Yoshiwara sparrow

Kabuki dance. Nagauta. Original title: "Oshiegusa Yoshiwara Suzume". Written by Sakurada Jisuke I. It was first performed by Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Azuma Tozo II as an important part of the Kaomise Kyogen "Otokoyama Yunze Ikurabe" (Men's Archery Competition) on the theme of Hachiman Taro Yoshiie at the Ichimuraza Theatre in Edo in November 1768 (Meiwa 5). The music was composed by Fujita Fuue and Kineya Sakujuro. It is a dance by a male and female bird seller, and uses Yoshiwara Suzume as an excuse to depict the atmosphere of the red-light district, based on the origin of the Hojoe festival. In the original story, the man reveals his true identity as Yoshiie and the woman as a hawk spirit at the end, but today it is popular simply as a dance rich in the atmosphere of the brothels. It is a masterpiece of Nagauta. Kiyomoto's "Yoshiwara Sparrow" premiered at the Ichimuraza Theater in February 1824 (Bunsei 7) under the original title "Kataminohanatamukeno Tachibana." It is based on the Nagauta version, but has a more casual story. It is also called "New Yoshiwara Sparrow."

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)舞踊。長唄(ながうた)。本名題(ほんなだい)『教草(おしえぐさ)吉原雀』。初世桜田治助(じすけ)作。1768年（明和5）11月、江戸・市村座上演の八幡(はちまん)太郎義家(よしいえ)を題材にした顔見世狂言『男山弓勢競(おとこやまゆんぜいくらべ)』の大切所作事(おおぎりしょさごと)として、9世市村羽左衛門(うざえもん)と2世吾妻藤蔵(あづまとうぞう)により初演された。作曲は富士田楓江、杵屋(きねや)作十郎。男女の鳥売り二人の踊りで、放生会(ほうじょうえ)の由来から吉原雀にかこつけて廓(くるわ)のようすを描き出す。原作では、最後に男が義家、女が鷹(たか)の精霊の正体を現すという筋だったが、今日では単に廓情緒豊かな踊りとして流行している。長唄の代表作。別に清元(きよもと)『吉原雀』は1824年（文政7）2月、市村座初演で本名題『筐花手向橘(かたみのはなたむけのたちばな)』。長唄のそれをもとにして、さらにくだけた内容。「新吉原雀」ともいう。

［松井俊諭］

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