San'yūtei Enchō

Biography

Sanyutei Encho I (初代 三遊亭 円朝, Shodai San'yūtei Enchō; Japanese pronunciation: [saɰ̃.jɯː.tei (|) eɲ.tɕoꜜː, -teː-], May 13, 1839 – August 11, 1900), born Jirokichi Izubuchi (出淵 次郎吉, Izubuchi Jirokichi), was a Japanese author and rakugo performer of the late Edo and early Meiji eras. He was the founder and head of the Sanyuu school of rakugo, and is considered a pioneer of the rakugo revival.

Notable works of his include Japanese horror ("kaidan") classics: Kaidan botan dōrō (based on Botan Dōrō (牡丹灯籠, The Peony Lantern), and Shinkei Kasane ga fuchi (on which many Japanese horror films such as Kaidan Kasane-ga-fuchi are based).