Tōsha Rosen VI

Infobox Musical artist

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Name=Tōsha Rosen
藤舎呂船
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Background= non_vocal_instrumentalist
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Born=1944
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Instrument=Noh and Kabuki Tsuzumi, ōtsuzumi, taiko, many others
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Genre=Traditional Japanese theatre and dance
Occupation=Musician, songwriter, educator
Years_active=1954-present
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nihongo|Tōsha Rosen VI|六世藤舎呂船|Rokusei Tōsha Rosen (born 1944) is a Japanese percussionist in the tradition of traditional Japanese dance and drama, the sixth "iemoto" (head) of the Tōsha school. He specializes in the "taiko" and "tsuzumi", and performs as a member or leader of the "hayashi" (musical accompanists) in the kabuki theatre, as well as in a variety of other traditional contexts.

Born in 1944, his father was the 4th Tōsha Rosen. He began studying percussion under his father at the age of six, focusing upon the "ko-tsuzumi", a small hand-drum. He later studied "taiko" under the 5th Tōsha Rosen, "nagauta shamisen" [That is, the style of playing shamisen for the kabuki and bunraku theatres, meant to accompany "nagauta", the characteristic style of narrative chanting found in those theatrical forms.] under Kondō Chōjūrō II, Kondō Ayako, and Kineya Katsuroku, and "kiyomoto-bushi" [Another style of theatrical narrative chanting accompanied by shamisen.] under Kiyomoto Jukuni-tayū.

He made his first appearance on stage in 1954, at the "Kyoto Gion Kaburenjō" (Song and Dance Practice Hall), under the name Tōsha Toshiaki. He then took up the name Tōsha Naritoshi in 1968, and made his kabuki debut in April the following year, performing for the dance piece "Renjishi" at the Kabuki-za in Tokyo. He succeeded to the name Tōsha Rosen, and the position as "iemoto" of the school, in September 1986.

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References

*"Kabuki techō: Kabuki Official Data Book 2008". Nihon Haiyū Kyōkai (Japan Actors' Association). 2008: Tokyo. p272.