Rakugo - Japanese Comic Storytelling (in English)

August 23, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Mānoa Campus, Earl Ernst Lab Theater (Kennedy Theater) Add to Calendar

American Adventure Rakugo Tour 2008 with KATSURA KAISHI.

COME ONE, COME ALL!

Sat., Aug. 23, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., and
Sun., Aug. 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the
Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at UH Manoa (1770 East West Road).

Please join us for a unique opportunity to enjoy English rakugo, by Katsura Kaishi, famed rakugo storyteller, at UH Manoa’s Earle Ernst Lab Theater.

Rakugo is the Japanese art of comedic storytelling, which has roots some 400 years old. In rakugo, the storyteller sits on a small cushion fronting the audience. Dressed in kimono and equipped with a sensu (fan) and tenugui (hand towel), the storyteller acts out 20-30-minute stories, which consist of conversations among several characters.

A storyteller since 1994, Katsura Kaishi has been performing internationally since 1998 to introduce world audiences to the joys and laughter of rakugo. Since then, Kaishi has performed over 200 times in more than 12 countries including the U.K., Australia, India and the Philippines.

Traditionally spoken in Japanese, Kaishi will bring his unique rakugo experience to Hawai'i in English as part of a six-month grand American tour.

Kaishi is the recipient of numerous awards including the NHK Japan National Television Award for Young Artists, the Ministry of Culture New Artist Award, and the Hanjotei Yose Award for Explosive Laughter. Kaishi has also appeared frequently on Japanese television. He has recently been named Cultural Ambassador by the Department of Culture Affairs of Japan.

Seats are filling up fast, so please RSVP TODAY! (RSVP with Mr. Ron Quizon at the Japan-America Society of Hawai'i--contact information below)

For more information about this event, or rakugo in general, you may also contact UH Manoa graduate student Matt Shores at mshores@hawaii.edu.


Ticket Information
Admission is FREE, but by RSVP only.

Event Sponsor
The Center for Japanese Studies, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Mr. Ron Quizon, 524-4450, admindir@jashawaii.org, http://www.jashawaii.org/events.asp

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