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東京・赤坂に28年ぶり“半玉”誕生 大学中退し芸者目指すさくらさん
東京の代表的な花街の赤坂に、若手の芸者見習い「半玉（はんぎょく）」が28年ぶりに誕生する。芸妓に憧れて今年大学を中退し、現在は住み込みで見習い修業を続けるさくらさん（20）で来月5日にお披露目される。
半玉は、京都の舞妓にあたる関東花柳界に特有の名称で、かつては一人前の芸者の玉代（お花代）の“半分”であったことからこの名がついた。お雛妓（おしゃく）と呼ばれることもある。
さくらさんは1994（平成6）年生まれ。幼少時より日本舞踊を学び、将来は舞踊家を目指し日大芸術学部に入学したが、芸妓への憧れを捨てきることができず今年度前期で大学を中退。知人のツテで育子姐さんを紹介してもらい、9月より置屋「暁正林」に住みこんで修業している。「さくら」の名づけ親である祖母のためにも夢は「育子姐さんみたいな一流の踊り手になること」と語る。
赤坂の花柳界は明治以降に主に軍人を相手として繁栄し、東京では、新橋と並ぶ一流花柳界として繁盛したが、1928（昭和3）年に425人を数えた芸者数は減少の一途をたどり、現在は23人にまで激減しているという。こうした状況だけに、28年ぶりの半玉の誕生に寄せられる期待は大きいようだ。
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