Rakugo [WIP]
Jul. 1st, 2018 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whirluendo_of_punsThis 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
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
3/3
Date: 2019-02-25 07:59 pm (UTC)And with that, Kuma became a new man. He didn't drink another drop, and put his all into working every day. You could set your watch by the schedule he kept. Everyone around him was stunned by the change. In the morning, he woke the earliest, went to the beach and selected the best fish. He became a skilled fishmonger with a discerning eye. Even the customers he'd lost came back one after another. Then, three years later, after he'd finally paid back all his debts, Kuma spoke to his wife over dinner.
Phew.... It's been a long road. I made a lot of trouble for your uncle, too...
Not at all. You managed to pay it all back, with extra.
It was the least I could do, after taking so long.
Listen... About that. There's something I need to apologize for.
What, did you have a secret stash or something?
No, no! It's not like that...
Then what? Out with it! I won't mind, just tell me.
The truth is... [Her voice trembles] It wasn't a dream.
Hm? What wasn't?
You know. Three years ago, you really did pick up that purse. It wasn't a dream. Here. Look.
What's with that dirty purse? [He looks down, freezes, and slowly looks back up] ...What is this?
This is the purse you found on the beach near Shiba. You really did find it! It wasn't a dream!
The purse I found... Then... You...!
I'm sorry! I lied to you! But you were getting so carried away, I thought you might find a way to spend it all, and never work again! So I lied and said it was a dream, and sent the purse to the authorities. Then after a year, no one came to claim it, and the purse became ours. But then I thought you still might stop working... And I was just so happy, seeing you finally working so hard... That's why I didn't tell you the truth until now! [She bursts into heaving sobs.] I'm sorry...!
...It wasn't a dream?
...I see. Right. So that's how it was. [He gives a shaky laugh.] Yes, I see. Come on, now. Don't cry. Look at me. I'm not mad.
R-Really...?
Yeah. It's true that ever since I took on that debt, I've been working my fingers to the bone. It's been hard. But that's how things ought to be for a merchant. Feeding my wife with the sweat off my brow, earning proper money and using that to make a life... It's not bad at all. And it was your lie that made me realize that. You made me the man I am today.
I'm so grateful to you. Thank you.
Dear...
Hey, dummy. Don't cry. Come on, eat your dinner before it gets cold.
...You're right. [sniffle] ...Dear... Would you like some sake?
Sake?
I got it ready just for today. [She hands him a cup.] You've repaid all your debts. Come on, just for today. Here.
Are you sure? Thank you. [He slowly raises the cup.] Well, now. Fine color. Been a while, eh, buddy? [laughs] ...Thank you.
[He starts to take a sip... only to suddenly stop.
Then, he carefully sets the cup down, smiling tenderly.]
Actually, though... I'd better not. I wouldn't want this to become just another dream.