Hirosawa Torazo

A rokyoku performer. The second generation. His real name was Shinichi Yamada. He was born in Tokyo. In Osaka, he was given the stage name by the first Torazō, who had assumed the stage name of Torakichi Hirosawa III. After that, he returned to Tokyo and was seen as a promising young man by the rokyoku performer Tomori Yamada, who became his son-in-law. His wife Tomi played the shamisen for him, and he created his own unique Torazō style by incorporating the strengths of the masters of the Kanto style of singing, based on the Ai-no-ko style. His "Jirochō Gaiden: Ishimatsu Daisan," along with the catchphrase "A fool can only be cured by dying," was popular on records, radio, and stage from the early Showa period until the end of World War II, and Ishimatsu's popularity was so great that he appeared in a total of 100 films. After the death of the second, his disciple Toranosuke took on the stage name of Torazō III (1922-93, real name Takeo Tanaka). The third Torazō served as president of the Japan Rokyoku Association from 1990 to 1991.

[Chichibu Hisakata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浪曲師。2代目。本名山田信一。東京生まれ。大阪で、3代目広沢虎吉を襲名した初代虎造に2代目の名跡を譲られたのち帰京、浪曲師山田東盛に見込まれその女婿となった。妻トミが相三味線となり、合いの子節を基調に関東節の名人たちの長所を取り入れ、独得の虎造節をつくりだした。その『次郎長外伝・石松代参』は「ばかは死ななきゃなおらない」の当て節とともに、昭和初期から第二次世界大戦後までレコード、ラジオ、舞台で人気をよび、映画出演も延べ100本に及ぶほどの石松人気を独占した。2代目の死後、門下の虎之助が3代目虎造（1922―93、本名田中武雄）を襲名。3代目虎造は1990年（平成2）から91年まで日本浪曲協会会長を務めた。

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