Wagoto - Wagoto

A term used in Kabuki theatre. It refers to a gentle style of acting centered on the depiction of the love lives of elegant ladies' men. It is also called yawarakagoto or yawaragoto. It also refers to roles that are centered on this type of acting, and actors who excel at it are called "wajishi." It is the opposite of "jitsugoto" (real events), which focuses on realistic acting of down-to-earth men, and was founded by famous actors from Kyoto and Osaka, such as Arashi Sanemon I (1635-90) and Sakata Tojuro I (1647-1709). In Edo, Nakamura Shichisaburo I (1622-1708), who lived in the same period, established this type of role, such as Tomoe no Jo in "Asama-dake" and Juro in "Soga." It developed mainly as a feature of Kamigata Kabuki in contrast to Edo's aragoto (aragoto) style, and has been passed down until recent years. Representative roles include Izaemon in "Kuruwa Bunsho," Jihei in "Kawasho," and Chubei in "Fuinkiri." Furthermore, particularly weak characters such as Yogoro in "Futatsuchoucho" are commonly called "tsukkorobashi," meaning "if pushed, he will fall." Other names include "wajitsu," meaning somewhere between peaceful and practical, and "pintokona," referring to characters with some strength.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)演出用語。優美な色男の恋愛描写を中心にした、柔らかみのある演技様式をいう。やわらか事、やわら事ともよぶ。この種の演技を主体にした役柄のことでもあり、これを得意とする俳優を「和事師」という。堅実な男子の写実に近い演技を中心にした「実事(じつごと)」に対するもので、初世嵐三右衛門(あらしさんえもん)（1635―90）や初世坂田藤十郎（1647―1709）ら京坂の名優が基礎をつくり、江戸でも同時代の初世中村七三郎（1622―1708）が『浅間嶽(あさまがたけ)』の巴之丞(ともえのじょう)、『曽我(そが)』の十郎など、この種の役柄を確立させたが、おもに江戸の荒事に対する上方(かみがた)歌舞伎の特色として発達、近年まで伝わってきた。『廓文章(くるわぶんしょう)』の伊左衛門、『河庄(かわしょう)』の治兵衛、『封印切(ふういんきり)』の忠兵衛などが代表的な役。なお、『双蝶々(ふたつちょうちょう)』の与五郎のようなとくに柔弱な役は、突けば転ぶという意味から俗に「つっころばし」とよばれ、ほかに和事・実事の中間を意味する「和実」、若干強みのある役をいう「ぴんとこな」などの名称がある。

［松井俊諭］

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