In partnership with the San Jose Japan Town Business Association, the Japan Society is proud to present the English Rakugo with Mr. Kaishi Katsura.

Mr. Katsura will perform the traditional Japanese art of comedic storytelling known as "rakugo." Rakugo storytellers, who usually remain seated throughout performances, rely on words and facial expressions to portray various characters. Rakugo originally started in the Edo period (1603-1868) and Mr. Katsura will share some classic rakugo, which has been handed down for over 400 hundred years, as well as his own original rakugo.

Mr. Kaishi Katsura started his career as a professional rakugo performer in 1994 and started presenting rakugo in English in 1997. Since his first rakugo performance in the U.S. in 1998 as a member of the English-language rakugo company, he has had more than 200 performances in 12 different countries including the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Germany, and England. Moreover, the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs assigned Mr. Katsura as its cultural exchange ambassador in 2008 to strengthen cultural network among people in Japan and the United States.

$15 General Admission; $5 for Members, Students with student ID, and Seniors.

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