Tomimoto-bushi
Tomimoto-bushi (富本節) is a style of Japanese jōruri, the narrative singing with shamisen accompaniment. It is valued for its refinement and subtlety. It became popular in the late 18th century, but today it is mostly replaced by the Kiyomoto-bushi style, which grew out of it.
The style developed from the teaching of the singer Miyakoji Bungo-no-jō, who trained in Kyoto and became famous in Edo (now Tokyo) on the kabuki stage. Tomimoto-bushi was founded by Tomimoto Buzen I and reached its height during the career of his son, Tomimoto Buzen II. It is known for its delicate singing and intricate shamisen playing.
A well-known performer of the time was the geisha Tomimoto Toyohina, who appears in many prints by Utamaro.
Tomimoto-bushi was popular with upper‑class samurai and wealthy merchants in the Yoshiwara pleasure district. At its peak, being skilled in Tomimoto was said to be a qualification for young women hoping to work in the inner areas of Edo Castle.
Today, Tomimoto-bushi is rarely performed publicly. It is mostly kept alive through private teaching among other schools, and some Tomimoto pieces have become part of the Kiyomoto repertoire.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:45 (CET).