The introductory lesson of Rakugo

Do you know "Rakugo(落語)"?

Rakugo is a form of Japanese spoken entertainment. A"Rakugoka"(落語家) is a lone storyteller who sits on a stage which is called a "Kouza(高座)".

The "Rakugoka" narrates a long and complicated comical story. The story always involves two or more characters, however the "Rakugoka" depicts the difference between the characters only through a change in pitch or tone of voice or a turn of his head.

The "Rakugoka" uses only a "Tenugui(手ぬぐい)", a Japanese towel and a "Koza-Sensu(高座扇子)", a special paper, fan while they are talking.

The "Tenugui" and the "Koza-sensu" are used to express a book, chopsticks, wallet, pen, katana and so on.

Of course, I already knew Rakugo, however I was not so interested in it.

One day O-ne-san, my geisha senior sister introduced me to her customer. The customer was a "Rakugoka".
The O-ne-san and I went to his Rakugo show.

At his show, I was very impressed with his high-level performance, especially since it was my first time to see Rakugo.

So I searched for Rakugo lessons on the Internet after I saw his performance.
Soon after I found an interesting Rakugo lesson which is offered in Shinjuku.
They offer both daytime and nighttime lessons, so I chose the daytime lesson.

The last day of September was my first lesson.
I was wearing a kimono, and except for the teachers, who are "Rakugoka" and I, nobody else was wearing a kimono.

The first lesson was around 1.5 hours long. In the lesson I learned how to use a "Tenugui" and a "Koza-sense" to express a book, chopsticks, wallet, pen, katana and so on.
The gestures looked like quite realistic.

One "Rakugoka" taught us the difference between performing the way of eating Soba and Udon.
It looked very difficult.
He added that "Rakugoka" can become a first-class "Rakugoka" if he can depict the difference well.

In Rakugo, the most difficult but important thing is the expression of "Kami-te"(上手) and "Shimo-te"(下手).

Let me explain about the concept of "Kami"(上) and "Shimo(下)".

In traditional Japanese society, class relationships have a hierarchical order expressed by the concept of "Kami" and "Shimo".

"Kami" means the position of a higher or senior class person and "Shimo" means the position of a lower or junior class person.

For example, at a tea-house, the tables located farthest from the entrance, are reserved for higher or senior position people. The tables are called "Kami-za(上座)".The tables located nearer to the entrance, are called "Shimo-za(下座)".

Another example, in a taxi, the seat behind the driver is "Kami-za", for higher or senior position people. The passenger seat, "Shimo-za" is for lower or junior people.

Since most Rakugo stories are set in the Edo period, the expression of "Kami" and "Shimo" is very important.

However, Rakugo is performed on a stage*, "Kami-te(上手)" and "Shimo-te(下手)" are used instead of "Kami-za" and "Shimo-za".

* On a stage, "Kami-te" means the right side of the audience, and "Shimo-te" means the left side of the audience.

In a Rakugo story, when a higher or senior position person talks to a lower or junior position person. the "Rakugoka" should turn his head to his right side "Shimo-te", which is the left side for the audience.

Furthermore, in Rakugo, the main entrance of a house or a shop is fixed for "Shimo-te". So when the "Rakugoka" pretends to talk to someone who enters the house through the main entrance, he has to turn his head to "Shimo-te".

However if a character enters the house from the direction of "Shimo-te" is of a higher or senior position, the "Rakugoka" has to move him to "Kami-te" by using his eye.

The teachers explained that this rule is very difficult, but very important in Rakugo.

After the teachers' instruction, all of the students performed a short Rakugo which is called "Kobanashi"(小噺) at the "Koza" stage.

I got tense, however it was very interesting.

The next day after my first lesson, I talked to my geisha sisters at the "Okiya(置屋)", geisha house about my exciting experience. I tried to perform "Kobanashi" in front of them.

On my first try, I couldn't make them laugh, however on the second try, I could succeed.

In addition, one "O-ne-san", geisha sister started to like my performance, she gave me a opportunity to perform Rakugo in front of her regular customer.

So I tried to depict the Kobanashi more realistically with greater expression.
At the "Ozashiki", party, all customers laughed, and I became happy.

The "O-ne-san", geisha sister said to me that she had never heard of geisha performing Rakugo in our working area.

I'll continue to learn Rakugo in order to make our customers laugh.