Toyotakeyamashiro Shojo - Toyotakeyamashiro Shojo

A Gidayu tayuu (a chanter of Gidayu). A master of the Showa period. Born in Asakusa, Tokyo, his real name was Kanasugi Yataro. In 1889 (Meiji 22), he went to Osaka to become a disciple of Takemoto Tsudayu II, and performed at the Bunraku Theatre under the name Takemoto Tsubametayu. In 1909 (Meiji 42), he took on the name Toyotake Kotsubotayu II, and received strict instruction on shamisen from Tsurusawa Seiroku III. In the early Showa period, he built the era of the three great masters along with Takemoto Tsudayu III and Takemoto Tosatayu VI. After Tsudayu's death in 1942 (Showa 17), he became the yagurashita (a chanter of the Bunraku Theatre), and in 1947, he received the title of jo from Toyotake Yamashiro Shojo Fujiwara Shigefusa from the Chichibu Imperial Family. He became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1946, was designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1980, and was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 1985. He overcame his weakness and poor voice through words and pronunciation, and worked hard to portray the psychology of his characters and the scenery until his retirement in 1989. His intelligent and realistic narrative style was praised as "Yamashiro-style." In addition to "Kumagaya Jin'ya," "Gappo," and "Horikawa," his works that required elegance, such as "Nigatsudo" and "Domyouji," were exquisite. He died on April 22, 1967.

[Yoshihiro Kurata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

義太夫(ぎだゆう)節の太夫。昭和を代表する名人。東京・浅草の生まれで、本名は金杉弥太郎。1889年（明治22）大阪へ出て2世竹本津太夫に入門し、竹本津葉芽(つばめ)太夫を名のって文楽(ぶんらく)座へ出座した。1909年（明治42）に2世豊竹古靭(こうつぼ)太夫を襲名、3世鶴沢清六(せいろく)を相三味線に厳しい指導を受ける。昭和初期には、3世竹本津太夫や6世竹本土佐太夫とともに三巨頭時代を築いた。津太夫没後の42年（昭和17）に文楽座の櫓下(やぐらした)となり、また47年には秩父(ちちぶ)宮家から豊竹山城少掾藤原重房の掾号を受けた。46年に芸術院会員、55年に重要無形文化財保持者に認定、60年には文化功労者となる。非力と悪声を詞(ことば)と音遣(おんづか)いによって克服し、59年に引退するまで、登場人物の心理や情景の描写に努めた。理知的で写実的な語り口は「山城風(ふう)」と賞賛された。『熊谷陣屋(くまがいじんや)』『合邦(がっぽう)』『堀川』のほか、気品を必要とする『二月堂』や『道明寺(どうみょうじ)』は絶品であった。昭和42年4月22日没。

［倉田喜弘］

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