Umemoto Ryu

A school of Kamigata-mai (dance of the Kamigata region). The founder of the school (whose real name was Washitani Shoso, 1826-94) was the father of Shozo, who served Myoho-in Palace, the head priest of the Hoko-ji Temple in Kyoto, during the late Edo period. During his frequent visits to the Imperial Palace, he mastered the secrets of gagaku, rap, imayo, and furyu-mai, and later moved to Tenma in Osaka. Shozo passed on these dances and established the Imayo furyu-mai Umemoto school, taking the name Umemoto Sensho. From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, he was active as a choreographer in the kabuki world, and also taught children from ordinary families, making a name for himself in the Osaka dance world. The second head of the school, Sensho (1865-1928), was the son of the first head of the school, and entered the entertainment world, creating the choreography and direction of the Naniwa Odori dance, as well as creating original dance scores and shamisen scores, paving the way for the succession of the dance. The third head of the school, Rikuhei (1896-1985), was the son of the second head of the school, and traveled to Europe in 1931. After returning to Japan, he brought a new style to creative dance, and presented unique works for the Shochiku Musical Drama Department and the Takarazuka Revue. He also had a deep knowledge of classical performing arts, such as Bunraku choreography. He wrote a book titled "Invitation to Dance." After Rikuhei's death, the school was run by a board of directors consisting of five of his most senior disciples. Some of the school's distinctive pieces include "Umemoto-ryu Renjishi," "Fushineko," and "Nezumi."

[Kisaragi Aoko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

上方舞(かみがたまい)の一流派。流祖（本名鷲谷将曹(わしたにしょうそう)。1826―94）の父正蔵(しょうぞう)は、江戸末期京都方広寺門跡妙法院宮に仕え、御所に出入りするうち、雅楽、乱舞(らっぷ)、今様(いまよう)、風流舞(ふうりゅうまい)の奥義を得、のち大坂・天満に移った。将曹はこれらの舞を伝承して今様風流舞楳茂都流をおこし、楳茂都扇性(うめもとせんしょう)と名のる。幕末から明治にかけて歌舞伎(かぶき)界の振付師として活躍するとともに、一般家庭の子女にも教え、大阪舞踊界に名をはせた。2世扇性（1865―1928）は初世の子で、さらに花柳界にも進出、「浪花(なにわ)をどり」の振付け・演出を創案し、また独自の舞踊譜、三絃(さんげん)譜を考案して作品の継承に道を開いた。3世家元陸平(りくへい)（1896―1985）は2世の子で、1931年（昭和6）渡欧。帰国後創作舞踊に新風を取り入れ、松竹楽劇部、宝塚少女歌劇にユニークな作品を発表。また文楽の振付けなど古典芸能にも造詣(ぞうけい)が深かった。著書に『舞踊への招待』がある。陸平没後は、高弟5人からなる理事制によっている。特色ある演目に『楳茂都流連獅子』『臥猫(ふしねこ)』『荒れ鼠(ねずみ)』等々がある。

［如月青子］

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