Katsura Sunshine to perform Japanese ‘Rakugo’ on Nov. 6

As part of the ongoing week-long celebration of the Japanese Week 2015, patrons will be treated to a special comic performance by Canadian ancient Greek comic playwright, Aristophanes, Katsura Sunshine.

The event will be held tomorrow November 6, 2015, at the Silverbird Cinema from 7pm to 9pm for the second show and 10am -12pm at the School of Performing Arts - Dance Studio, University of Ghana for the first show.

Rakugo is a Japanese traditional stage comic storytelling which has a history of almost 400 years and usually very much alive.

This will be the first time ever Rakugo is being performed in Ghana and in Africa though it is quite known in some parts of the world.

Rakugo is performed by one storyteller dressed in Kimono aJapanese traditional wear and seated on a cushion on the stage while holding a towel and a fan.

The storyteller, called Rakugoka, tells a very funny story about everyday Japanese life that throws the audience into laughter.

The story teller differentiates the characters by moving his head from left to right, with a subtle change in tempo, posture, intonation, voice etc. Rakugo, though usually performed in Japanese will be performed in English by the only foreign Rakugo performer, Katsura Sunshine

Katsura Sunshine, since his debut performance in 2008, has performed in many countries including Canada, Singapore among others. Aside his performance in Ghana, he will be performing in Gabon, Senegal, and South Africa.

Chiho Kitagawa, a lecturer at the Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, and Kobe College will also be a guest speaker at the event.

The Japanese Embassy in Ghana is entreating all Ghanaians to come and experience the first ever 'Rakugo’ performance in the country.