also: めしゅうど
noun
specially invited poet at the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading
Modern, specific role: a person invited to compose and recite a poem at the 歌会始 (Utakai Hajime), the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading.
See also: 歌会始
今年の歌会始の召人に選ばれたのは、著名な歌人だった。
The person chosen as the specially invited poet for this year's Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading was a famous tanka poet.
noun
court compiler of waka anthologies
Historical role: a person employed by the Imperial Court to compile anthologies of waka poetry. Not a modern occupation.
平安時代、召人は勅撰和歌集の編纂に携わった。
In the Heian period, court compilers were involved in compiling imperial waka anthologies.
noun
person summoned to perform bugaku for the nobility
Historical term: a person summoned to perform bugaku (court music and dance) for the nobility. Rare, specialized usage.
See also: 舞楽
宮中での舞楽のため、召人が集められた。
Performers were summoned for the bugaku performance at the imperial court.
Compound of 召 (めし, 'summon') + 人 (うど, 'person'). The reading うど is an older form of ひと. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term consistently refers to a person summoned for a specific courtly or ceremonial role.