Humorous Phrases

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Shinpan Ji-amari Shin-monku ["New Ji-amari Phrases, Newly Published"] 

[Creator/s unidentified]. 

Iigura Shinmachi, [Tōkyō]: Fukudaya Kichigorō, [ca. Bunka 7 (1810)?].

Two issues of humorous phrases and jokes, bound in one. Ji-amari refers to poetic compositions in which the typical number of syllables is exceeded. The word monku has an unfortunate plethora of meanings, making it difficult to pin down the nuance of the term here, but it seems probable that it was used to suggest the book's content was humorous. The title of the second issue is Shinpan Ji-amari Shinmonku Itakobushi ("New Itakobushi Ji-amari Phrases, Newly Published"). The term itako-bushi originally referred to a particular song that was popular in the Edo period, but came to mean any popular song. Gerald Groemer (2017) notes that "a version of itako-bushi sung by itinerant candy vendors during the early years of the nineteenth century apparently became the source of yoshikono, a song genre particularly favoured in the Fukagawa pleasure quarters. Later yet, yoshikono melodies were again varied to produce dodoitsu, a song genre heard nearly everywhere, but nowhere more so than on the stages of Edo yose variety halls". The calligraphic style and eight-column layout are reminiscent of ephemeral jōruri works and nagauta shōhon. Another highlight is the playful illustration on the upper wrapper of the first issue that experiments with the depiction of light. No copies traced in OCLC.

Two volumes in one karitoji-bound volume, presumed complete, on double leaves, traditional East Asian binding style (fukurotoji). Original wrappers lightly worn and creased, inscription to upper. Minor marks and creases internally. 4 leaves, including upper wrappers. 19.8 x 13.5 cm.

❧ Groemer, Gerald. "Popular Music before the Meiji Period". In The Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music, edited by David W. Hughes and Alison Tokita, 261-279. London: Routledge, 2017.

Humorous Phrases
Price: $450.00 (USD)