Ume no Yoshibee - Ume no Yoshibee

The name of a character in Kabuki and Joruri, and also the common name for works that feature this character. The model for this character was Umeshibuki Kichibei, a villain who was executed in Osaka around the Genroku period (1688-1704) for killing his apprentice Chokichi and stealing his money, but he was later portrayed as a generally chivalrous man. In particular, the costume of Yoshibei wearing a purple shikorozukin (sash and hood) worn by Sawamura Sojuro I in "Yukun Yoroi Soga" (The Playboy Armor Soga) in 1736 (Genbun 1) has been passed down as a style. Many subsequent plays were produced, including the puppet theatre play "The Hidden Well in the Scarlet Field" (1739) and the kabuki play "Otokodate Hatsukaisoga" (1753), but the definitive version is "Sumida's Spring Courtesan, Nature" (1796), written by Namiki Gohei and first performed by Sojuro III.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)、浄瑠璃(じょうるり)の登場人物名、またこれを扱った作品の通称。元禄(げんろく)（1688～1704）ごろの大坂で、丁稚(でっち)長吉を殺して金を奪い処刑された悪党梅渋吉兵衛(うめしぶきちべえ)がモデルだが、のち一般に侠気(きょうき)ある男達(おとこだて)として脚色。なかでも1736年（元文1）の『遊君鎧曽我(ゆうくんよろいそが)』で初世沢村宗十郎が演じた由兵衛の紫の錣頭巾(しころずきん)という扮装(ふんそう)は、型として伝わった。以後人形浄瑠璃に『茜染野中の隠井(あかねぞめのなかのこもりいど)』（1739）、歌舞伎に『男伊達初買曽我(おとこだてはつかいそが)』（1753）など多くの作が生まれたが、決定版は並木五瓶(ごへい)作、3世宗十郎初演の『隅田春妓女容性(すだのはるげいしゃかたぎ)』（1796）である。

［松井俊諭］

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