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Hayashiya Somemaru

はやしや そめまる

Hayashiya Somemaru

Aliases: 木村 行志 / 二代目 林家染二
Pen Names: Hayashiya Someni (2nd)（Stage name used early in career）, Hayashiya Somemaru (4th)（Name assumed in 1991）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1949-10-10 （Tengachaya, Nishinari-ku, Osaka, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Rakugo performer, Shamisen player, Yose-bayashi researcher, Instructor / Lecturer
Active Years
1966-
Affiliations
Yoshimoto Kogyo, Kamigata (Upcountry) Rakugo Association, Hayashiya Somemaru School / Guild
Influenced By
Hayashiya Somemaru (3rd), Katsura Unosuke (right-assistant/master; Romanized as Katsura Uenosuke?)
Influenced
Hayashiya Someni (3rd), Hayashiya Usagi, Hayashiya Somesuke, Hayashiya Hanamaru, Hayashiya Senjaku, Hayashiya Kikumaru (3rd), Hayashiya Takemaru, Hayashiya Someza, Hayashiya Emimaru, Hayashiya Usaburo, Hayashiya Sonta, Hayashiya Somekichi, Hayashiya Aizome

Education

Osaka Prefectural Imamiya High School
Period: 1966（中退）
Country: Japan
Left high school in 1966 and entered apprenticeship the same year.

Awards

Kamigata Comedy Awards (Gold Prize)
1989
Organization: Kamigata Comedy Awards Organization
Result: 受賞
Osaka Culture Festival Award (Encouragement Award)
1990
Organization: Osaka Culture Festival
Result: 受賞
Osaka Prefectural Theatre Award (Encouragement Award)
1990
Organization: Osaka Prefectural Theatre
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists
1991
Organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Arts Council)
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival — Entertainment Division Award
1994
Category: 演芸部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival — Entertainment Division Grand Prize
2006
Category: 演芸部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Osaka Citizen Commendation
2008
Organization: Osaka City
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize — Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2010
Organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2012
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kamigata Rakugo: The World of Yose-Bayashi

2011 Research / Non-fiction

A research book on yose-bayashi (accompaniment music) in Kamigata rakugo, compiling history, practice, notation and commentary based on the author's long-term research and practice.

yose-bayashi (stage accompaniment)Kamigata rakugomusic research

Bibliography

  • Self-published works on yose-bayashi (five research booklets, score collections, and three cassette tapes)
  • Kamigata Rakugo: The World of Yose-Bayashi (Sogensha, 2011)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A performance style incorporating musical piecesTraditional Kamigata rakugo blending comedy and human-interest stories
Recurring Motifs
yose-bayashi and shamisenhuman emotion / compassioncomic elements

Health

  • Cerebral infarction (stroke)
    2012年11月に初回入院、2013年夏に再発。以後リハビリを継続。
    Hospitalization and rehabilitation caused temporary absences from the stage; subsequently engaged in rehabilitation while teaching apprentices.

Legacy

Contributed significantly to the study and dissemination of yose-bayashi in the Kamigata rakugo world, received major entertainment awards, nurtured many disciples and helped preserve and expand his school's traditions.

Academic Societies

  • Kamigata Rakugo Association

In Popular Culture

  • Supervised rakugo and appeared in NHK Asadora "Chiritotechin" (2007)

Trivia

  • Between 1983 and 1985 he self-published research on yose-bayashi including booklets, score collections and cassette tapes (at a financial loss).
  • His entrance music (debut melody) is 'Shoufuda-tsuki'.
  • Assumed the name Hayashiya Somemaru (4th) in 1991.
  • Served as vice-chair and director of the Kamigata Rakugo Association and has been an advisor since 2018.