Takemoto refers to Gidayu-bushi featured in Maruhon Kabuki (kabuki plays of doll theatre origin), which, accompanied by shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese banjo), is narrated a story (Although it seems that tayu are singing, the expression 'to narrate' is used in Gidayu instead of 'to sing'), or Tayu who narrate a story and shamisen-kata (accompanying shamisen players), and narration itself.
丸本歌舞伎において三味線とともに語られる（歌うようでもあるが、義太夫は「歌う」と表現せず、「語る」と表現する）義太夫節、あるいはそれを語る太夫および三味線方、また語ること自体を竹本という。