noun
male entertainer; male geisha
Refers to a male counterpart of a geisha, often a performer or party entertainer. Historically associated with 太鼓持ち (taiko-mochi) or 幇間 (hōkan), who provided comedic entertainment at banquets.
See also: 太鼓持ち
江戸時代には、男芸者が宴席で芸を披露した。
In the Edo period, male entertainers performed at banquets.
彼は男芸者として、太鼓持ちの役割を果たしていた。
As a male geisha, he played the role of a taiko-mochi (party entertainer).
Compound of 男 (otoko, 'male') and 芸者 (geisha, 'entertainer'). The term likely arose to distinguish male entertainers from the more common female geisha.