Tokyo nichinichi shinbun Story in briefThe wife of a certain person residing in vicinity of Meguro orders a boatman to take her across the river. The boatman, surprised at seeing a woman of her refinement traveling as she was in the deep of night, asks her why she is out and about. She tells a sad and tearful story of having been abandoned by a man -- her speech and manners like those of Otohaya, a crane then spreading his wings at the Kishōza -- down to the character's madness -- such was the play's great popularity. (WW) Story translationTo follow. Writer of minor stories |
Commentary
"frivolous writing"
Tentenō, the gesaku (戯作) writer Takabatake Ransen, adds 戯記 rather than the usual 記 (ki) or 誌 (shi) after his name. He also signs TNS-781, TNS-913b, and TNS-1036b this way -- reminiscent of 戯筆 (girefude) or "frivolous brushing" in Yoshiiku's signature on the frontispiece of Kanagaki Robun's Aguranabe.
Tentendō, as a 戯作者 (gesakusha) or "writer of fivolous works", in writing 戯筆, appears to be punning "geki" (劇) " and works, and . writer of 戯作戯記
Otohaya (音羽屋 Otowaya) is the stage name of the Onoe Kikugorō family of kabuki actors. Terashima Kiyoshi, a third generation grandchild of Kikugorō III, was known as Ichimura Uzaemon XIII, among other names, until becoming Kikugor#333; V from 1868. He also styled himself Ichikawa Danjōrō IX (1844-1903).
The Kishōza (喜昇座), which opened in 1873 in Hisamatsuchō in Nihonbashi, was remodeled and reopened as Hisamatsuza in 1879. After a 1880 fire it was rebuilt and reopened as Chitoseza in 1885. Destroyed by fire again in 1890, it was rebuilt as Meijiza in 1893. Several generations, earthquakes, wars, and buildings later, the Meijiza continues to be a major Tokyo theater.
Writer of minor stories reflects 小説の作者. Though there are no furigana, the graphs 小説 would most likely have been marked to be read せうせつ (seusetsu), though しょうせつ (shōsetsu), the reading today, would also have been possible at the time.
Tentendō Shujin was one of several pen names used by the gesaku writer Takabatake Ransen. He also styled himself as a "writer of minor stories" on TNS-101 and TNS-1054.
For more about the "minor story" he wrote in 1874 and published in 1875, see TNS-876 Mysterious incidents. For a closer look at changes in the meaning of "minor story" at the time, see "Minor stories" and style: The essence of "shōsetsu" and news nishikie.