After canceling all of our in person events this year due to the pandemic, the Idaho Japanese Association is excited to bring you our first virtual event. A free Rakugo performance featuring rakugo master, Yanagiya Tozaburo. Master Yanagiya’s plan to start on his dream of a 50 state tour this year was also side lined by the pandemic so he has decided to make the best of the situation by starting a 50 state virtual tour with the help of B-Bridge International. And we are excited to help bring you the Idaho virtual stop.
Event Time:
December 19 2020 (Saturday) 3-4PM Mountain Time
Location（Zoom）
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Free! No registration necessary
Please consider a small donation to Master Yanagiya if you enjoyed the performance
https://www.paypal.com/biz/
Program
- How to Understand Rakugo’s Movements (English)
- Using the fan and hand towel (English)
- Rakugo Performance (English & Japanese)
- Q&A
Profile
Born in Tokyo, 1976. Became a disciple of Gontaro Yanagiya the 3rd in April of 1999. Started performing as a “Zenza” (Opener) junior apprentice in July of 1999. Promoted to “Futatsume” (Second Opener) senior apprentice in November of 2002. Finally in March, 2014, promoted to “Shin’uchi”, Master of a Rakugo Storyteller, and succeeded to the name of Tozaburo Yanagiya the 3rd.
He started the Tozaburo Yanagiya Company Troupe in 2016 and received the Rookie/New Artist Award in the category of popular entertainment at the 71st the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan National Arts Festival in 2017. Between 2018 and 2019, he traveled around the world to Singapore, Canada and the United States, performing 38 times to various schools, retirement communities and consular offices.
Through this tour, he found his calling to spread the concept of “Rakugo” to the world and moved to New York on an Artist visa in 2019. His current ambition is to perform in all 50 US states.
＜Message from Master Yanagiya＞
While we had to cancel our original plan due to the pandemic, we felt that now more than ever people needed more laughter and smiles in their lives and so we have modified our original plan to a virtual setting. We hope that you enjoy the 「RAKUGO」experience.
What is Rakugo
Rakugo is a solo storytelling performance where the storyteller will tell a tale involving a dialogue between multiple characters that ends with a punchline, often comical. Unlike other traditional Japanese art forms, Rakugo is the epitome of simplicity where the storyteller remains seated and only uses a paper fan and a small towel as props.
The history of Rakugo can be traced back to 9th and 10th century Buddhist monks making their teachings more interesting but over time has moved to an art form and has become organized to have a more formal apprentice system with regional groups and guilds who organize performances and venues.