Sorori Shinzaemon

Sorori Shinzaemon was the stage name of Sugimori Hikoemon, a semi-legendary Japanese comedian, jester, and retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is regarded as the progenitor of rakugo.

Biography

Sorori was originally a scabbard-maker of Sakai, a major commercial center. He studied the art of chanoyu under Takeno Jō'ō, and was also versed in kyōka. His scabbards were especially well-made and swords could be swiftly and easily drawn from them. Because of this, he was given the nickname sorori. At some point, he became a retainer of Hideyoshi. Thereafter he was renowned for his laconic wit and wisdom.
Sorori is best known through the many anecdotes depicting his interactions with Hideyoshi. In one, a variation of the ancient wheat and chessboard problem is attributed to him. In another, after Sorori had farted in his presence, Hideyoshi beat him over the head and buttocks with a shaku. Sorori then composed a poem: "Having thus farted, I Kokushi.
For many years, the relative scarcity of contemporary manuscripts mentioning Sorori gave rise to a theory that he was actually the same person as Anrakuan Sakuden, another comedian of the period. However, according to, a diary from 1587 belonging to the kuge mentions that a person named Sorori gave amusing lectures and did a comical impression of Chinese person.