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April 20, 2024
 

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RAKUGO

Bajaku Yoshiwara, a former pupil of "rakugo" storyteller Sanyutei Enka IV, speaks to reporters on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 28, 2024
Rakugo storyteller ordered to pay damages over power harassment
Bajaku Yoshiwara, who was studying the art of traditional Japanese storytelling under Sanyutei Enka IV at the time, sought ¥3 million in compensation.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 28, 2023
Rakugo master and Cambridge professor revive tales from the Edo Period
The pair have helped to revive the colorful quack doctor Chikusai, who enjoyed great popularity between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Feb 27, 2022
Diane Kichijitsu: ‘Human interactions provide plenty of comedic material’
The male-dominated world of 'rakugo,' traditional Japanese comic storytelling, has welcomed a British woman who's in on the joke.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 10, 2021
National treasure rakugo storyteller Yanagiya Kosanji dies at 81
Kosanji became the third living national treasure among rakugo storytellers in 2014 after his master Yanagiya Kosan and Katsura Beicho.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 6, 2019
Canadian rakugo storyteller keeps dream alive in New York City
Toronto native Katsura Sunshine has experienced setbacks as a rakugo storyteller, the 400-year-old Japanese comedic art form, but he has not given up on a long-held dream to build a rakugo theater in the Big Apple.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Aug 4, 2019
Spectral sightings at Zenshoan Temple
Tokyo's Yanaka district ghosts are back to haunt the public via rakugo storyteller Sanyutei Encho's collection of spooky paintings.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jan 3, 2019
Japanese kamikiri performer's elaborate pieces draw interest from readers of Nagoya newspaper
Hayashiya Niraku is a 51-year-old practitioner of kamikiri, a Japanese performance art that involves cutting silhouette images out of a plain piece of paper based on requests from the audience. Adding to the challenge, artists create their pieces without drawing an outline beforehand.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2018
Renowned rakugo storyteller Katsura Utamaru dies at 81
Rakugo comic storyteller Katsura Utamaru, known for his superb skill in telling classic humorous stories, died Monday of a lung illness, an association of rakugo storytellers said. He was 81.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 6, 2018
Young operators turn to social media to revive Tokyo's sento neighborhood bathhouses
Younger operators of sento (public bathhouses) in Tokyo are breathing new life into the facilities, which have long helped residents in communities feel refreshed and relaxed.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2017
Tokyo's Kabutocho financial district gets creative in bid to revive its quiet streets
It's a Monday night in late November and Ryutei Ichiya, a kimono-clad 34-year-old rakugo comic raconteur, is performing a skit in front of a crowd of over 100.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Sep 27, 2017
Canadian rakugo comic Katsura Sunshine eyes the Big Apple with a push from investors
Katsura Sunshine has come quite a way from his days listening to Japanese rakugo comic tales at a local yakitori skewered chicken restaurant where he was introduced to the ancient traditional art form almost 20 years ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2016
'Rakugo' comedy no joke for students keen to hone English skills
Japanese tend to be known for their shyness and stoic demeanor. But as Japanese companies increasingly think more globally, workers are feeling the need to communicate and express themselves clearly in front of people of various nationalities.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 7, 2016
Documentary focuses on 'rakugo' artist's inspirational return to the stage
The Japanese tradition of rakugo (comedic storytelling) depends largely on a quick wit and a way with words. So when storyteller Hayashiya Kanpei became speech-impaired due to a stroke, the challenge he faced getting back on stage was a momentous one.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 14, 2016
Shinoharu Tatekawa makes sure that 'rakugo' isn't lost in translation
Comic Shinoharu Tatekawa hopes to win over some new fans this month when he performs a rakugo set in English.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2015
'Rakugo' storyteller Shinosuke, novelist Kirino among medal awardees
Rakugo comic storyteller Tatekawa Shinosuke and novelist Natsuo Kirino are among 755 people and 15 groups receiving this fall's medals of honor for distinguished performances and contributions to society, the government said Monday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Mar 24, 2015
'Rakugo' artist takes his yarns to Thailand, gets new audience chuckling
Japanese rakugo comic storyteller Katsura Takemaru was reminded of his boyhood in Osaka in the 1960s when he visited Thailand for the first time in 2007.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2015
'Rakugo' classic comic storyteller Beicho dies at 89
Japanese rakugo classic comic storyteller Katsura Beicho died of pneumonia on Thursday evening, his office said. He was 89.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2014
Rakugo storyteller Sankyo honored for promoting Japanese language
Renowned "rakugo" (comic story) raconteur Yanagiya Sankyo has been honored for his commitment to spreading appreciation of the Japanese language among foreigners in Japan and overseas.
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jun 26, 2014
Everyone's having a laugh in Kinokuniya
Rakugo, a traditional form of comic storytelling in Japan, deals with anecdotes about human nature. Described as a "performance of imagination," it is usually done on an empty stage with the artist kneeling on a large cushion and acting out the roles of all characters in the tales, expressing their actions using just two props — a fan and handkerchief.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 3, 2013
'Rakugo' solo act heads to Europe, with subtitles
A master of the traditional Japanese art of storytelling known as "rakugo" is embarking on his first tour of Europe, where he will perform his "sit-down" comedy with subtitles to show audiences how Japan laughs.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran
A reported strike against Iran by Israel on Friday came against the backdrop of Iran's support for the Palestinian Hamas militant group, whose assault into Israel on Oct. 7 triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
Former No. 1 Kento Momota retires from international badminton at 29
Badminton star Kento Momota leaves a news conference after announcing his retirement from Japan's national team, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

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