治 - かつらぶんじ

Rakugo performer.

First generation

(1774-1816) Founder of the Katsura school. Founded a vaudeville theater in Osaka and performed storytelling. Created "Tako Shibai," "Tatsutagawa," "Sutokuin," and other plays. Died on November 29, 1813, in Yokkaichi, Ise.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

2nd Generation

Years of birth and death unknown. Bunkichi, the biological son of the first. He excelled in storytelling with stage props. From the third generation, Bun'ichi split into Kamigata and Edo. In Kamigata, Kucho (years of birth and death unknown; a Kyoto native and master of humorous stories), a disciple of the second generation's pupil Bunkyu, succeeded the third generation, and Keishi (years of birth and death unknown), commonly known as Chota Bun'ichi, succeeded the fourth generation. The name of the fifth generation was passed on to Ikuse (later Tsukitei Ikuse), a pupil of the first generation's pupil, and the name died out there.

In Edo, Bouba (?-1857), a disciple of the second Sanshotei Karaku, married the younger sister of the first Bunji, and so he also took the name of the third. Katsura Bunraku originated from the former name of this Edo third master.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

4th generation

(1819-67) The third adopted son. Later he took the name of the first Katsura Saiga.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

5th generation

(1830-61) A disciple of the 4th generation. He was called Buntaro, but took the name Bunji 5th from Bunraku 2. A musician.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

6th generation

(1846-1911) The 4th generation Junko Yunosuke. After working as the 3rd generation Bunraku, he took on the name of the 6th generation. His name was even sung in a shiritori song at the time, "Katsura Bunji is a storyteller..." and he excelled in storytelling with props.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

7th generation

(1848-1928) The second Katsura Bundanji of Osaka succeeded him.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

8th generation

(1883-1955) His real name was Umeyoshi Yamaji. He was the sixth adopted son and took on the name in 1922 (Taisho 11).

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

9th generation

(1902-78) His real name was Takayasu Tomekichi. In 1960 (Showa 35), he took the name from Okinaya's horse.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

Teens

(1924-2004) His real name was Tatsuo Sekiguchi. He took the name in 1979 (Showa 54). He was the president of the Rakugo Art Association from 1999 (Heisei 11) to 2004.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

[References] | Katsura Bunraku | Chihayafuru | Yose | Rakugo

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

落語家。

初代

（1774―1816）桂派の祖。大坂で寄席(よせ)を創始し、芝居咄(ばなし)を興行。『蛸(たこ)芝居』『竜田川(たつたがわ)』『崇徳院(すとくいん)』などをつくる。文化(ぶんか)13年11月29日に伊勢(いせ)・四日市で客死。

［関山和夫］

2代

生没年不詳。初代の実子文吉。大道具入り芝居咄に長じた。3代目から文治は上方(かみがた)と江戸に分立。上方では、2代目の門人文鳩(ぶんきゅう)の弟子九鳥（生没年不詳。京都の人で滑稽(こっけい)咄の名手）が3代目を継ぎ、4代目を、俗に長太文治といわれた3代目の門人慶枝(けいし)（生没年不詳）が継いだ。そして5代目の名跡は、初代文治門人の幾瀬(いくせ)（のち月亭生瀬(つきていいくせ)）が預り、そのまま絶えた。

　江戸では、2代目三笑亭可楽(からく)の門人房馬(ぼうば)（？―1857）が、初代文治の妹を妻とした関係でやはり3代目を名のった。この江戸の3代目の前名から桂文楽は始まる。

［関山和夫］