The Japanese version of the jester, taikomochi were once attendants to daimyō (feudal lords) from the 13th century, originating from the Ji sect of Pure Land Buddhism, which focused on dancing.
They changed from being advisors to becoming pure entertainers, and a number of them found employment with the oiran, high-class Japanese courtesans.
Seisuisho ("Laughs to Banish Sleep"), a collection of comic stories written by Sakuden Anrakuan, was compiled during this time.
So the taikomochi gives in to please the client, and acts out (half hidden by a screen) the sex with moans and rolling of eyes, until the climax.
The audience roared with laughter because they all knew that this was a joke, making fun of how geisha and taikomochi please their customers.
This sort of entertainment is grounded in the fertility related banquet (enkai) linked with the agriculture of ancient Japan.
He also plays games at the ozashiki as well as acting out stories, singing or dancing – making a merry and enjoyable party for the guests.
He runs his own web site about his profession, and hopes to share the history and culture of the taikomochi with the world.
He comments: "However, unlike other showy traditional cultures appearing on the main stage, Taikomochi is a backstage one, which I have dared to pursue as my occupation, knowing that nobody can guarantee and protect it, but still receiving inquiries from top enterprise leaders for attendance at their traditional banquets, where they have shown interest in what I am doing, while trying to get business hints from their conversation with me during such entertainment sessions.
I really hope that I will be able to continue to be of service to people somehow through my occupation".Geisha:The Secret History of a Vanishing World, Downer, Lesley, 2001, Headline, ISBN 0-7472-7106-2