Matsui spring water

Street performer and incense maker. This name was passed down for 17 generations until the Showa era. His ancestors were from Ecchu Province (Toyama Prefecture) and are said to have invented a medicine called Hangontan. The 4th generation came to Edo during the Enpo and Tenna eras (1673-84) to sell and promote this medicine. At first, they performed things like pillow flips to advertise it, but then they started incorporating the trendy Iai-nuki technique to attract customers. It seems that around this time they also started selling toothpaste and dental medicine, which later became more famous. Around the Kyoho era (1716-36), they adopted Hakata tops and began performing Kyokugoma, and the 13th generation even performed this art abroad in 1866 (Keio 2). They lived in Okuyama, Asakusa, Edo for generations, but in the Meiji period, they performed in front of a denture shop under Ryounkaku, attracting customers. Together with Nagai Hyosuke of Kuramae, Asakusa, they were famous for generations as street vendors.

[Oda Koji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大道芸人、香具師(やし)。昭和まで代々17代この名跡が伝えられた。先祖は越中(えっちゅう)国（富山県）の人で、反魂丹(はんごんたん)という薬を創製したという。4代目が延宝(えんぽう)・天和(てんな)（1673～84）のころ江戸に出てこの薬を売り広め、その宣伝に初めは枕(まくら)返しなどを演じていたが、流行の居合抜きを取り入れて客を集めるようになった。このころから歯磨粉(はみがきこ)や歯薬も売るようになったようで、のちにはそのほうが有名になった。享保(きょうほう)（1716～36）ごろ博多独楽(はかたごま)を取り入れ、曲独楽(きょくごま)を演じるようになり、13代目は1866年（慶応2）にこの芸をもって洋行興行も行っている。江戸・浅草奥山に代々居住していたが、明治期には凌雲閣(りょううんかく)の下の入歯の店の前に出て呼び込みの芸を演じた。浅草蔵前の長井兵助(ながいひょうすけ)とともに大道物売りの芸人として代々有名であった。

［織田紘二］

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