Background
Uemura Kichiya was born about 1660 in Japan.
吉弥 上村
Uemura Kichiya was born about 1660 in Japan.
His master was Saito Yogoro, an Osaka dokegata (comic actor).
In 1677, Kichiya Uemura went on tour to Tokyo, performing at the Nakamuraza. In 1680, he retired and took the name of Uemura Kichizaemon.
Later on, Kichiya Uemura opened a cosmetic powders shop in Kyoto, along the Shijo avenue, and managed it under the name of Uemonjiya Kichizaemon. In 1681 in publication in Kyoto of a special hyobanki, mixing actors and courtesans in couples, Kichiya was associated to a courtesan named Kokonoe.
Kichiya Uemura deviced for the stage a new way for to tie the belt (obi) of his kimono: he used a wide and long obi, which he tied in a bow. It was said that his fans went wild and started to wear their obi in the same fastening-style, which was called kichiya musubi. It quickly became the latest fashion for women in Japan big cities.
A type of women's sash about 10 inches in width was also named after him.
His adopted son was Uemura Kichiya II, also a successful dancer.
