whirluendo_of_puns | Rakugo [WIP]

Rakugo [WIP]

This post is for collecting and transcribing any rakugo stories I'm able to get my hands on. There will be more general info for reference purposes as well.

Rakugo is a form of comedic storytelling originating in Japan's Edo period. A rakugo artist tells jokes and stories on a zabuton cushion, acting out all characters alone with no props besides a paper fan and a hand towel (called tenugui).

Life of a Rakugo Artist

While anyone can do amateur rakugo, becoming a true professional requires being accepted under the tutelage of a master. This is generally a long-term commitment. The master, or shisho, is responsible for the apprentice's well-being and is expected to provide them with financial stability. The apprentice in turn is expected to repay their debt by earning prestige through their career and subsequently improving their shisho's reputation. On the flip-side, a student's behavior and failures also reflect poorly on the shisho.

Three ranks:
- Zenza, or the apprentice. Learns through observation, recital and listening to tape recordings. Does chores for their shisho. Mostly just performs opening numbers before the real stars and helps with backstage stuff.
- Futatsume, middle rank. Allowed to perform their own shows, but still secondary to the shin'uchi.
- Shin'uchi, the master. Recognized by the Rakugo Association as a master storyteller. Allowed to take on their own apprentices and perform difficult stories. Addressed as shisho.

Rakugo artists are given a stage name at each rank. This name can either be invented by their master, or it can be a pre-existing name of another performer. Succeeding the name of a famous rakugo artist is a great honor, though naturally it comes with additional expectations.

Apprentices learning under the same master become a family unit of sorts, addressing one another as brothers and sisters. Senior disciples are expected to look out for their "younger siblings", while junior disciples should show their "older siblings" due respect. Seniority is based on rank and experience, not on actual age. Even when the disciples are promoted and can start doing their own shows, they'll stay connected to their shisho throughout their entire career. Loyalty to one's shisho takes precedence over any other social hierarchy.

Rakugo shows

The basic structure of a rakugo show: the performer comes in accompanied by their own signature music (played backstage) and sits down on their cushion in a zeiza pose. They start with an introduction and a warm-up, which involves jokes and funny anecdotes to set the mood and lead into the main story. This also allows the performer to gauge their audience and pick an appropriate story from their repertoire. This part is more casual and addresses the audience members directly, whereas the main story follows more traditional formulas.

During the main story, the performer switches between characters not only by altering their body language and speech patterns, but also by moving the direction of their gaze right, left, up, or down to communicate spatial and social relations. The rules regarding eye movement are very specific. Although the performer can't rise from their cushion until their part is over, they can simulate walking and running by rocking back and forth on their knees and swinging their arms. With the very limited number of props, rakugo relies a lot on imaginative use of gestures and voice to bring the characters to life.

In longer shows, there are usually multiple performers coming in one after another. Usually the show is started by the lower-ranking performers, with masters being the main draw and taking the stage at the end. It's also common to have other types of entertainment in between rakugo sessions. These can be anything from song and dance to magic shows and acrobatics.

Rakugo stories

While they are very closely connected to Japanese culture and particularly the Edo period, the stories of rakugo tradition tend to center around universal experiences of the everyday people. There are no heroes or life lessons -- just people of all kinds going through their daily lives. Some are selfish and greedy, others are mostly benign though still flawed. There are quite a few genres within rakugo -- you have your scary stories and love stories, even if most of them come with comedic overtones.

Links to some rakugo performed in English:
English Rakugo on YouTube
A Rakugo show on PoliTikalon Blog
A Rakugo show at SF Library

Book source: Rakugo: Performing Comedy and Cultural Heritage in Contemporary Tokyo by Lorie Brau

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gonsuke's Fish by Kimie Oshima
Gonsuke's Fish by Ikuzo

Edited 2018-07-13 12:09 (UTC)

Characters:
Gonsuke, the servant boy
The wife of the rich merchant (addressed as oku-sama)
The rich merchant (addressed as danna-sama)
The fish vendor

Gonsuke! Gonsuke! Come! Come to my room!

Ah-ha ha! Oku-sama, Madam, did you call me?

Yes, I called. Come, come. Sit down. Gonsuke, I wanted to ask you a question. Ah, my husband, you know, your danna-sama, I think he has been acting very strangely. And I think he has been seeing somebody... you know... a lady. You know what I mean.

Ah-ha ha ha, yes, yes, yes, oku-sama! [A beat.] ...I have no idea.

[Sigh] I mean that he is probably having an affair. Which, you know, he is a man. It's fine. It's not my business where he spends his money and time, it's fine, really, but... You know, when we have a guest at home, it doesn't look good if I don't know where he is. So... you know where he is, don't you? Where he sees that lady? I want you to tell me where she lives.

I'm not asking you to do this for free. I'll buy you anything you want. You name it. You tell me where the lady lives and I'll buy you anything you want.

Oku-sama! Really!? You'll buy me anything I want? Then... I want some sweet bean cakes!

...You can ask for anything you want, and you only want sweet bean cakes? Ah, that's fine, that's fine. That's easy. I'll get you some sweet bean cakes, so... where is it?

Oh, oku-sama, it's just around the corner! Not far at all. I go there every day!

You go there every day!? That close? I'm so shocked...! Who would that be... Ah, how old is she? It doesn't have to be exact, just guess! Just give me the rough number!

Number...? Oh, how many! [He laughs and rubs his tummy.] I think five is enough. I think I'll be full with five!

...Gonsuke, what are you talking about?

Sweet bean cakes!

I'm not talking about sweet bean cakes! I'm talking about the lady! You know where she lives, right?

Oh, the girl's house! That, I don't know. Because when danna-sama goes to the girl's house, he points out in the sky and says, "Gonsuke, look! What is that!?" So I look, but there is nothing! I say, "Danna-sama, there is nothing!" And I turn back to him, and there is no danna-sama! He is gone!

Hmph... I see. He slips away. He thinks you're a stupid country boy. ...Very well. Later this afternoon, I'm sure he'll go to this lady's house again. I want you to follow him. Don't look where he points out, just follow him and find out where she lives. [She smiles and reaches into her kimono.] I will give you one yen. You can buy whatever you want with this money. Here.

Oku-sama...! You're giving me one yen? [Gonsuke's face lights up, and he slips the money under his coat.] Then, I'm all on your side now!

Oh... Here he comes.

Gonsuke! Gonsuke! Where are you? Gonsuke, why are you here? Go get me my jacket. I'm going out.

[She puts on her sweetest smile.] Danna-sama, you're going out? Where are you going?

Oh, nowhere... Just out... and take a turn right [He gestures vaguely] and left and come back later.

Danna-sama... You're going out to just go nowhere?

W-well, of course not... Oh, I just remembered! I need to see Yamada-san for some business.

Oh, for some business? Well then, take Gonsuke with you if it's a business matter.

Ah, no, no, I don't need Gonsuke. It's... a very casual business. I don't need Gonsuke's help today.

Danna-sama. If it's for business, you should take Gonsuke with you.

I told you, I don't need Gonsuke... Why not have him do some housework for you, eh?

Danna-sama. If it's for business, you should take Gonsuke with you.

A-All right, fine, I'll take him. Gonsuke, come with me. Get me my bag too.

Edited 2018-07-14 17:16 (UTC)

[Rocking back and forth to simulate walking] ...What's wrong with my wife? Why does she want me to take Gonsuke?

[He starts suddenly and looks behind him.]

Gon... Gonsuke, why are you holding on to my sleeves?

[clinging on] Hehehehehe... Danna-sama~! I will not let go of your sleeves~! Don't worry about me. Don't worry. Just walk. Walk to the girl's house, ya cheater!

What!? Let go, Gonsuke! What are you doing? What are you talking about? [He tries to shake Gonsuke off, then abruptly stops and slowly folds his arms.] ...Did my wife say anything to you before we left the house?

....Noooo. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

I'm sure... she told you something. She probably gave you some money too. Not too little, but enough... like one yen, didn't she?

[His face crumbles first in shock, then in dismay.] Were you watching that...? [His voice cracks as he slowly reaches under his coat.] Oh... I'll give this money back to you then...

Oh, no no, Gonsuke, I don't want your one yen. You keep that, you keep that. So she gave you one yen, huh? [He reaches into his kimono.] In that case, I will give you... two yen.

Danna-sama...! You're giving me two yen!? [He quickly slips the money under his coat.] Then, I'm all on your side now!

Very good, that's very good. Now, I want you to go home and tell my wife that when we were crossing the bridge, we saw Yamada-san. We talked about business and it seemed like everything went well, so we went to a geisha house and celebrated. We drank sake and we partied. And then, since the weather was nice, we went out to the riverside, and took a boat out and did some fishing. And we caught a lot of fish. By then Yamada-san and I were feeling great, so we decided to stay overnight at the hot springs inn, and as such I am not coming home tonight. Gonsuke, can you remember that?

Yes, yes, yes, Gonsuke is very good at telling a story! Yes, yes, I can remember that.

Now Gonsuke, on your way home, I want you to stop by the fish market and buy some fish so my wife won't be suspicious. Understand?

Ah, fish, fish... Gonsuke is from mountainside... I have never seen the ocean! I don't know much about the fish...

Oh, that's all right. Just tell them you're looking for net fishing fish. They'll know what to get.

Net fishing fish, net fishing fish... I want net fishing fish, okay, okay. So, when I buy the fish, do I pay for that out of these two yen or...?

Oh, all right, Gonsuke. [He reaches into his kimono and hands out more money.] Here is the money for the fish. Are you ready to go now?

Okay, okay, danna-sama! Go go go go, go to the girl's house! Bye bye!

...He's running...

Haa... I don't understand. His wife, oku-sama is such a nice lady. Why does he cheat on her...? Well, Gonsuke never understands.

Edited 2018-07-14 17:23 (UTC)

So, fish... I have never seen the ocean. I have never seen any fish before... I guess I'll ask for net fishing fish, net fishing fish... Excuse me!

Hey, 'rasshai! What would ya like, lad?

Uuuh, ah, I'm looking for net fishing fish. Do you have any net fishing fish?

Yeah, well y'know what, most fish are caught with a net. Name it!

...Oh. Okay. That's easy then. Ahhh...

Oh! What is that? That's a very big fish. What's that?

That? Ya don't know what that is? Ya sure you're Japanese? That's salmon.

Salmon? Is that a net fishing fish?

[A shrug.] I'm sure they caught it with a net.

Ah, Okay. I'll take it. Salmon, it's big. I like it.

Ohh! There is a very strange-looking fish with many legs! What's that?

Ya don't know what that is? That's octopus!

Octopus? It's called octopus? It's a strange-looking fish with many legs! ...Why is he so red?

Well. We boiled it.

[Slowly nods in incomprehension.] Bo, bo, bo, boiled?

Y'know, like... taking a hot bath, y'know?

This funny-looking guy took a bath!? Ha ha ha, very funny, very funny! Okay, I'll take it! Okay, what else...

Ohhhh! These are very strange-looking fish! These small tiny fishes, they have no eyes, no fins, no tails... How can they swim?

...You've got to be kidding. Those are sashimi.

Sashimi?

Yeah, sashimi. Sliced tuna. Haven't you had these before?

I don't think so. I don't know tuna... these are called tuna... [He stares down at the fish, then grins brightly at the merchant.] Not good at swimming, are they? Are these net fishing fish?

I dunno. Whatever. Sure, yeah!

Okay, I'll take it! I think that's enough, that's enough... Here is the money. Thank you very much! [He hands over the money and mimes carrying a bag.] Oku-sama will be very happy to see these fish!

Edited 2018-07-14 17:28 (UTC)

Oku-sama! I'm home!

Oh, Gonsuke. That was fast! Well, come. Come to my room. So, how did it go?

Oh, it was very good! Um, first, when we were crossing the bridge, we saw Yamada-san. And we talked about business.

Yamada-san... Well, he did say he was going to see Yamada-san, so that's fine. And then?

And then, the business went well so we went to the geisha house and we celebrated! We drank a lot of sake, we danced and sang and partied~ That was fun! And then we went to the riverside, and we took a boat out to the river and we did the net... net... net fishing! We caught a lot of fish, yes. Then Yamada-san and danna-sama felt really good, so they went to the hot springs inn and he is not coming home tonight!

...Gonsuke. Don't you think there is something really wrong with that story? You and danna-sama left here about ten minutes ago. Just how did you go to the geisha house and then party and go fishing and come back in ten minutes?

But... but, but, oku-sama! You can't say that! This is a rakugo story! What happened to using your imagination!?

...A-And Gonsuke brought you some fish from fishing! You want to see the fish?

[Sigh...] Fine. Let me see those fish.

OK, OK! First... this big fish came! [He lifts the fish out of the bag.] It's called salmon!

Gonsuke... You're from the mountainside so maybe you don't know, but salmon is something that can only be caught in the northern part of Japan. You don't get it in Tokyo.

Y-Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know that! But this salmon said, "Oh, it's so very cold in the northern part of Japan. I want to go somewhere warm!" So he came down to Tokyo and came up the river! He was soooo warm and relaxed... so we caught him very easily!

And then, we caught this guy called octopus! Yes. When we pulled him up on the boat, he was so cold, shaking like this! [He demonstrates.] So Gonsuke gave him a hot bath. Now he is so red! Yes, yes.

And then, we caught more things! Then we saw these small guys called tuna. These guys are so small, they have no eyes, no fins or tails. So they said...

"Everybody! Stick together! Stick together! Or we will be drowned!" So Gonsuke saw these guys on the surface of the water... and Gonsuke just grabbed them with his bare hands!