Paper cutting - Kamikiri

A type of entertainment at a vaudeville theater. One of the entertainments known as iromono, this art involves instantly cutting paper into various shapes in response to requests from customers. It is characterized by the way the paper is skillfully rotated and cut to the accompaniment of music rather than the scissors. It is a new form of entertainment, first performed in Kamigata around 1914 (Taisho 3) by the Tomoeya Hakukei, who performed it together with magic tricks, and gained a reputation. It was then performed by Katsura Nanten, and in the Showa period, Kaminokirihei and others introduced the art. In Tokyo, Hayashiya Shoraku (1895-1966) became the head of a kamikiri school, and his school has made the art prosperous. In 1966 (Showa 41), Keisaku Yamazaki (1935-98) became the second Shouraku, and in 2000 (Heisei 12), Makoto Akimoto (1948- ) became the third Shouraku.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

寄席(よせ)演芸の一種。色物(いろもの)とよばれる演芸の一つで、客の注文に応じて即座にさまざまな形に紙を切ってみせる芸。鋏(はさみ)よりも紙のほうを下座(げざ)音楽にあわせて巧みに回転させながら切るところに特色がある。色物としては新しいもので、上方(かみがた)では1914年（大正3）ごろに巴家伯系(ともえやはくけい)が奇術とともに演じて評判となり、続いて桂南天(かつらなんてん)が演じ、昭和には紙乃喜利平(かみのきりへい)らがこの芸を伝えた。東京では林家正楽(はやしやしょうらく)（1895―1966）が紙切りの家元的存在となり、その一門によって大いに繁栄している。1966年（昭和41）山崎景作（1935―98）が、2代目正楽を、2000年（平成12）秋元真（1948―　）が3代目正楽を継いだ。

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