Ukon Genzaemon

Japanese: 右近源左衛門 - うこん・げんざえもん

Year of death: Unknown (Year of death unknown)
Year of birth: Genna 8 (1622)
A representative female actor in early Kabuki. His real name was Yamamoto Genzaemon. He became known for his activities from around the Keian period (1648-52) in the early Edo period, and was skilled in dancing, making "Kaido Kudari" popular. As many of his plays were based on Kyogen, it is thought that he was originally a Kyogen performer. He is known for performing Kyogen in the style of Kabuki. He left a record of a performance in Nagasaki in 1676 (Enpo 4), but his whereabouts after that are unknown. He is said to have invented the hand towel worn by female actors, a custom in the early days of Yaro Kabuki, and was later called the "founder of female actors." Since his period of activity spanned from Wakashu Kabuki to Yaro Kabuki, clarifying his deeds will provide clues for understanding the nature of Wakashu Kabuki, which has not been studied much until now. <References> Takei Kyozo, "Ukon Genzaemon, the Ancestor of Female Actors" (Bungaku, April 1987 issue)

(Hiroko Kitagawa)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：没年不詳(没年不詳)
生年：元和8(1622)
初期歌舞伎の代表的女形役者。本名山本源左衛門。江戸前期の慶安(1648～52)ごろから活躍が認められ,舞を得意とし,「海道下り」を流行らせた。演目に狂言系のものが多いので,狂言師の出身かと思われる。狂言を歌舞伎風に演じたことに特徴がみられる。延宝4(1676)年,長崎で興行の記録を残し,以後の消息は不明。野郎歌舞伎初期の風俗で女形がかぶった置き手拭いを考案したとされ,後世「女形の始祖」といわれる。活躍期が若衆歌舞伎から野郎歌舞伎にわたっているので,彼の事跡を明らかにすることが,従来研究の少なかった若衆歌舞伎の在り方を知る手がかりになろう。<参考文献>武井協三「女方の祖・右近源左衛門」(『文学』1987年4月号)

(北川博子)

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