English Rakugo Excursion to Kyoto
A geat cultural experience brought to you by the TJCS Cultural Committee
On March 26, 2017, the TJCS Cultural Committee guided a small group tour to Kyoto to attend a performance by an English Rakugo group near the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.
The Nagoya contingent consisted of Americans, an Aussie and a handful of Japanese - yet sadly, no Canadians :-(
But anyhow, a great time was had by all.
In total, eight English Rakugo performers entertained the crowd with variations of traditional Rakugo, as well as modern, creative rakugo. It seems that the Kanasai dialect lends itself well to English Rakugo making for a delightfully strange experience.
In the second half of the event, a mini Rakugo experience workshop was held where attendees could try out their Rakugo skills. An American chap from the Nagoya contingent was able to showcase his impromptu Rakugo skills to the delight of everyone in the audience. It seems he had fun as well :-) All in all a great cultural experience for foreigners and Japanese alike!
As it happens, closer to Nagoya, in Yokkaichi, there are a number of English Rakugo groups that occasionally organize English Rakugo performances. Watch for another English Rakugo excursion, organized by the TJCS Cultural Committee in the near future. Check the event listings for details.
