Yoshida Naramaru - Yoshida Naramaru

A rakugo performer. The second generation. His real name was Hirohashi Hiroyoshi. He was born in Nara Prefecture. He was a saimon (festival song) storyteller under the name of Hanakawa Chikaramaru, but he moved to Osaka and became a disciple of the first Naramaru (?-1923), who had established a family of ukarebushi (floating song). Due to his talent and beautiful voice, he took on the name of the second generation in 1902 (Meiji 35). In 1909, he came to Tokyo advertising himself as "Japan's No. 1 Yoshida Naramaru," which caused controversy, but he gave a performance at the Peers' Hall and competed in popularity with the bold Momonakaken Kumoemon with his beautifully written words and elegant speaking style. His recording of "Gishiden" from the end of the Meiji era was a best-seller at the time, and made the elegant "Naramaru style" known nationwide. In particular, a passage from "Otaka Gengo" was incorporated into a popular song and became a hit as "Naramaru Kuzushi." When he traveled to the United States in 1914 (Taisho 6), he met with President Wilson through the mediation of Prime Minister Hara Takashi, and became an international figure.

[Chichibu Hisakata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浪曲師。2代目。本名広橋広吉。奈良県生まれ。花川力丸と名のる祭文(さいもん)語りであったが、大阪に出て浮連節(うかれぶし)で一家をなしていた初代奈良丸（？―1923）に入門、才能と美声によって1902年（明治35）に2代目を襲名した。09年、「日本一吉田奈良丸」という宣伝で上京して物議を醸したが、華族会館で口演するなど、美文調の詞(ことば)遣いと上品な語り口で、豪放な桃中軒雲右衛門(とうちゅうけんくもえもん)と人気を競った。明治末からレコードに吹き込んだ『義士伝』は当時のベストセラーで、優美な「奈良丸節」を全国的なものにした。とくに『大高源吾(おおたかげんご)』の一節は流行歌に取り入れられ「奈良丸くずし」としてヒットした。17年（大正6）の渡米に際しては、総理大臣原敬(はらたかし)の仲介でウィルソン大統領と面会するなど、国際的名士となった。

［秩父久方］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例