Sorori Shinzaemon

Japanese: 曾呂利新左衛門 - そろり・しんざえもん

Year of birth: Year of birth and death unknown. A member of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Otogishu (Otogi-shu). His real name was Sugimoto or Sakauchi, and he was also known by the nicknames Sohachi, Shinzaemon, Jinemon, or even Soju and Bannai. However, his true identity is unclear. According to the Sakai Kagami, he was a scabbard maker in Sakai, Senshu, and was known for his fine craftsmanship, and was nicknamed "Nezumirokuri" (Nezumi chestnut) because the opening of the scabbard of his sword fit snugly into place. As he was a skilled storyteller, he was summoned by Hideyoshi and added to the Otogishu, and is said to have frequented the residence of Toyotomi Hidetsugu, the regent. He is said to have mastered the art of Shino-ryu incense and learned the tea ceremony from Sen no Rikyu. Edo period essays such as "Koshi Yawa," "Kanso Sodan," and "Koto Gosui" tell anecdotes about Shinzaemon as a master of humorous stories and kyoka poetry, and his witty exchanges with Hideyoshi are often recounted in storytelling and humorous tales. One particularly famous example is the "ear sniffing" incident, in which Shinzaemon was given the strange privilege of sniffing Hideyoshi's ear as a reward for an impromptu song, and received a gift from the feudal lord who believed he was whispering something to Hideyoshi. The "Sakai City History" introduces a letter written by Sakanai Soshu, who claims to be Shinzaemon's real name, along with the anecdote as a related historical document. However, there is no proof that the two are the same person.

(Kenichi Niki)

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

Japanese:

生年：生没年不詳
豊臣秀吉の御伽衆(御咄衆)といわれる人物。本名は杉本または坂内氏といい,通称は惣八,新左衛門,甚右衛門,あるいは宗拾,伴内などと号したともいう。が,実伝は明らかではない。『堺鑑』によれば泉州堺の鞘師で,細工に妙を得,刀の鞘口がソロリと合うので「鼠楼栗」の異名があった。咄巧者であったため秀吉に召し出されて御伽衆に加えられ,関白豊臣秀次邸にも出入りしたという。志野流の香技を身につけ,千利休に茶の湯を学んだとも伝えられる。『甲子夜話』『閑窓瑣談』『皇都午睡』などの江戸時代の随筆は,おどけ咄の巧者,狂歌の名手としてその逸話を伝え,秀吉との機知に富んだ応酬はしばしば講談や滑稽談にも語られている。即興歌の褒美に秀吉の耳を嗅ぐという奇妙な特権を得た新左衛門が,その所作を秀吉への耳打ちと信じた大名から付け届けをせしめる「耳嗅ぎ」などが特に有名。『堺市史』には関係史料としての逸話とともに,新左衛門の本名という坂内宗拾の書状を紹介している。ただし,この両者が同一人物だという確証はない。

(二木謙一)

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