noun
professional jester; entertainer; buffoon
Historical role in Edo-period entertainment districts; a man hired to enliven parties with jokes, flattery, and light performance. Often synonymous with 太鼓持ち.
See also: 太鼓持ち
江戸時代の遊郭では、幇間が宴席を盛り上げた。
In the pleasure quarters of the Edo period, hōkan livened up banquets.
彼はまるで幇間のように、いつも上司
He's always flattering his boss like a professional jester.