NEW YORK — Thrilling more than 200 diplomats and other U.N. staff, Katsura Koharudanji III took his traditional comic storytelling to new heights last week by becoming the first "rakugo" comic story teller to perform at U.N. headquarters.

The 52-year-old Koharudanji has traveled throughout Europe, Asia and North America over the last decade to promote rakugo. He last performed in New York for three days in 2007.

Called "Rakugo in New York vol. 2," his performance Friday presented a classic repertoire that included "The Valuable Cow" ("Otama-ushi"), a hilarious tale about a boy-meets-girl-meets-cow, and "Plate Mansion" ("Sarayashiki"), a popular ghost story.