Feathered bald man

Kabuki dance. Nagauta. Lyrics by Segawa Jokou I, music by Kineya Shojiro I, choreography by Nishikawa Senzo II. This is a passage from the five-transformation dance "Haru wa Mukashi Yukari no Hanafusa" performed by Segawa Kikunojo III at the Kiri-za Theatre in Edo in February 1785 (Tenmei 5), depicting a bald man playing shuttlecock at the gate of the Yoshiwara red-light district in Edo in early spring. In March 1931 (Showa 6), Onoe Kikugoro VI performed this piece at the Tokyo Theater, using elaborate props and movements to make his body look graceful, which was well received and has since become a popular piece. It shows the sexiness of a girl raised in a brothel while still innocent, and the main features are her adorable exit from the noren door and the cries that show her duties in the brothel. Many performers later switch to a male role such as "Ukare Bozu."

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)舞踊。長唄(ながうた)。初世瀬川如皐(じょこう)作詞、初世杵屋正次郎(きねやしょうじろう)作曲、2世西川扇蔵(せんぞう)振付け。1785年（天明5）2月、江戸・桐(きり)座で3世瀬川菊之丞(きくのじょう)が踊った五変化(へんげ)舞踊『春昔由縁英(はるはむかしゆかりのはなふさ)』の一節で、初春の江戸吉原(よしわら)の廓(くるわ)の門口で禿が羽根突きをして遊ぶ姿を描いたもの。1931年（昭和6）3月、東京劇場で6世尾上(おのえ)菊五郎が、自分の体を可憐(かれん)に見せるため大道具や振にくふうを凝らして演じたのが大好評で、以後人気曲になった。あどけないうちに廓育ちの色気を見せるもので、暖簾(のれん)口からの愛らしい出、廓のつとめを示すクドキなどが眼目。あとに男姿の『浮かれ坊主』などにかわって見せる演者も多い。

［松井俊諭］

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