Shijaku Katsura
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese rakugo
performer of the late 20th century, who often performed in English
. He was born in Kobe, the son of a brick-maker. In 1960 he entered the tutelage of the rakugo
performer , and upon completion of his study, was given the stage name
. He changed his stage name to Shijaku Katsura (Shijaku Katsura II) in 1974. Katsura's more well-known rakugo stories include , , , and .
Katsura studied English in the early 1980s, and gave his first English-language rakugo performance in 1983. For the rest of his career, he often performed rakugo in the United States
, Canada
, and elsewhere, making an otherwise inaccessible form of comedy accessible for non-Japanese speakers.
Katsura's students include equally famous rakugo
performers such as Jakujaku Katsura. He also assisted in launching the career of Bill Crowley, the first non-Japanese professional rakugo
performer.
Katsura died of heart failure on April 19, 1999, after a failed suicide attempt
at his home in Suita, Osaka
. He was discovered by his wife Eyo and his brother, the magician
Takeshi Maeda.
Rakugo
is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone sits on the stage, called the . Using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story...
performer of the late 20th century, who often performed in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He was born in Kobe, the son of a brick-maker. In 1960 he entered the tutelage of the rakugo
Rakugo
is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone sits on the stage, called the . Using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story...
performer , and upon completion of his study, was given the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
. He changed his stage name to Shijaku Katsura (Shijaku Katsura II) in 1974. Katsura's more well-known rakugo stories include , , , and .
Katsura studied English in the early 1980s, and gave his first English-language rakugo performance in 1983. For the rest of his career, he often performed rakugo in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and elsewhere, making an otherwise inaccessible form of comedy accessible for non-Japanese speakers.
Katsura's students include equally famous rakugo
Rakugo
is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone sits on the stage, called the . Using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story...
performers such as Jakujaku Katsura. He also assisted in launching the career of Bill Crowley, the first non-Japanese professional rakugo
Rakugo
is a Japanese verbal entertainment. The lone sits on the stage, called the . Using only a paper fan and a small cloth as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story...
performer.
Katsura died of heart failure on April 19, 1999, after a failed suicide attempt
Failed suicide attempt
Failed suicide attempts comprise a large portion of suicide attempts. Some are regarded as not true attempts at all, but rather parasuicide. The usual attempt may be a wish to affect another person by the behaviour. Consequently, it occurs in a social context and may represent a request for help....
at his home in Suita, Osaka
Suita, Osaka
is a city located in northern Osaka, Japan. As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 356,751 and the density of 9,880 persons per km². The total area is 36.11 km²....
. He was discovered by his wife Eyo and his brother, the magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
Takeshi Maeda.
Further reading
Works in Japanese- Katsura, Shijaku (1996). Katsura Shijaku no rakugo-annai. Tokyo: Chikuma-shobo.
- Ueda, Fumiyo (2003). Warawasete warawasete Katsura Shijaku. Tokyo: Tankōsha.