Rokyoku artist Nanafuku Tamagawa presents the third in her series of “heart-stealers” in the field of Japan’s classic storytelling arts. This time, she welcomes a titan of the rakugo comic storytelling world, Kumosuke Gokaido, who was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2016 and has been described as the leading light of the classical school of rakugo, and also Aguri Kanda, a talented female kodan raconteur who trained under Shori Kanda.
While leading the world of rokyoku with her talent and flair, Nanafuku has been recognized for her wide-ranging skills through such accolades as the 11th Itami Juzo Prize, which is awarded to cultural luminaries who demonstrate accomplishment across a multitude of fields. Watching Nanafuku describe the charms of these superstar storytellers and give performances showcasing her own art, you will undoubtedly derive even greater pleasure from Japan’s classic storytelling arts.

Kumosuke Gokaido, Aguri Kanda, Nanafuku Tamagawa (shamisen: Toyoko Sawamura)

Lighting designer: Hidetoshi Kato#
Sound designer: Seigo Ihaya#
Stage manager: Naoya Okada# (#=Okada Butai Co., Ltd.)
Publicity designer: Maiko Sugawara (ycoment)
Publicity photographer: Renji Tachibana
Hair and make-up designer: Hikaru Takada

Kumosuke Gokaido
From Sumida City, Tokyo. Began training under Basho Kingentei X in 1968 and took the name Komashichi.
In 1972, after being promoted from zenza (opening act) to the next rank up, futatsume, he changed his name to Kumosuke Gokaido. His theme song is the folk song Hakone Hachiri.
As well as having a particular talent for recounting classic rakugo stories about the old kuruwa licensed quarters and works by Encho, he has been highly praised for his ghost stories. In 1979, he received the Second Nikkan Tobikiri Rakugo Association Encouragement Award. In 1980, he won the Third Nikkan Tobikiri Rakugo Association Encouragement Award for Young Rakugo Performers. In 1981, he was promoted to the rank of shin’uchi (fully fledged master of storytelling). In 2009, he won the Excellence Award in the Agency for Cultural Affairs National Arts Festival. In 2014, he received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts in the popular culture category. In November 2016, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon.

Aguri Kanda
From Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Broadcasting at Nihon University College of Art. In 1996, she began training under Shori Kanda III. She made her first stage appearance the same year. She performed as a zenza under the name Komatsu. After being promoted to futatsume in 2001, she took the name Aguri. In 2008, she was promoted to the rank of shin’uchi. A tireless performer, her specialty is readings of classic serial tales, such as Yanagisawa Shoshin-roku, Tenmei Shiranami-den, Keian Taiheiki, and Tokugawa Tenichibo. She won the FY2015 National Engei Hall Hanagata Engei Special Prize. She is currently giving her debut reading of the serial Koi no Yukue at Suga Shrine in Yotsuya.

Nanafuku Tamagawa
Began training as a shamisen performer under the late Fukutaro Tamagawa II in 1995. Encouraged by him, she debuted as a rokyoku artist in 2001. In 2006, she publicly announced that she changed her succession to the stage name Nanafuku. As well as producing various rokyoku events, she has created original rokyoku songs of her own composition and also engages in exchange with performers in other genres. As a Japan Cultural Envoy in FY2018, she performed in Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. She was the winner of the 11th Itami Juzo Prize.

Style of performance: Regular performance

Schedule: Wednesday, October 7,2020

Performances at 14:00 and 19:00 (2 performances)

*Foyer opens 60 minutes before the performance, auditorium is due to open 30 minutes before

Ticket fee

・Adults : 4,000 yen
・Under-24s: 2,500 yen*1
・Discount for people with disabilities: 3,000 yen*2
*Please refrain from bringing preschool children to performances
*1 Student identification card or other proof of age must be shown at entry
*2 The discount for people with disabilities is also applicable to 1 caregiver / Disability certificate must be shown

Release date:

eneral sale: Sunday, September 6
Presale for Toshima citizens: Saturday, September 5

Ticket booth: Toshima Ticket Center

Organizer: Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation/Toshima City

Supported by: Agency for Cultural Affairs FY2020 Projects for establishing culture and arts creative centers

Owlspot Theatre 03-5391-0751