Eight people performing arts

A type of entertainment at a vaudeville hall. It is an art in which one person plays eight different instruments and sings. Vocal variations are also used. Most of the performers are zato (a group of troupes), and are also called eight-person zato (group of eight). Later, 12-person, 15-person, and 18-person performances were also created. It was founded by Sakaraku in Manji (1658-61), and passed on to Hananochi and Gensui, leading to Kawashima Kamei around Tenmei (1781-89). The students of his group were said to be masters, and Utagyo, Utaragi, Yanagieda, and others of the same lineage were known as the Kawashima school. Other famous performers were Kanraku and Hanabusa Fuzan, and Ushijima Tozan was known as the eight-person Ushijima school performer. From the end of the Edo period through to the Meiji period, Toyoshima Jukakusai and Saikokubo Meiraku were active in both the east and west.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

寄席(よせ)演芸の一種。1人で8種類の楽器を合奏したり歌ったりする芸。声色(こわいろ)も演じた。演者の多くは座頭(ざとう)で、八人座頭ともいった。のちに十二人芸、十五人芸、十八人芸も生まれた。万治(まんじ)（1658～61）の酒楽が創始者で、花落、玄水を経て天明(てんめい)（1781～89）のころ川島歌命(かめい)が出た。その門下の歌遊は名人といわれ、同系統の歌暁、歌柳、柳枝らは川島流として知られた。ほかには観楽、花房夫山(はなぶさふざん)が有名であり、牛島登山(うしじまとざん)は牛島流八人芸といわれた。幕末から明治にかけて豊島寿鶴斎(じゅかくさい)、西国坊明楽(さいこくぼうめいらく)が東西で活躍した。

［関山和夫］

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