The Art of Rakugo
Rakugo is a stage art not very well known in the West. Only one single
actor is on the stage at any given times. He (there are few women in
this art) kneels on a cushion and does not move for the entire length of
the story. All the rakugo-actor uses as props is a fan and a handkerchief
called tenugui.
But the fact that this Japanese stage art is so different to the European
tradition does not
mean that people
in Europe cannot
understand
and
enjoy it. There are
several hundreds
of rakugo stories,
some to make you
laugh or cry, some
funny ones, yet
others are moving.
There are stories
that move the
audience without
them having to have a particular background knowledge of Japanese
culture.
Master Shunputei Ichinosuke is an actor who truly masters his art –
today there are only about 700 “rakugo-ka” (rakugo actors) in the
whole of Japan, mainly in the Osaka and Tokyo areas. Even Japanese
outside these two cities never really get a chance to see rakugo, so this
tour is a very special occasion for the European tradition.
The rakugo-ka only uses fan and tenugui and doesn’t use costumes
Photo 1 Show at the University of Vienna (October 2013)
either. It is only with these two props that he turns into a precocious
child, a dumb country boy, a sly prostitute, a rowdy craftsman or a strict
wife. Just like in the Italian Commedia dell’Arte rakugo has its very own
set of characters that pop up again and again in various stories. How
they are interpreted however depends on the actor. He is actor,
stage-director and dramaturge at once. Each actor interprets the
stories and characters differently, often reacting to the audience on the
spot – so even if it hears the same stories over and over again, the
audience does not get bored.
The rakugo-ka will decide what story to give, depending on the
audience, the season, his mood and the atmosphere in the theatre –
and chose one of the stories
he has learned.
In the entrance part, called
makura, he might talk about
something he has seen on TV,
his family, about politics or
something
that
just
happened backstage. Much
of
the
performance
is
improvised.
However,
since
this Photo 2 Rehearsal before show in Gent (Oct 2013)
performance will be sur-titled
improvisation is not possible.
It is not easy to become a rakugo-ka. First of all, if a young man finds a
master, that he would like to learn with, he approaches him, asking him
to become his disciple.
In most cases, the master will decline.
If, after some time, he does decide to take in a disciple, the master
takes responsibility of this young man (or in some cases woman) to
teach him and provide for him while he is still learning. Each rakugo-ka
is brought up this way by his own master so taking in your own disciples
is not only a mean to pass on his your art, but also to return the favour.
During the first three to five years, the young man works as zenza. He
learns his trade at the yose-theatre, a theatre that does two rakugo
shows, twice a day, 365 days a year. He serves his elders and mostly
does everything backstage to run the show: folding kimonos, handing
out tea, playing the drum… On stage, he only does short stories. During
these years of apprenticeship he is not allowed to date, drink or smoke.
Once his elders think he knows enough he is promoted to futatsume. He
no longer has to do the stage work, is now allowed to wear a
haori-jacket, smoke, drink and date. And he can do longer stories as
well. This however is not easy,
because so far he has only done short
stories.
After
another
8-12
years
of
apprenticeship, he is promoted to
shin-uchi (master). The timing
depends on his association of which
there are four in Tokyo - but it is
mostly the head of each association
who decides when the timing is right.
In some cases there is also a test to
become master.
Once a master, the artists can take his
own disciples and, what is most
important, that he can now be booked
at the last and longest slot at the
yose-theatre. This privilege is mostly Photo 3 Master Ichinosuke on Stage
reserved to the eldest and those that
are most popular.
Master Ichinosuke by the way is very popular. He surpassed 21 of his
fellow actors in line to become shin-uchi. Tickets for his solo shows sell
out within minutes which makes this tour extra special.