嶋原の葵どす。今回のお話は、そもそも太夫にはどうやったらなれるのか？ 何も芸事をされてない方どしたら10年は修行してもらわんとあきまへん。例え時間がかかっても、ちゃんと「太夫」をつくっていく。それが継承への一番譲れへん部分どす。
Article 7 of 7 (possibly more)
DISCLAIMER: I am not fluent in Japanese. The article in the link above was translated by Google Translate, so I do not guarantee the accuracy nor coherence of the following text.
Aoi-tayuu story (7) Thoughts entrusted to kamuro ~ Nurture the bearers of Hanamachi culture
Hello. Aoi Shimabara.
In the last column, I talked about running about ourselves. We’ve been in this world since we were born, and it was easy to enter. Honestly, how can I become tayuu in the first place?
In the case of maiko, the shikomi period can be about one year. Since the training period to become a geigi is maiko, I will work hard in about 5 years until I become a geigi, and I will learn about ozashiki as well as lessons. I was once asked, “If maiko is one year, is tayuu a couple of years?” If you haven’t done anything, you shouldn’t have to train for 10 years.
When you say that, it is said, “If you do that, tayuu will not increase!” I am glad that you are worried. However, even though tayuu can be explained as the highest rank of geigi, when he gets the same seat as geigi-maiko, he asks, “What is tayuu like this?”, It’s over. Even if it takes time, I will make “tayuu” properly. That is the most handed-over part to inheritance.
Nowadays, with the development of SNS, it has become easier to make contact, so I would like to receive a message. Basically anyone can do SNS. It is also a handle name etc. I think yeah. However, just the message “I want to be” is enough to tell me your name. Have you ever mentioned your name during a part-time job interview or job hunting? ?? I’m really happy that you are interested and want to be. But I can’t reply to people who can do basic things.
When I didn’t have Twitter etc. yet, I wrote on the homepage that “I will not accept it by e-mail etc.” So how do you tell it? If you read it carefully and thoroughly, you will find the answer to how to contact. Only two people understood it and contacted me. I’m not going to make it that strict now, but in the first place, it’s a problem before that.
I want to be maiko, I want to be tayuu. You can also understand the feeling of longing for a gorgeous world. This means getting a job. I carry the culture on my back. The rules differ depending on the hanamachi, and you will live together with someone who has no blood connection. You will learn rigorously about lessons and human relationships. As long as I have this job, I will continue to learn. Unless you are prepared to endure it, I think you can continue. I’m really happy that I want to be. However, I cannot accept this as well just by “I want to be”.
If you can convey your half-hearted feelings and your true feelings, you will accept it with the feeling of “I want to make a good tayu!” It is because I am prepared to carry the life of shoume who wants to become a bearer of culture. It’s easy to think about it once again and make a decision.
I think it would be great if we could grow up carefully, centered on the kamuro who are doing their best now. However, it cannot be forced. To be honest, I hope that the experience I have cultivated as kamuro will be of some help to me when I go out into society. I would like to ask you to preserve the Hanamachi culture. And next year, I will continue to read “Aoi-tayuu Monogatari”.
PS. The other day, I appeared on the poster of “Autumn Fire Prevention Campaign” by the Kyoto City Fire Department and put it on various places in Kyoto city.
The period has expired, but there may still be places where it is pasted, so it’s easy to find it.
I translated the article, there are definitely mistakes ans imprecisions but I was a bit lazy so...
Hello, this is Aoi of Shimabara.
In the last column, I talked much about myself. I have been part of this world since I was born, so you could say it was easy to enter it.
So, how do you even become a tayû?
In the case of maiko, you can become one with a one-year shikomi period. Since during the training period to become a geiko you are a maiko, in the five years it takes to become a geigi you must learn the arts of course and all about the zashiki.
I have been asked: “If it takes a year to become a maiko, for a tayû does it take two, three years ?”
If it is a person with no training in the arts, they would have to train for ten years. And so I am told : “But then there wouldn’t be any new tayû!”
I am touched by your concern.
However, if you take the tayû as the highest ranked geigi, it would be over if when they are at the same place as the geiko and maiko you were to think: “Oh ? Is this the tayû ?”
Even though it takes time, you must properly construct the “tayû”. This is the most important thing that cannot be conceded in regard to the ones who will take over.
Now, with the development of social media it has become possible to easily establish contact, and I often receive messages.
Generally, anyone can use social media. With usernames and such. I think it is a good thing. However, there seems to only be people who just send “I want to become one [a geigi] too” without telling me their name.
When interviewing for a small job or starting your career, do you ever not say your name?
I am very glad that people are interested and want to become a geigi.
But I cannot answer to people who are unable to do the most basic thing.
When Twitter and such didn’t exist yet, our website said “we do not accept emails [to apply]”.
So, how could you reach us? If you read everything by paying attention to everything, you can see the way to contact us. There were only to people who could understand that and contacted us. We are not as strict as before, but this has been an issue for a while.
I want to be a maiko, I want to be a tayû. I truly understand the feelings of wanting to be part of a beautiful world.
This means being employed. It’s carrying the culture.
Depending on the hanamachi, the rules differ, and it means living with people who are not related to you by blood. You will rigorously learn the arts, but also human relationships.
As long as you do this job, you have to be perpetually learning.
I don’t think it is feasible if you are not prepared for this. I am really, really happy that people want to become geigi.
But we cannot accept you with just a “I want to become”.
We can welcome you if you can transmit your true desire to “make a good tayû”, rather than half-hearted feelings.
This is because I am aware that we carry the lives of young girls who want to become the carrier of the culture.
I want you to really think about this now.
I hope that the kamuro who are working hard right now can grow well.
But this is not something I can force.
I also truly hope that their experience as kamuro will be useful to them even for a little bit once they grow up.
I hope for the preservation of the hanamachi culture.
Then for next year I ask to continue “the tale of Aoi tayû”.
PS :
The other day we have been able to feature in the poster for “autumn’s fire prevention campaign” by the Kyoto city fire department, and they are displayed in several places in the city.
The campaign is over, but there might still be displayed somewhere, please look for them.
