Untitled - ABK-AOTS DOSOKAI, Chennai Centre

Rakugo: Japanese Sit-Down Cornedy (in English)
Rakugo isJapan's humotous approach to fundamental human experiences. Rakugo canbe best described as Japanese sit down comedy of
comic story telling. Just as there is stand up comedy in Western countries, there is a sit down cornedy in Japan. The difference is that the
pcrformer sits onhis knees when he performs.
Rakugo artists wears a Japanese traditional formal drcss (kimono), sits on a cushion in the middle of the stage and tries to caPtuie the
audience imagination with facial expressions and funny stories. The performer is usually equipped with a fan (Sensu) and hand towel
(Tenugui). These items help the perforrner to express and act out the story. For example, the fan can be chopsticks, scissols, ciSarettes,
pipe, or pen. The towel could be a book, bills, or an actual towcl
In Rakugo, one performer plays the tole of each distinct character by himself. There are always several charactets in a Rakugo story. The
performerplays eachcharacterby changing voice, facial expression, mannerisms, speech etc. Rakugo is basically an art of imagination.
The audience is free to imagine
the characters
background.
and
There are about 300 popular
stories whic h are still
pcrformed as classic Rakugo,
in addition to newer stories
created by the artists. Rakugo
is one expression tlf Japanese
society and culture and can
help introduce Japan to other
cultures.
Enquiry
Tel 044 2374 3575 / 031,8
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