The Art of Laughter in Japanese Rakuso
I HAVEN’T heard from the good Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa since the long holidays of merry making. I also felt his absence in most gatherings with the diplomats in Davao in the past month. Thus, it was a welcome surprise for me to receive a letter of invitation from Consul General Miwa last January 8, 2019. Indeed, it became official that the Consulate Office of Japan in Davao is now known as the Consulate General of Japan in Davao after being established in our beloved City for 100 years.
“I am delighted to extend my invitation to you, your family and friends to ‘Rakugo in English,’ a Japanese sitdown comedy to be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at the Marco Polo Davao along C.M. Recto Street, Davao City,” read ConGen Miwa’s letter. The letter also stated that those interested to watch the performance should register on-line. As I posted the Rakugo invitation on my Facebook page, I got a lot of messages from interested people stating that it was impossible to register on the specified online address. And mind you, but one of the complainants was no less than German Honorary Consul Klaus Doring. I, myself, wasn’t able to register on-line as the given address was nonexistent. It just wasn’t the standard Japanese precise way of doing things that I was expecting. Only in the Philippines, perhaps?
Organized by the Japan Foundation in Manila and sponsored by All Nippon Airways (ANA) in cooperation with the Consulate General of Japan in Davao, “Rakugo in English” is a traditional Japanese comic storytelling art that has been entertaining the Japanese for over four centuries and amazingly, is still widely popular in Japan in these modern times. The traditional comic storytelling developed around the Osaka region during Japan’s peaceful Edo period (1603-1868). The Edo period was known for its emerging merchant class, social change and economic growth as well as its aesthetic focus on art and natural beauty. Dressed in kimono and seated on a zabuton (Japanese cushion) in the center of a stage, the Rakugo storyteller acts out a dialogue of varying characters inspiring the imagination of the audience with the technique and skills used to deliver the story. Each Rakugo performance ends with a clearly delivered punchline, the oichi, involving a disruption in the performer’s narrative which usually elicits laughter from the audience. The Rakugoka or storyteller has only a fan and a small towel as his props.
According to Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa, presenting Rakugo in English to the Davao audience is an excellent way to teach Filipinos about Japanese culture because it delivers messages in an amusing manner rather in a serious way. He hopes for mutual understanding and goodwill among Filipinos and Japanese. “I hope that the impression of Filipinos that the Japanese are a serious lot will change after seeing Rakugo,” ConGen Miwa said. The Rakugo in English at the Marco Polo Davao was the second ever show presented in Davao City.
Indeed, Rakugo in English was a hit eliciting bursts of laughter from the five Rakugoka who performed. Rakugo masters Katsura Kaishi, Hayashiya Emimaru, Katsura Asakichi, Katsura Fukuryu (a Canadian citizen) and traditional foot juggler Akatsuki Anko narrated Rakugo stories that were simple and universal that they didn’t have to be explained to be enjoyed. Their performances were organized to flow in a certain pacing and rhythm that made the audience connect rather well eliciting loud laughter and a series of strong applause after each storytelling. Master Rakugoka Katsura Kaishi, was obviously the veteran star performer who opened the show to explain what Rakugo is with the Canadian Kastsura Fukuryu acting as show emcee. The star performer in Katsura Kaishi, a native of Osaka, also appeared to end the show. Congratulating him after the performance only made me realize that the master is such a humble person.
The only female performer in the group, traditional foot juggler Akatsuki Anko had some misses but was able to redeem herself quite well to the end. Hayashiya Emimaru who performed a traditional Japanese dance (yes, doing it backwards) and Katsura Asakichi who played the Japanese flute struggled with the English language but managed to be understood by the audience. As Katsura Kaishi explained, “Japanese people are not good in English and in public speaking. In fact, our English is just good enough on stage. That’s what makes us nervous in our performances and appearances after the show especially with foreigners as members of the audience.”
It was truly a rare opportunity to experience the Japanese stage art of laughter that is Rakugo. I am truly hoping that the Japanese Consulate General in Davao City and ConGen Yoshiaki Miwa will present Davaoenos with more cultural shows in the coming months.