幇ほう間かん

noun

professional jester; entertainer; buffoon

Historical role in Edo-period entertainment districts; a man hired to enliven parties with jokes, flattery, and light performance. Often synonymous with 太鼓持ち.

See also: 太鼓持ち

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいの遊ゆう郭かくでは、幇ほう間かんが宴えん席せきを盛もり上あげた。

  In the pleasure quarters of the Edo period, hōkan livened up banquets.

• 彼かれはまるで幇ほう間かんのように、いつも上じょう司しにお世せ辞じを言いっている。

  He's always flattering his boss like a professional jester.