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Traditional Japanese Comedy Performance
 Shinjuku Suehirotei Vaudeville theater
©
Rakugo Arts Association
Beginning October 16th
until January 2007, the Yokoso Japan Bus can be seen
on the streets of New York City. In an effort to
encourage travelers to visit Japan, a photograph of ‘maiko’,
a young Japanese girl who is in training to become a
geisha, can be seen on the side of the Manhattan
sightseeing double-decker buses.
This beautiful image of the young trainee extends as
much as 10 feet on the side of the bus. The picture
was taken by an American photographer, Justin
Guariglia, who is known to take photos in Asia and
whose work is frequently used for publications of the
world-famous National Geographic Society.
This is a
cooperative advertising campaign with Japan National
Tourist Organization (JNTO) and All Nippon Airways
(ANA) whose Chicago-Narita direct flight goes into
service at the end of October.
Katsura Utamaru © Yoji Yokoi
As part of “J-Comedy”,
a featured event during the 2006-2007 Performing Arts
season, RAKUGO: Traditional Japanese Comedy will be
performed on November 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm and November 4
at 2 pm. Rakugo is Japanese comic story-telling. This
“stand-up” comedy routine is actually performed
sitting down by a single performer on a small cushion,
who acts out hilarious anecdotes, interchanging
between the role of the narrator and various other
characters using a mimetic gestural language and only
two props: a fan and tenugui (hand towel). Members of
the Rakugo Art Association including Katsura Utamaru,
a rakugo legend who is also the president of the
Rakugo Arts Association and one of the most highly
celebrated TV regulars will perform. (All performances
will have English subtitles).
There will be a pre-performance lecture by Patricia
Welch, Director of the Asian Studies Program at
Hofstra University, describing the history of Rakugo,
one hour before all shows
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Sanshotei Yumetaro
© Rakugo Arts Association |
Hayashiya Imamaru
© Susumu Kurobe |
Sanshotei Charaku
© Yu Kurobe |
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