Ayatsuri Sanbaso

（ ）

Ayatsuri Sanbaso

1853, Edo

The traditional Sanbaso character is portrayed like a marionette manipulated by strings from above. It is an ancient Japanese ceremonial piece rearranged as pure entertainment. Marionettes were children’s toys during the Edo Period, and the Sanbaso was a particularly well-liked character. The actor must become the marionette as he performs the piece. Arashi Rikaku II, inspired by a Noh play, first performed a Kabuki version of Sanbaso under the name Hatsu Yagura Tanemaki Sanbaso in Osaka in 1852 to great acclaim. He revived the piece in slightly revised form for his debut in Edo the following year as Yanagi no Ito Hikuya Gohiiki. He played alongside Bando Shuka I in the role of Okina and Bando Hikosaburo I as Senzai. The latter two characters were initially choreographed as dolls but were later restaged by Onoe Kikugoro V as normal dancers. Actors later known for the Sanbaso role include Bando Mitsugoro VII, Ichikawa Ennosuke II (later Ichikawa En’o I) and Jitsukawa Enjaku III. In recent years, the role has been taken frequently by Ichikawa Somegoro and Nakamura Kankuro.

●main graphic ［from left］Sanbaso（Ichikawa Somegoro）、Assistant（Onoe Matsuya）　April 2016　Kabukiza Theatre

●publication date　July 2016