Taikomochi Arai's Profile

[AnaIkimaru]

Taikomochi Arai is one of the few remaining (male) taikomochi performers in Japan.

The following is from his website. Please check it out for more information! There is *TONS*!

Thank you Arai-san for a wonderful, informative website!

Taikomochi Arai



1946
Born in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

Taikomochi Arai 2001
Photo by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd

1972
Commenced to work as Taikomochi in the Kyoto area to present his traditional storytelling and performing art at geisha entertainment banquets.

1994
Participated in Fukui Prefecture’s PR projects to promote publicity the existence of Taikomochi.
Appeared on the stage of Tokyo Asakusa Engei (entertainment) Hall, a famous performing art theater in Tokyo.
Appeared in the special column of Nikkei Ryutsu Shinbun (national financial and business newspaper), featuring local motivators.

1995
Appeared on the nationwide broadcasting NHK’s special program “Human Map” featuring people active in various fields.

1998
Opened Taikomochi Arai’s homepage in Japanese at the website:
http://www.mitene.or.jp/~houkan/

1999
Started to write a serial column for the Kyoto version of Asahi Shimbun (national daily newspaper) on traditional entertainment culture.
Enrolled on the list of the membership of Asahi 21 Kansai Square (Asahi Shimbun’s message group).

2000
Started to write a serial column for the local section of Asahi Shimbun on traditional entertainment culture.
Participated in the production of movie “Nagasaki Burabura-bushi” by Toei (a Japan’s major movie producer and distributor) as a staff to give instruction to the actor who was to act as Houkan in the movie.



2001
Started to write a serial column for the local section of Asahi Shimbun.
Wrote book “Ma-no-Gokui” (The Essence of Timing in Performing Arts) published by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. (a Japan’s major publishing house) in November.
Invited to give lectures in open classes at Asahi Shimbun’s Asahi Culture Centers in Osaka and Kobe.

“Ma-no-Gokui”
(The Essence of Timing in Performing Arts) written by Taikomochi Arai and published by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. in 2001

2002
Appeared on the special 12-hour radio program of FBC (a leading local broadcasting station) drawn up in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of its service commencement.
Appearing on a FBC’s weekly radio program broadcast around 2:20pm every Monday, featuring his own special corners.
Writing a serial column for the local section of Asahi Shimbun on seasonal subjects.

Started in English & French pagese.

2003
NHK BS Hi-Vision TV

2004
Book Yumoa-wajutsu


2007
Book GEISYA TAIKOMOCHI ARAI



I give a lecture at lecture Warsaw university in Warsaw of the Polish country .


2008
Papier des nouvelles Paris
Magazine

Lecture & performance in VIETNAM (YouTube Video)


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Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies
http://www.cvseas.edu.vn/en/tintuc/46

[hachizaru]

I emailed Mr Arai and he sent me his book. I'm very impressed with the role of the taikomochi - partly corny, partly rude, and partly an ice-breaker between the guests and the geishas. He represents a lineage originating in prehistoric shamanic fertility rituals. I love facilitating and empowering women, so I do my best to help with the Hachisu okiya and Mr Arai's book has inspired me with his age-old tradition. I also love the way he is clearly as happy as Larry with a job that involves working with beautiful girls and making lots of money. He shamelessly advises clients to spend everything they've got in a carefree way and quotes the old saying that if a man spends all his money on geisha, he will have to become taikomochi himself.