Toyotakeza

A puppet theater for Joruri (traditional Japanese puppet theatre). Founded in July 1703 (Genroku 16) by Toyotake Wakatayu (later known as Toyotake Echizen Shojo), a disciple of the first Takemoto Gidayu, in Dotonbori, Osaka, it was closed for a time due to poor performance, but was revived in 1707 (Hoei 4) with a new lineup, with puppeteer Tatsumatsu Hachirobei as assistant troupe director and Kino Kaion as composer. It enjoyed huge success with plays such as "Kamakura Sandai-ki" and "Hojo Tokiyori-ki," and gradually flourished, eventually rivalling the Takemotoza to divide the Joruri world. After Kaion, Nishizawa Ippu, Namiki Sosuke (Namiki Senryu at Takemotoza), Asada Iccho, Toyotake Orits, and Wakatake Fuemi were active as playwrights, and after Echizen Shojo, the tayu took the surname Toyotake, creating the flamboyant Toyotakeza style of performance. This was known to the public as Higashifu, while the more conventional Takemotoza style was called Nishifu. After Echizen Shojo's death in 1764 (Meiwa 1), the Toyotakeza was unable to sustain its decline due to the increasing popularity of Kabuki, and retired in August of the following year. Later, the name Toyotakeza was briefly revived in Kitahorie City.

[Jiro Yamamoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

人形浄瑠璃(じょうるり)の劇場。初世竹本義太夫(ぎだゆう)の弟子、豊竹若太夫(わかたゆう)（後の豊竹越前少掾(えちぜんのしょうじょう)）が1703年（元禄16）7月大坂・道頓(どうとん)堀に創設、興行成績振るわず一時中絶したが、1707年（宝永4）人形遣いの辰松(たつまつ)八郎兵衛を相(あい)座本に、作者に紀海音(きのかいおん)を迎え、陣容を整えて再興。『鎌倉三代記』『北条時頼記(じらいき)』などで大当りをとり、しだいに隆盛に赴き、やがて竹本座に対抗して浄瑠璃界を二分する勢力となった。海音ののちは西沢一風(いっぷう)、並木宗輔(そうすけ)（竹本座で並木千柳(せんりゅう)）、浅田一鳥(いっちょう)、豊竹応律(おうりつ)、若竹笛躬(ふえみ)らが作者として活躍、越前少掾以後の太夫は豊竹姓を名のり、はでな豊竹座の芸風をつくりあげた。世間ではこれを東風(ひがしふう)といい、じみな竹本座のそれを西風と称した。1764年（明和1）の越前少掾の没後、歌舞伎(かぶき)に押されて衰退を支えきれず、翌年8月退転した。その後一時北堀江市(いち)の側(かわ)に豊竹座の名を復活したこともある。

［山本二郎］

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