Samurai Ranks; Otogishu

The Shogun & Daimyo Whisperers

Otogishu were attendants —usually of samurai class — employed by the Shogun and feudal daimyo lords from the late Muromachi period to the early Edo period. They would engage in casual conversation, be it their own experiences, or give lectures on books, talk about recent news or occurrences, including the happenings within the town and among the common folk. They were also known by other names such as Okashu, Ohanashishu and Sobanshu. In the Edo period they were also called Danpanshu and Anzaishu. Basically, they were attendants, akin to companions to entertain, and mentally and culturally stimulate the warlords and daimyo. They are called Otogishu, because they were mainly people to talk to. As such, Otogishu were required to have a wide range of experiences, extensive knowledge, and eloquence, as well as the need for military and political understanding to be able to hold such discussions. Therefore, elderly ronin who specialized in history and knew a lot about other warriors and warlords were often used as Otogishu. During the Edo period, there were cases when due to family deaths, young boys would serve as daimyo, and young boys of around the same age served then as Otogishu, becoming playmates, companions and entertainers for the young lord.

Otogishu first appear in written form in the Ouchiji Jitsuroku, Records of the Ochi Clan compiled by the late Suo clan circa 1532-1555. After that, otogishu became popular among the leaders of the Sengoku daimyo clans, including the Takeda, Oda, Hojo, Toyotomi, Mori, and even the Tokugawa clans. The Takeda clan’s records, the Koyo Gunkan lists the names of 12 otogishu employed by Takeda Shingen. Oda Nobunaga is known to have had one Tanemura Rokusai amongst his entourage as an Otogishu. In some cases, non-samurai, such as blind men, who would often be employed as entertainers using their musical and oratory skills, would fill the role of Otogishu. In fact, several Sengoku daimyo, including Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Hojo Ujimasa were known to have used blind Otogishu.

A late Sengoku, early Edo period popular book titled Gigon Yokishu was published, circa 1596–1615 and featured a compilation of the various Otogishu’s most humorous stories. It is said that through these books, the Otogishu’s tales spread to the common people and developed into the popular stage based storytelling styles of kodan and rakugo in the Edo period and later. For that reason, the Otogishu are considered the ancestors of the still popular today traditional rakugo performers.

Hideyoshi’s Otogishu

The warlord who used the most Otogishu is said to have been Toyotomi Hideyoshi. According to the Hoan Taikoki, the chronicles of the Taiko, Hideyoshi, there were as many as 800 of them in his service.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born to a low ranked ashigaru, and as a child he had only the most basic of educations. As such, he was not skilled at reading and writing, and so he gathered many Otogishu to act as his teachers, helping him learn through listening.

Among Hideyoshi's many Otogishu were many of his former superiors, such as the younger brothers and children of his late master Oda Nobunaga, and former retainers of the Oda clan. There were feudal lords from former elite clans, former retainers of retired Sengoku feudal lords, former shogun, and feudal lords currently serving in the Toyotomi administration. He called upon cultural figures, well-read Confucian monks, tea masters, masters of the taiko drums, people in the entertainment industry and many others. It is suggested by some that in hiring his former betters, Hideyoshi intended to prove that he, who was of lowly origins, had now become a high-ranking master of all, and that even those of distinguished lineage and family background obeyed him.

However, Hideyoshi most probably understood that placing himself among such diverse and cultural people, he could improve himself culturally, politically and spiritually to better the lives of the people of the nation he had unified.

The most famous of Hideyoshi's Otogishu were Yamana Zenko and Sorori Shinzaemon. Zenko was a descendant of the prestigious Yamana clan, and he supplied many an anecdote about his interactions with the other members of the noble Yamana when he served Hideyoshi and Ieyasu. Sorori (whose true identity is unknown) was popular for his witty remarks and for being a master of kyoka poetry, an art said to have been much enjoyed by Hideyoshi.

In the days of the samurai warlords and daimyo, the Otogishu appear to have filled the role of the modern-day radio, TV, YouTube and social media (dare I say Substack?) that we enjoy today. They were the entertainers, the educators, the social voices of the Sengoku and Edo periods’ leaders.