traditional Japanese form of entertainment in performances on Oct.
19-20.
Rakugo is a unique form of Japanese comic
monologue originating in the 16th century but coming into full flower
during the Edo era of the 17-18th century. The art has been passed
down orally from master to apprentice, from one generation to another.
Katsura is a member of Rakugo Artists Association, attaining the rank of rakugo master in 2005.
He has since been actively appearing in Tokyo and been
enthusiastically sharing with the world the fun of rakugo, performing
the seated monologues to audiences in Thailand , the US and Brazil
.
While there have always been a language barrier
preventing foreigners from fully enjoying rakugo, Katsura will perform
the monologues in English as well as in Japanese, with Vietnamese
subtitles.
Sitting on a stage and with only a paper
fan and small cloth as props, Katsura acts out long and complex comic
stories. Famed rakugo stories include the Time Noodle and Gonsuke's
Fish, but the highlight of his performance is The Tree-Head Man, which
he delivers with an avant-garde rock music soundtrack.
Such a fusion of traditional and contemporary styles is one of
Katsura's unique attempts to make rakugo funny and new to modern
audiences, according to organisers from the Japan Foundation Centre for
Cultural Exchange.
The performances will take place
at Vietnam Contemporary Song, Dance and Music Theatre, 16 Le Thai To
street, and the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities,
336 Nguyen Trai street .
Free tickets are available at the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange, 27 Quang Trung street./.
