吉村流は、御狂言師とよばれた禁裏（京都御所）の舞指南、山ノ内ふくを流祖とし、京都に興り、洗練された格調高い振付けで名声を博したが、初世吉村ふじは明治時代に大阪に転じ、南地の芦辺踊りなどで活躍した。

The founder of Yoshimura School,Fuku Yamanouchi, was one of theokyougenshidance instructors for ladies of the Imperial Court in Kyoto. She was famous for sophisticated and refined choreography. Her pupil,Fuji Yoshimura, the first head of the Yoshimura School, moved to Osaka and played a significant role in dance and the performing arts.

二世吉村ゆう、三世吉村雄光は古格の型物を守りつつ、艶冶な舞にも秀でた。終戦後、四世吉村雄輝が、新派の名女形花柳章太郎師の招きにより東京に進出し、これを機に上方舞という呼称を用いるようになったとされる。

The second head,Yuu Yoshimura, and the third head,Yuukou Yoshimura, preserved the refined older traditional dances. Their dances were extremely charming and beautiful. Following the Second World War, the fourth head,Yuuki Yoshimuramoved to Tokyo after receiving an invitation from Shoutarou Hanayagi, a famous actor of theShinpaschool of theater. Since then, the wordKamigatamaihas been used for these traditional style of dances.

Third head Yuukou Yoshimura

 

四世吉村雄輝は復曲のみならず、新作を精力的に発表、舞台芸術としての上方舞を全国に拡めることに尽力し、数々の賞に輝いた。

The fourth head,Yuuki Yoshimurawas a gifted choreographer. He revived many old dance pieces and also created new dance works. He strove to popularize the legitimatekamigatamainationwide as a form of on-stage performing art and received many awards.

Fourth head Yuuki Yoshimura

 

吉村流は、能の仕舞の技法を基礎に、謡、壬生狂言、人形浄瑠璃などの要素も取り入れ、優艶かつ硬質な振付けと緊密な構成を特徴として発展してきた。

The Yoshimura School is based on the arts of"shimai", an informal dance style of"Noh" Theater. The technique of the Yoshimura School integrates various traditional performances like"utai"(Noh chanting),"mibukyougen"(a pantomime performed in the Mibu temple),"ningyou-joururi"(Japanese puppet drama) and so on. The Yoshimura School is recognized by its elaborated choreography and its elegant movement.

Sixth head Kishou Yoshimura (left), Fifth Head Yukio Yoshimura (right)

 

四世吉村雄輝の下で長らく内弟子として住込み修業した六世家元 吉村輝章により、舞の一挙手一投足、呼吸や目線に至るまで厳格に伝承が守られた。

The sixth head,Kishou Yoshimura, resided as a pupil for a long period in the fourth head’s home. He inherited his teacher’s traditional techniques: all the body movements from head to toe, breath control and eye movement.

Sixth head Kishou Yoshimura

平成26年に流儀は法人格の団体として改編された。六世吉村輝章は法人の初代理事長を務めた。後に宗家を名乗り、七世家元 吉村輝之が第2代理事長に就任した。法人の運営は継承され、これが現在の一般社団法人上方舞吉村流である。

In 2014, The Yoshimura-ryu was reorganized to general incorporated association. The Sixth head Kishou Yoshimura　served as the first chaiman of the association. And a few years later, he named himself Soke,　and then the seventh headTeruyuki Yoshimurawas appointed as the second chairman of the board. The management of the association was inherited by the seventh head Teruyuki Yoshimura. This is the current of Kamigatamai Yoshimura-ryu association.

Six head Kishou Yoshimura (left), Seventh head Teruyuki Yoshimura(right)