Japan's Traditional Male Entertainer (Houkan/Taikomochi) ARAI |
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Advent of Taikomochi and its Historical Background (B)
Taikomochi seen as originating in Otogishu/Hanashishu |
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When the nation entered the Sengoku (Warring States) period (1467-1568) during which local lords constantly waged war to expand their domains, doboshu attending such lords began to establish their presence as Otogishu or Hanashishu, giving them advice and suggestions about their war strategies, while serving to entertain them with humor as their conversational partners. The Sengoku period, which was characterized by the term Gekokujo (which literally means overturning of seniors by juniors), was put to an end with the advent of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), who made an attempt at reunification of the whole country, but unsuccessfully because of his assassination in the Honnoji Incident in 1582, although it was achieved by his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598). Toyotomi Hideyoshi employed many Otogishu or Hanashishu, among whom was Sorori Shinzaemon, a sword sheath craftsman, legendary for his ready-wit with many amusing anecdotes about him handed down from generation to generation. After his successful reunification of the nation, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was appointed Kanpaku, imperial regent or the chief advisor to the Emperor, which he transferred to his adopted son Hidetsugu, when he was given honorific title Taiko, the pronunciation of which is almost similar to drum in Japanese. Thereafter, Sorori Shinzaemon called Hideyoshi Taiko, currying favor with him by flattering (mochi-ageru in Japanese, which literally means to hold up) him. The combination of Taiko and Mochi-ageru has allegedly come to mean to flatter someone with the combined words having corrupted into Taiko-mochi, suggesting that some Otogishu or Hanashishu particularly skillful in flattering their masters might have been called Taikomochi as an established position. |
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Copyright Information |
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