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A Brief History of Rakugo




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justsomeaccount



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
Posts: 530
PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 8:48 am Reply with quote
Thanks for the article. In Spain the 10th volume came out and they actually mention the Osaka style since a character goes there, though for now the series hasn't gotten deep into it, I'd be excited if it does.

The main series I know that are about rakugo are Joshiraku, Descending Stories, My Master has no Tail (I think? I haven't watched it yet), and of course Akane-banashi (of course I'm sure there's so many more we don't know about). I'm also fond of the Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice case that happens to a rakugo master (in part because thanks to the localization it makes Simon Blackwell look even more of a weaboo). Also, you know that comedic sketch where Scar and King Bradley from FMA share their extremely long name? That's the name in the Jugemu story.

It should be noted too that part of the reason of why rakugo can make their performers distinct despite telling similar stories is because many of them are easily maleable depending of your acting approach, which is the main basis of Akane's approach, sometimes even changing genres (God of Death can be haunting or a comedy, for example); that way the performers can capitalize on their way of telling the story and make their personal brand. It's kinda like how a movie can have unlimited results even if the script is largely the same, and that's fascinating.

And on a meta aspect, that also happens with Akane and Descending Stories: due to their different focus, each series's approach to representing rakugo is different and each suited to each series' storytelling. Akane has the competition aspect and can analyze the different nuances and styles in the middle of the performance, as well as go more over the top with the reaction; while Descending Stories can show those performances almost live as it could be, centering more on the groundedness of it all. In a way both are good to get introduced to the art in different ways and they don't even compete with each other so you can easily appreciate both.
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Gilles Poitras



Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 497
Location: Oakland California
PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 8:58 am Reply with quote
Katsura Sunshine has a web page with his performance schedules. He regularly performs in new York and the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo.

https://www.rakugo.lol
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AdamW
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Joined: 05 Jan 2018
Posts: 40
PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 1:02 pm Reply with quote
Great article, but I have to nitpick a bit:

"They have no props, no tools, no technology, instead relying entirely on a paper fan (sensu) and a piece of cloth (tenugui) to aid their voice."

So, they have two "props", both of which are both pieces of and products of "technology".

Just cos they're really old doesn't make that not true. Very Happy
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Great Rumbler



Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 348
Location: Oklahoma
PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 9:34 pm Reply with quote
Using this opportunity to point more people towards Joshiraku, which I found to be quite funny.
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Kamieichi



Joined: 24 Oct 2014
Posts: 68
PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2026 11:37 pm Reply with quote
A Brief History of Noh next? (The World Is Dancing)
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Gilles Poitras



Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 497
Location: Oakland California
PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2026 9:44 am Reply with quote
Descending Stories also has an anime titled Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. It is still listed on Crunchyroll, however there is no English physical release.
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omiya



Joined: 21 Sep 2011
Posts: 1943
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
PostPosted: Wed Apr 08, 2026 2:05 pm Reply with quote
Gilles Poitras wrote:
Descending Stories also has an anime titled Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. It is still listed on Crunchyroll, however there is no English physical release.


Yes, worth following the links at anime#16614 for reviews/articles on that anime.
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shosakukan



Joined: 09 Jan 2014
Posts: 385
PostPosted: Thu Apr 09, 2026 12:15 pm Reply with quote
You may have already listened to the voice of a famous rakugo-ka without recognising it.
In Takahata Isao's Pom Poko anime film, the narration was done by Kokontei Shinchō, and Shinchō was one of the great rakugo masters of the late 20th century.
The Japanese edition of the Blu-ray Disc of the Pom Poko anime film has 'Tanusai/Tanukisai' (a rakugo story related to tanuki) done by Shinchō as a bonus.
I have listened to the 'Tanusai' rakugo story done by a few rakugo-ka including Yanagiya Kosan.
The voice cast of the Pom Poko anime film has some rakugo-ka including Katsura Beichō, who was a big-name rakugo-ka of the Kamigata Rakugo.
On a side note, Shinchō sang 'The song of Robotan' with the Vocal Shop for the 1960s Robotan TV anime.
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