Did you know that a famous comedian once lived near here? This is the former residence of Ichicha Kobayashi. It stands as a memorial to his life. Ichicha Kobayashi was a well-known comedian. He lived during the late Edo period.
Ichicha Kobayashi was born in 1763. This was in what is now Nagano Prefecture. He was the eldest son of farmers. Tragedy struck early in his life. His mother died when he was three. He had a poor relationship with his stepmother. This difficult relationship influenced his life and comedy.
At 15, Ichicha Kobayashi left home. He went to Edo to work. Though the work was hard he experienced Edo’s culture. He grew fond of comedy. He formally studied comedy. He became a student of Sokyu Yanagiya and Takeaji Kobayashi. He honed his skills traveling and performing. He interacted with many comedians. He refined his craft.
Ichicha Kobayashi once lived in this very area. It is known as Midori in Sumida. In 1804, he moved here from Oshima in Koto. He resided here for about five years. He established a base for his comedic activities.
Imagine the area around Ichicha Kobayashi’s home. Bamboo likely grew nearby. This is based on one of his poems. He wrote it upon moving in. The poem speaks of bamboo in the night rain.
Tragedy struck again in 1808. Ichicha Kobayashi returned from a comedic tour. He discovered his landlord had leased his home to someone else. He had no place to live. He lamented this event in a poem. He wrote that he had lost his home.
After this, Ichicha Kobayashi moved often. He stayed with disciples and patrons. Later, he returned to his hometown in Nagano. Today, a sign stands near Ni-no-hashi Bridge. It marks this area. The sign identifies it as the former residence of Ichicha Kobayashi.
So remember Ichicha Kobayashi. He lived. He laughed. He wrote poetry. He left his mark on Tokyo’s cultural landscape. His legacy remains here in Midori.