Wakayagi Style

A school of Japanese dance. The founder of the school, Wakayagi Judo (1845-1917), was a disciple of the first Hanayagi Jusuke and called himself Hanayagi Yoshimatsu, but was excommunicated for a trivial matter and became independent in 1893 (Meiji 26). He changed his name to Wakayagi Yoshimatsu and founded the Wakayagi school in 1895. He was active mainly in the entertainment district of Yanagibashi in Tokyo, and established a strong foundation there. In 1905 (Meiji 38), he changed his name to Wakayagi Judo. The second head of the school was Judo's disciple Wakayagi Kichizo (1879-1944), who took over in 1917 (Taisho 6) and led a period of prosperity by nurturing a wide range of disciples. The third head of the school was the adopted son of the second head, and succeeded the second head Kichizo in 1944 (Showa 19), but later the head system was abolished and a board of directors system was adopted. He eventually moved to Kyoto and changed his name to Wakayagi Juho in 1970. He became the third head of the Wakayagi school. In 1988 he became the second head Wakayagi Judo, and died in 1989 (Heisei 1). His eldest son, Wakayagi Juen, became the fourth head of the school. Takeuchi Toyoko's third son took the name of the fifth head of the school, Wakayagi Kichizo. Many of the people who adopted the board of directors system formed the Seiha Wakayagi school in 1951 (Showa 26). The second head of the school, Jukei, established the Jikiha Wakayagi Association in 1971, but he died the following year, causing confusion and continued division. After the death of the second head of the school, Yoshizo, his eldest daughter, Yoshiyo, developed the school in Kyoto and Osaka and became the head of the West Wakayagi school in 1980, and was succeeded by her eldest daughter after his death. Currently, the Seiha Wakayagi-kai (a name changed from the former Seiha Wakayagi-ryu), the 4th and 5th heads of the Wakayagi-ryu and the Choha Wakayagi-ryu belong to the Japanese Dance Association, and the school has split into many groups.

[Kisaragi Aoko]

"Japanese Dance Series: Seiha Wakayagi-ryu" (1966), edited and published by Hogaku to Buyo-sha

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本舞踊の流派。流祖、若柳寿童(じゅどう)（1845―1917）は初世花柳寿輔(はなやぎじゅすけ)の門弟で花柳芳松(よしまつ)を名のっていたが、ささいなことから破門され、1893年（明治26）に独立。若柳吉松(よしまつ)と改めて95年若柳流を創立。東京・柳橋の花街を中心に活動し、その基盤を固めた。1905年（明治38）若柳寿童と改名。2世家元は寿童の高弟若柳吉蔵(きちぞう)（1879―1944）が17年（大正6）に継承、広く門下を育成して隆盛期を築いた。3世家元は2世の養子で、44年（昭和19）に2世吉蔵を継いだが、のち家元制をやめて理事制をとることとなり、結局彼は京都に移って70年若柳寿邦(じゅほう)と改名。若柳流3世宗家を名のった。88年に2世若柳寿童となり、89年（平成1）没。長男若柳寿延(じゅえん)が4世家元となった。竹内豊子の三男は5世家元若柳吉蔵を名のっている。理事制をとった多くの人々は51年（昭和26）に正(せい)派若柳流を結成した。2代目総務の寿慶(じゅけい)が71年、直派(じきは)若柳会をたてたが、翌年死去するなど混乱し、分裂が続いた。なお2世家元吉蔵没後、その長女吉世(きちせい)は京阪で発展して55年若柳流西家元となり、その没後は長女が継いでいる。現在は正派若柳会（先の正派若柳流が改めた名）、4世、5世それぞれの家元の若柳流、直派若柳流が日本舞踊協会に所属するほか、多くに分かれている。

［如月青子］

『邦楽と舞踊社編・刊『日本舞踊大系　正派若柳流』（1966）』

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