A Brief History of Shinnai

The origin of shinnai can be traced to a style of joruri called Itchu music (itchu bushi), begun in Kyoto by Miyako Itchu. One of Itchu's students moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo), took the name Miyakoji Bungo and originated the Bungo style of narrative song known as bungo bushi around 1730. Bungo bushi became extremely popular among the people of Edo because it was sensual and decadent. Many of the stories told in bungo bushi works were about lovers' double suicides. At that time, there was an epidemic of lovers' suicides in Edo, and the government, already concerned that public morals were deteriorating, decided that bungo bushi was the cause of the worsening of morals and the increase in double suicides, and implemented an absolute prohibition on bungo bushi. The music could not be sung or played, nor the stories told. In order to survive, followers of Bungo gave up the professional names that were associated with bungo bushi, and each of them started his own style of music, naming his style after himself.

Tsuruga Wakasanojo I was one of these followers of Bungo, but, unlike Bungo's other former students, he did not perform at the famous theaters in Edo. Shinnai never became associated with any other performing art form and continues in the 21st century to be performed rather unchanged from the original unadorned 18th century joruri style. The characteristic performance style of shinnai is very different from other forms of joruri. The music is not written down or fixed, but rather left, within limits, to the individual performer.

Shinnai works were very popular with people employed in the Yoshiwara pleasure district of Edo, and, responding to the interests of their audience, shinnai performers gradually changed the style, which became more sensual and emotional. The popularity of shinnai extended to the ordinary people of Edo, as well.

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