Widening at the End - Suehirogari

The title of a Kyogen piece. Side Kyogen, Good Fortune. Although written as "suehiro," it is read as "suehirogari." A great man of good fortune (a very wealthy man, shite) sends Taro Kaja to the capital to ask for a suehirogari (a type of fan) as a gift for a reception. The kaja, who had not asked what a suehirogari was, goes around calling out to the capital, saying, "Let's buy a suehirogari." A suppa (a conman) stops him, says that an old umbrella is a suehirogari, and sells it to him at a high price, skillfully matching the customer's request that "the paper used is good..." The kaja returns home happy, but the master is astonished and angrily kicks him out. The kanja then sings a rhythmic chant (hayashimono) that Suppa taught him to cheer up the master, "The umbrella-bearing Mount Kasuga.... Indeed, so is the yayogari," and as he sings it, the master gradually becomes more and more excited. Finally, he calls the kanja in, and the piece comes to a joyous close to the accompaniment of the shagiri flute. As the master becomes excited by the rhythm of the chant, happy, harmonious laughter fills the air. This piece can be considered a representative piece of waki-kyogen.

Japanese music based on this song includes the Nagauta (traditional Japanese folk song) commonly known as "Suehirogari" ("Wakamidori Suehirogari") (original title: Wakamidori Suehirogari, lyrics by Sakurada Jisuke III, music by Kineya Rokuzaemon 10th, premiered at the Nakamuraza Theater in Edo in 1854), as well as the Tokiwazu (traditional Japanese song) "Kotobuki Suehiro" and the Itchubushi (traditional Japanese song) "Suehiro," both of which were created in the early Meiji period.

[Kobayashi, Responsible]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

狂言の曲名。脇(わき)狂言、果報物。「末広」と書いても「すえひろがり」と読む。大果報者(だいかほうもの)（大金持ち。シテ）が、供応の引出物(ひきでもの)に末広がり（扇の一種）を進上しようと、太郎冠者(かじゃ)を都へ求めにやる。末広がりとはどういう物か聞いてこなかった冠者は、「末広がり、買おう」と都を呼び歩く。すっぱ（詐欺師(さぎし)）が呼び止め、古傘(ふるからかさ)を末広がりだといい、「地紙(じかみ)良(よ)う……」などという注文にもうまくあわせ、高価で売りつける。冠者は喜んで帰宅するが、主人はあきれ怒って冠者を追い出す。そこで冠者は、すっぱから教えられた、主人の機嫌を直す囃子物(はやしもの)（リズミカルな謡）を「かさをさすなる春日山(かすがやま)。……げにもさあり、やようがりもそうよの」と謡っているうちに、主人はしだいに浮かれだし、ついに冠者を呼び入れ、シャギリの笛にのってめでたく終曲する。主人が囃子物のリズムに浮き立っていくところに、めでたい和やかな笑いが漂う。脇狂言の代表曲といえる。

　本曲に拠(よ)った邦楽には、通称「末広がり」で知られる長唄(ながうた)（本名題(ほんなだい)『稚美鳥末広(わかみどりすえひろがり)』、3世桜田治助(じすけ)作詞、10世杵屋(きねや)六左衛門作曲、1854年江戸・中村座初演）があり、ほかに、明治前期につくられた常磐津(ときわず)『寿末広(ことぶきすえひろ)』と一中節(いっちゅうぶし)『末広(すえひろ)』などがある。

［小林　責］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例