Rakugo Performance by Master Ryūtei Saryū

Sunday, October 5th
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center
JASGP Members $15 | Non-Members $20

Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia is delighted to welcome Master Ryūtei Saryū to Shofuso for an evening of Rakugo storytelling!

Experience the mesmerizing art of Rakugo—a traditional Japanese storytelling performance where one master artist, armed with only a folding fan and hand towel, creates entire worlds through voice, gesture, and sheer imagination. Seated on a simple cushion, our visiting rakugoka will transport you through hilarious and heartwarming tales, skillfully switching between multiple characters with subtle changes in posture and voice, before delivering the signature “ochi”—a clever, often surprising twist that serves as both punchline and moment of profound insight. This centuries-old art form celebrates the beauty of simplicity and the limitless power of human creativity, offering audiences an intimate, unforgettable journey into Japan’s rich cultural heritage.

There will also be students from the Japanese Language School of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania performing short Kobanashi.

Master Saryū will be making several other appearances during the week.

October 1st: Rakugo Workshop at University of Pennsylvania
October 2nd: Members Only Night at Shofuso
October 3rd: Otsukimi Moon Viewing Party at Shofuso

Saryū was born in 1970 and became an apprentice of Yanagiya Sankyō in 1993. He also received a shin’uchi rank in 2006. Like his teacher, Sankyō, Saryū concentrates on classical stories (Koten) and has an orthodox performance style. He is a visiting associate professor at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University where he teaches a course on Edo culture coupled with rakugo performance. His course attracts over 200 students.

Saryū is also a featured actor in the current NHK Taiga drama, “Unbound” (Japanese title: Berabō べらぼう) Below is a photo of Master Ryūtei Saryū in costume for his role as Utei Enba (烏亭焉馬). In real life Utei was a founder of modern rakugo. He established Hanashi-no-kai (Storytellers’ Association) at the end of the 18th century, a literary society for comic storytellers that helped launch professional rakugo performances. In addition to storytelling, Utei was a prominent author of popular fiction and parodic tanka poetry.

In the show Utei is a key member of the new literary world developed by Tsutaya Juzaburo, the show’s main character, who rose from very humble beginnings to become a very successful publisher of popular books and ukiyo-e woodblock prints by artists like Utamaro, Hokusai, and Sharaku. The series showcases Ryūtei Saryū’s mastery of rakugo and connection to Edo-era culture. In addition to performing in this role, he is also an Edo dialect advisor for NHK dramas.