English Rakugo: The Japanese storytelling performance art captivating audiences worldwide
Rakugo, which literally means ‘story with a fall (= punch line!)l’ is a traditional Japanese storytelling performance carried out in theatres. Until a few years ago, Rakugo was not as well recognized overseas compared to "Kabuki" and "Noh,” despite its rich history and popularity amongst the older Japanese population. “Kabuki” and “Noh” are largely visual forms of entertainment thus appealing to those who do not understand the Japanese language. On the contrary, in Rakugo, the performer sits and narrates the story which might seem daunting to foreigners who don’t understand the language. However, in recent years Rakugo, more specifically English Rakugo, has gained significant traction abroad thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Rakugo performer, Katsura Sunshine.
Rakugo has a history of approximately 400 years. Katsura Sunshine is a rare presence in this history, being the first foreign Rakugo performer in the Kamigata Rakugo Association in 100 years. His ability to transcend language barriers makes him a valuable asset in spreading English Rakugo to the world.
The overseas response to Katsura Sunshine’s 2019 New York English Rakugo Performance
While Rakugo is unique in its own way, it can be compared to stand-up comedy where comedians take the stage and entertain the audience through talk. The New York Times titled an article "Rakugo: Stand-Up Comedy Without Standing,” introducing Katsura Sunshine's performance in New York. Likewise, The New Yorker described him as "a big, burly, blond Canadian with a bellowing, rapid-fire style," accurately capturing both the style of Rakugo and Katsura Sunshine's .
Both articles also mentioned aspects of Rakugo's history and its style of storytelling while sitting using a traditional Japanese hand towel and fan. It's evident from these articles that Rakugo's recognition is gradually increasing. While it's not uncommon for popular shows to extend their run on Broadway, Katsura Sunshine's performance has also been extended, indicating his growing popularity and stage presence.
What defines Katsura Sunshine’s English Rakugo?
The catalyst for Katsura Sunshine's journey to Japan, where he was studying classical theatre at the University of Toronto, was "Noh." While learning about “Noh,'' he stumbled upon Rakugo which led to his deep interest in the art form and continued efforts to spread Rakugo worldwide, aiming to inspire people from various countries, much like how he himself was inspired.
What makes Katsura Sunshine's English Rakugo remarkable is his skill to recreate the humour of Rakugo heard in Japanese directly into English. Simply understanding both Japanese and English doesn't automatically enable one to have this skill. A direct translation of Japanese to English and vice-versa, may not resonate with the audience. For instance, while you may have heard the term "milk porridge" in English-speaking contexts, it might not sound familiar or appetising to Japanese people. Similarly, translating the Japanese dessert "ohagi" into English as "a sweet snack wrapped in bean paste between rice and mochi" might not only fail to resonate with English-speaking audiences but also disrupt the tempo of the story due to its explanatory nature. However, simply substituting "ohagi" with "cake" or "biscuit" would make it difficult for the audience to imagine the Japanese scenery, thus losing the emotional resonance of the story. (Please note: Whether "ohagi" actually appears in Rakugo is beside the point.) In Katsura Sunshine's English Rakugo, he actively picks words that are easy for the audience in front of him to visualise, and sometimes even utilises the discomfort caused by such language differences to evoke laughter.
Katsura Sunshine doesn't merely translate Rakugo into English for the enjoyment of international audiences. Instead he incorporates his experience as a playwright in Canada, creating original English Rakugo pieces.
In support of Katsura Sunshine's desire to promote Japanese culture, Pointblank Promotions produced his 2016 performances in London, Edinburgh, and France, as well as for his 2017 long-run performance in London's West End. Additionally, we handled the branding for his 2019 performance in New York. This year in 2024, his London performances have been confirmed.
2024 English Rakugo performance in London by Katsura Sunshine
The 2024 London performances are scheduled to take place at the Leicester Square Theatre in West End. Below are the details of the performances.
Location:
Leicester Square Theatre (6 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BX)
Schedule:
• April 13th (Saturday) at 3:30 PM
• May 11th (Saturday) at 3:30 PM
• June 6th (Thursday) at 3:30 PM
• July 13th (Saturday) at 3:30 PM
• August 10th (Saturday) at 3:30 PM
Tickets are available for purchase at the following link: