■ Explanation
This book is an English translation by Osman Edwards of an account by Jules Adam, a member of the French legation staff, concerning professional storytellers and the "yose" halls where they performed. It was published in the same year as the French edition.
The book asserts that there were 243 halls for such entertainment in Tokyo around 1899 (Meiji 32), when it was written. The frontispiece depicts a hall whose signboard proclaims performances not only by established names such as Sanyutei Ensho and Koenyu but "the Englishman Black." Referring to him as "Mr. B...", the author has a keen interest in Black, and goes into considerable detail about his efforts to make his acquaintance and also about the fact that he heard his performance in Kobe. He lauds Black, stating how he felt proud that another Westerner enjoyed such widespread popularity among the Japanese. He devotes a number of pages to this Englishman, who spoke Japanese fluently and became a famous storyteller.
In sketching the atmosphere and habits of the storyteller halls, the book mentions the removal of footwear when entering; the floor cushions offered to members of the audience; the offer of tobacco trays, tea, and sushi; and the strains of the samisen that herald the start of interlude. Its descriptions cover everything from the types of performers, whose ranks included "zenza" (i.e., opening-act storytellers), "shinuchi" headliners, and "tetsumatsukai" jugglers and magicians, to specifics such as the admission charge and payment for performers. Words for things distinctive to Japan (such as "geta" clogs, "hibachi" braziers, "nakauri" peddlers working in the audience, and "otoshibanashi" word play and punch lines) are reproduced in italics and explained instead of being replaced by the closest English equivalents. This feature, too, affords a glimpse of the author's profound knowledge of Japanese culture. |
