Rōkyoku

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Rōkyoku (浪曲; also called naniwa-bushi, 浪花節) is a genre of traditional Japanese narrative singing. Generally accompanied by a shamisen , rōkyoku became very popular in Japan during the first half of the 20th century.

<i>Shamisen</i>

The shamisen or samisen (三味線), also sangen, is a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument derived from the Chinese instrument sanxian. It is played with a plectrum called a bachi.

In modern Japanese slang, "naniwabushi" is sometimes used to mean "a sob story", since the songs were often about sad subjects.

Notable performers

Takeharu Kunimoto was a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer.

Kumoemon Tochuken Japanese musician

Kumoemon Tochuken was a popular rōkyoku recitalist in Meiji Japan. His immense popularity helped rōkyoku break into the mainstream. At his height, he performed tales of the Forty-seven ronin to sell-out crowds at some of the biggest theatres in Tokyo and Osaka. These performances also roused nationalist sentiment during Russo-Japanese War.

Yoshida Naramaru (吉田奈良丸) is a name taken on by several rōkyoku singers. Yoshida Naramaru II was a notable rōkyoku, or streetcorner singer of the late nineteenth century in Japan. The type of singing practiced by Naramura diffused throughout the country, and its origin can be traced to the Osaka metropolis. Whether Naramura himself was responsible for the diffusion of this unique musical type, or whether he was only a part of the tradition is uncertain, but what could be said at least is that he achieved a degree of reputation as a singer of this genre.

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