Yoshida Bungoro

Bunraku puppeteer. His real name was Kawamura Minosuke. He was born in Osaka on October 20, 1869. His father was a Bunraku performer, and he became a disciple of Yoshida Gyokugoro at a young age, but did not continue. At the age of 15, he became an apprentice of Yoshida Gyokugoro I, and in 1884 (Meiji 17) he began working at the Shijo Kitagawa Theater in Kyoto under the name of Yoshida Minosuke (Minosuke). He later appeared at the Goryo Bunraku Theater and Hikoroku Theater, traveled along the Tokaido, and also appeared at a puppet theater in Tokyo, but eventually returned to Osaka. In 1907 (Meiji 40), he took on the name Kiritake Kamematsu II, and two years later became Bungoro I IV. The background of the first, second, and third Bungoros is unknown. In 1915 (Taisho 4), she was welcomed into the Goryo Bunraku Theatre as a leading female puppeteer, and from the mid-Taisho period through to the Showa period, she became a representative figure in Bunraku puppetry along with the first Yoshida Eiza. She was an expert in roles such as Osono in "Sakuraya," Tamate in "Goukoku," and Yaegakihime, and her graceful, graceful, and sexy performances were unmatched, captivating audiences. In 1949 (Showa 24), she became a member of the Japan Art Academy. In 1981, she received the title of Naniwa no Jo from the Higashikuni family, and in 1984, she was designated a Person of Cultural Merit. She passed away on February 21, 1962, at the ripe old age of 92. Her pupils included the second Kiritake Monjuro.

[Shoichi Yamada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

文楽(ぶんらく)人形遣い。本名河村巳之助(みのすけ)。明治2年10月20日、大阪に生まれる。父が文楽の表方をしており、幼くして吉田玉五郎に入門したが続かず、15歳で初世吉田玉助に弟子入り、1884年（明治17）京都四条北側芝居に吉田巳之助（簑助(みのすけ)）の名で出勤、その後は御霊(ごりょう)文楽座や彦六(ひころく)座に出たり東海道を流れ渡り、東京の人形座にも出たが、やがて帰阪。1907年（明治40）2世桐竹(きりたけ)亀松を襲名、さらに翌々年に4世文五郎となる。この文五郎の初世、2世、3世については経歴など不詳。15年（大正4）御霊文楽座に迎えられて立女方(たておやま)の位置につき、大正中期から昭和にかけ初世吉田栄三(えいざ)とともに文楽人形の代表的存在となった。「酒屋」のお園、「合邦」の玉手、八重垣姫(やえがきひめ)などを得意とし、華麗で可憐(かれん)かつ色気のある演技は他の追随を許さず観客を魅了した。49年（昭和24）芸術院会員。56年東久邇(ひがしくに)家より難波掾(なにわのじょう)を受領、59年文化功労者。昭和37年2月21日、92歳の高齢で没した。弟子に2世桐竹紋十郎らがある。

［山田庄一］

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