In August 1917, the Yanagi Group and Sanyu Group (both storyteller groups) merged, and the core members, Enzo TACHIBANAYA (the fourth), Enu SANYUTEI, Kosan YANAGIYA (the third) and others, established Tokyo Vaudeville Co. Ltd, and Ryutei SARAKU (the fifth) also established the Sanyu-yanagi Friendship Association (commonly called 'Mutsumi-kai' in Japanese).
1917年8月には柳派と三遊派が合併し、橘家圓蔵(4代目)、三遊亭圓右、柳家小さん(3代目)らが中心となって演芸会社「東京寄席演芸株式会社」を、柳亭左楽は「三遊柳連睦会（通称、睦会）」を設立した。