Yosakoi Bushi - Yosakoi Bushi

This is a representative parlor song from Kochi Prefecture. It is closer to a popular song than a folk song, and the title is taken from the final accompaniment words of the song. There are various theories about the origin of this song. One theory is that it was a kiyari song sung by laborers at the construction site when Yamauchi Kazutoyo, who became the lord of Kochi in 1601 (Keicho 6), entered the country and built Kochi Castle. Another theory is that "Ejima-bushi," which became popular in various provinces during the Shotoku era (1711-1716) in the mid-Edo period, was introduced to Tosa and changed into "Yosakoi-bushi." Another theory is that a song sung on the Satsuma Peninsula in Kyushu was brought to this area by bonito fishermen. In any case, the melody of "Yosakoi-bushi" has existed for a long time, and in 1855 (Ansei 2) at the end of the Edo period, the lyrics were added to the story of the elopement of Junshin, a monk from Myoko-ji Temple, a side temple of Chikurin-ji Temple, and Ouma, a tinsmith's daughter, and the song took on its present-day form. At the "Yosakoi Festival" held in Kochi City mainly on August 10th since 1956 (Showa 31), an arrangement of the melody, "Yosakoi Naruko Odori Uta," which adds the Yotsutake Dance to the melody, is sung and danced.

[Akira Saito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

高知県の代表的なお座敷唄(うた)。民謡というより俗謡に近く、唄の文句の最後の囃子詞(はやしことば)をとって曲名にしている。この唄の起源にはさまざまな説がある。1601年（慶長6）領主となる山内一豊(やまうちかずとよ)が入国して高知城を築くとき、工事現場の人足たちの歌った木遣(きやり)唄だという説。江戸中期の正徳(しょうとく)年間（1711～16）から諸国ではやった『江島節』が土佐に伝わり、『よさこい節』に変化したという説。九州の薩摩(さつま)半島で歌われていた唄が鰹(かつお)漁の漁師たちにより当地に運ばれたという説などである。いずれにしても『よさこい節』の旋律が前々からあり、これに、江戸末期の1855年（安政2）竹林寺の脇坊(わきぼう)妙高寺の僧純信と鋳掛(いかけ)屋の娘お馬のかけおち事件の話も歌詞に入れて、今日の形になったもの。なお、高知市で1956年（昭和31）以来、8月10日を中心に行われる「よさこい祭」では、これに四つ竹の踊りを加えてアレンジされた『よさこい鳴子踊唄』が歌い踊られる。

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