A new Stage for Comedy

Osaka has a new comedy-theater specialised on Rakugo, the classical art of comic storytelling: On September 15th the "Tenma-Tenjin Hanjotei" opened it doors for the public. While rakugo has a long history of more than 300 years, Osaka did not have a regular performance hall for rakugo for about 60 years. The impressing thing about the "Hanjotei" is that it was built only using donations from the public. Over the last years the Kamigata Rakugo Society led by famous rakugo-comedian and TV-star Sanshi Katsura put a lot of effort in it to make their dream of an exclusive rakugo-space come true. On the opening day, people could see Sanshi Katsura spreading tears on stage, deeply moved by the success. For him and his collegues the opening of the Hanjotei lets a dream become true.
During the first weeks many visitors came to see the performance at Hanjotei. I also enjoyed a rakugo-evening last week. Some people are worried whether the public interest in a classical art will remain as high as it is now and that Hanjotei might have much less visitors in the future. But for the momet it is a wonderful place to enjoy classical Japanese comedy.