News From Visit Japan Campaign
New York Hanjotei (Japanese Funniest Sit-Down Comedy ) is coming back on Sep 17, 2008
Japanese Funniest Sit-Down Comedy, RAKUGO, in ENGLISH
GET SET TO LAUGH OUT LOUD!! DON’T MISS HILARIOUS JOKES FROM JAPAN!
Hosted by Agency of Cultural Affair and Consulate-General of Japan in New York.
Day & Time:
September 17, 2008
1st Show-5pm
2nd Show-8:30pm
Theatre:
Kaufman Center, Merkin Concert Hall
129 West 67th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)
New York, NY 10023
Tel 212-501-3330
http://www.kaufman-center.org/mch/
Ticket: Free
Please pre-register to assure attendance
Tel 718-433-1716 or 917-804-5661
Email tickets@productionhouseny.com
Official Website:http://eigorakugo.exblog.jp
Hanjotei Information:
The 2nd round of “New York Hanjotei” will be held in Manhattan on September 17, 2008. Hanjotei is the “yose” -variety hall, the showcase for traditional Japanese laughing arts with all verbal, musical, and physical comic crafts together. The performer sits on the cushion and uses only a fan and a Japanese handkerchief. This style of Japanese comedy is called “Rakugo” or “sit-down comedy.” Believe or not, this art-form has 400 years of history!! and at “New York Hanjotei”, everyone is performing in ENGLISH!! Plus, the special guest, master, Katsura Sanshi, is joining this year. This time is very special as it is a part of the cultural exchange project by Katsura Kaishi, the current cultural ambassador assigned by Department of Cultural Affair. Kaishi brought first New York Hanjotei in 2007 and presented a full week of sold-out shows that drew the attention and acclaimed of both Japanese and American media. So why not this year?!
Get your stomach muscles ready for non-stop laughter!!
Peformers’ Line Up:
Master, Katsura Kaishi
Cultural Ambassador, Katsura Kaishi
Katsura Asakichi,
Utsumi Eika
Kaishi Katsura, the Hanjotei director
Katsura Kaishi is the premier performer of Rakugo in English and he brought “New York Hajotei” for the first time last year. He was recently awarded the Department of Culture award for Cultural Exchange, and now as a cultural ambassador assigned by Department of Cultural Affair, he is on US national tour for 6months from April, 2008 and is performing 60 times in 28 cities. He is one of the most popular storytellers in Osaka, Japan. He has won numerous prestigious awards for Rakugo, including the NHK Japan National Television Award for Young Artists, the Ministry of Culture Yew Artist Award, The Hanjoutei Yose Theatre Award for Explosive Laughter, and others. Since 1997, Kaishi has performed over 200 times in over 12 countries including England, Australia, Canada, India, Brunei, and The Phillipines. This year, during his national tour of 2008, he is invited to “OTAKON 2008” in Baltimore on August 10th, 2008.
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