A Memorial Stone Honoring the Founder of Shinnai, Tsuruga Wakasanojo I

Tsuruga Wakasanojo I, the founder of the shinnai genre, was born in 1716, in what is now the city of Tsuruga in Fukui prefecture. When he was young, he moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo), and lived in Takanawa, which was a part of an area called Shiba.

He became a student of the Miyakoji Bungonojo group, studying with one of Bungo’s top students, Fujimatsu Satsuma, who had been one of the master practitioners of the Bungo genre of joururi. His professional name at that time was Fujimatsu Tsuruga. After he was no longer studying with Fujimatsu Satsuma, he changed his professional name to Asahi Tsuruga’tayu. However, in 1751, when the government issued a prohibition on the use of the professional family name Asahi, he changed his name again to Tsuruga Wakasanojo, using his birthplace in the name, and created the shinnai genre.

Tsuruga Wakasanojo made his living as a singer-songwriter; his genre became very famous. He composed many works, including Akegarasu Yume Awayuki, Wakagi no Adanagusa (Ran’cho), and Idahachi.

Tsuruga Wakasanojo died in 1786.

On October 22, 2012, a memorial stone honoring the first Tsuruga Wakasanojo was unveiled in front of the main torii gate of Kihi shrine, a famous shrine in the city of Tsuruga in Fukui prefecture. The stone is 120 cm. high, 150 cm. wide, and 30 cm. thick. It is made of natural granite, and was placed on a pedestal. On the front of the stone, sentences have been carved in a handwriting style.

On the back of the stone are carved my name and the names of the people who worked hard so that this monument could be realized. The monument will be the pride of the city of Tsuruga for a long time.

On the day of the dedication of the stone, the mayor of the city of Tsuruga and many other citizens gathered for the ceremony. I performed a memorial concert with Tsuruga Isejiro in front of the stone monument.

At Koryuji Temple in the town of Chitose-Karasuyama, where Tsuruga Wakasanojo, the founder of shinnai, is interred, a Wakasa festival is often held, but this is the first time that a memorial stone has been set up.

Nowadays, fewer and fewer people are professionals in shinnai. I am deeply grateful for the city’s actions, and appreciate very much the establishment of this memorial stone. I’m sure that Tsuruga Wakasanojo I and other shinnai artists of past days must also be very pleased.

By Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI
From “Hogaku no Tomo”.