Join master storytellers Kanariya Eiraku, Kanariya Koraku and Kanariya Knight from the English Rakugo Association for an evening of laughter. Rakugo, Japan’s centuries-old art of comedic storytelling, continues to delight audiences with its wit and charm today. 

This special event offers an engaging introduction to rakugo, followed by a selection of classic tales filled with clever wordplay, absurd misunderstandings, and timeless humour. Many stories transport us to Japan’s past, where feuding couples, curious monks, and eccentric scholars navigate hilarious situations. 

Programme

What is Rakugo? – An introduction to the art form
Jugemu – A boy's excessively long name leads to humorous chaos.
Tenshiki – A monk’s obsession with a mysterious word leads to chaos. 
Sake Lees – Yotaro's face turns red from eating sake lees, and his excuse of having sake fails.
Judgement of Tengu – A simple dream turns into a legal spectacle. 

Kanariya Eiraku has been performing rakugo for over 30 years. He started teaching English-language rakugo classes in Tokyo in 2007. He has since performed rakugo in English both in Japan and abroad, including the US, Denmark and Laos. He also introduces Japanese songs in English using the ukulele. He teaches English performance at universities in Japan.

Kanariya Koraku discovered rakugo at 16 and later worked as a diplomat across Europe, the U.S., and Africa. Noticing the language barrier in cultural events, he trained under Masters Kingentei Ryoma and Kanariya Eiraku to become a multilingual rakugo performer. He performs regularly in Japan and France and has toured the UK and France extensively.