The history of hokan goes back a long way, and its origin is reported to be Shinzaemon SORORI who is said to have served Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI as an otogishu (the professional storyteller attending provincial lords).
歴史は古く豊臣秀吉のお伽衆を務めたと言われる曽呂利新左衛門を祖とすると伝えられている。