"Rakugo" artist Katsura Kaishi is trying to turn the traditional art of comic storytelling into a form of entertainment by basing his tales on daily life, and also performs in English overseas to broaden its global appeal.
"There is a stereotype that the Japanese have no sense of humor and wear business suits all the time. But I'm trying to change that with jokes," said the 42-year-old Kaishi, whose real name is Hiroo Furuse.
"I'm hoping that rakugo, as one kind of Japanese humor, will be accepted by more people around the world as a form of entertainment rather than just as part of traditional Japanese culture."