Katsura Utamaru
Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸, 14 August 1936 – 2 July 2018) was a Japanese rakugo comedian best known for hosting the Shōten comedy show on Nippon TV. He is known as a master of the Japanese comic art of rakugo, in which a single performer or storyteller appears on stage and tells comedic stories to the audience.
Career[edit]
Born in Yokohama, Utamaru's real name was Iwao Shiina. He became an apprentice of the rakugoka Kokontei Imasuke V in 1951 at the age of 15, assuming the name Kokontei Imaji.[1] He left rakugo for a while, then became the apprentice of Katsura Yonemaru, assuming the new name Katsura Yonebo.[1] He changed his name to Katsura Utamaru in 1964 and rose to the shin'uchi rank in 1968.[1]
He was one of the first members of Shōten when it started in 1966.[1] He became its host in 2006, but retired in 2016 for health reasons.[2] He became the head of the Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai in 2004, and received many honors, including the Order of the Rising Sun in 2007.[1] He died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on 2 July 2018 at a hospital in Yokohama.[2]
Kōzamei[edit]
- Kokontei Imaji (古今亭 今児, 1951-1961)
- Katsura Yonebo (桂 米坊, 1961-1964)
- Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸, 1964-2018)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Rakugo storyteller, TV personality Katsura Utamaru dies at 81". Mainichi Daily News. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Renowned rakugo storyteller Katsura Utamaru dies at 81". The Japan Times Online. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
External links[edit]
- Official profile, Rakugo Geijutsu Kyōkai
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