Rihei Shimizu

Japanese: 清水理兵衛 - きよみず・りへえ

Years of birth: unknown. A tayu of kojoruri from the early Edo period. His surname can also be read as "Shimizu," but the reading follows that in the Gaidai Nenkan (1757). He was active in Osaka. His main occupation was the owner of a restaurant in Ago Tenjinminami, and he was a disciple of Inoue Harimajo. After Harimajo's death, he was called "Ima Harima," and was encouraged to form a troupe, but it did not last. In 1676 (Enpo 4), Rihei's troupe was inaugurated with the performance "Jotomon'in," which is known as the first time that Tennoji Gorobei, who later became Takemoto Gidayu (Chikugonojo), performed on stage as a waki (supporting role). His waki narration became popular, and Gidayu was invited to perform at Uji Kaganojo in Kyoto.

(Michitaka Takeuchi)

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

Japanese:

生年：生没年不詳
江戸前期の古浄瑠璃の太夫。姓は「しみず」とも読んだが,『外題年鑑』(1757)の振りがなに従う。大坂で活躍。本業は安居天神南の料理屋の主人で井上播磨掾の弟子。播磨掾の死後「今播磨」といわれ,すすめられて一座を組んだこともあったが続かなかった。延宝4(1676)年,理兵衛の一座の旗揚げ「上東門院」の興行は,天王寺五郎兵衛,すなわちのちの竹本義太夫(筑後掾)がワキとして初めて床に上ったことで知られる。ワキ語りが評判になり,義太夫は京の宇治加賀掾に招かれた。

(竹内道敬)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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