Kikuzuka Yoichi

Japanese: 菊塚与市 - きくづか・よいち

Year of death: May 7, 1909 (Meiji 42)
Year of birth: 1846
A jiuta and sokyoku performer from the late Edo and Meiji periods. Also known as Yoichi. He lost his sight in 1849 at the age of four, and in 1861 was awarded the rank of Koto and the surname Kikuzuka. He is commonly referred to as Kikuzuka Kengyo, but this is a personal title he took after the organization was abolished in 1871. In 1874, he formed a group of jiuta musicians (later the Todo Music Association) in his hometown of Osaka, and played a leading role in the sokyoku world of the time, composing many new pieces that took advantage of the new era's tastes, which are now known as "Meiji new songs." His representative works include "Meiji Shochikubai," "Ganjo no Matsu," "Mitsu no Keshiki," and "Sumiyoshi Mairi." He is said to have been skilled with the kokyu, and was well-versed in waka and haiku, and a poetry gathering was held in his honor after his death.

(Noriko Onuki)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：明治42.5.7(1909)
生年：弘化3(1846)
江戸後期・明治期の地歌箏曲家。与一とも。嘉永2(1849)年4歳で失明,文久1(1861)年に勾当の職格と菊塚の姓を授与された。俗に菊塚検校ともいわれるが,これは当道組織の廃止(1871)後の私的な称号である。明治7(1874)年に地元大阪で地歌業仲間(のちの当道音楽会)を結成し,今日「明治新曲」といわれる新時代の趣向を生かした新曲を多数作曲するなど,当時の箏曲界の推進役を務めた。代表作に「明治松竹梅」「巌上の松」「三つの景色」「住吉詣」など。胡弓を得意としたといわれ,没後追善の歌会が催されるなど,和歌,俳諧の造詣も深かった。

(大貫紀子)

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