OKEIKO 33

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OKEIKO 33
In most cases, there is singing ("uta") in the accompaniment of Nihonbuyo. Sometimes, the lyrics are about the drama, but quite often they are word plays ("kotoba-asobi”), which is exactly the case for the second half of " Seven Deities of Good Fortune". From the part about pulling the fishing rod, the text continues with phrases using the word "hiku" (*meaning: to pull, to draw, to play an string instrument etc.). “Kiwazumi wo hiku" means to apply ink to the hairline to make the shape of the face look more beautiful; this contour is called "kiwazumi”. Nowadays, the word is not commonly used, but – if it is used – apparently "kiwazumi wo hiku" means to apply makeup. Next follows the “hiku” of "playing a musical instrument such as a biwa or a koto; this is a homonym of "hiku=pull", although their kanjis are different. Clouds trailing ("hiku"), then come "pulling a cart", "drawing lots", "pulling a rope", "drawing a bow", "pulling a float at a festival”, and others like these follow.
(Mitsuko T. Sakurai)

*TN