Osaka Style Rakugo Performance at the 50th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and High School Rakugo Workshop
2017/4/11
Kaishi Katsura performing Kamigata (Osaka-style) English Rakugo (Photo Courtesy of Dave Golden)
On Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, in partnership with the Japan Foundation, presented traditional Kamigata (Osaka-Style) English Rakugo (Japanese sit-down comedy) performances at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) in San Francisco’s Japantown to celebrate both the 50th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and the 60th Anniversary of the San Francisco-Osaka sister city relationship.
Osaka-Style Rakugo Performance at the 50th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
Asakichi Katsura performing Kamigata (Osaka-style) English Rakugo (Photo Courtesy of Dave Golden)
Lucky Mai performing traditional Japanese Daikagura-style juggling
About 630 people attended this 2-day event. This program featured performances by English Rakugo performer Kaishi Katsura (Former Cultural Ambassador for the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs) and other rakugo performers, as well as traditional Japanese Daikagura-style juggling and Japanese shamisen. Audience members experienced an authentic performance similar to shows held in Osaka, where Kamigata Rakugo originated.
Consul General Yamada giving opening remarks at the Rakugo Performance in San Francisco
The audience enjoying the performance
Rakugo Workshop at Monta Vista High School
English Rakugo Workshop at Monta Vista High School（1）
English Rakugo Workshop at Monta Vista High School （2）
Additionally, on Friday, April 7th, the Kamigata Rakugo performers held workshops at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. 60 Japanese language students were introduced to the wonders of Rakugo through these performances.
