The actual founder is said to be 鳥飼元光, who belonged to Torikai za (a troupe of Sarugaku (form of theater popular in Japan during the 11th to 14th centuries)) of Settsu Province sarugaku, was later active as a tesarugaku (amateur noh) actor, and was granted a shuryogo as Izuminokami Guard.
実質的な祖は鳥飼元光で、摂津国猿楽の鳥飼座に属したのち京都に出て手猿楽の役者として活躍し、和泉守の守領号を下賜されたといわれる。