A MASTER STORYTELLER!
~The New York Times
THE KING OF KIMONO COMEDY!
~REUTERS
KATSURA SUNSHINE'S RAKUGO
Ten shows a month in Asakusa, Tokyo's most historic, traditional and popular neighborhood!
RAKUGO
THE 400-YEAR SMASH HIT IN JAPAN!
THE TRADITION:
Rakugo is a 400-year-old tradition of comic storytelling in Japan. The stories have been passed down from master to apprentice aurally through the centuries.
THE MONOLOGUE:
Every Rakugo story is preceded by a comic monologue which consists of the individual storyteller’s own “material”, much like stand-up comedy.
THE APPRENTICESHIP:
In order to become a recognized professional Rakugo storyteller, one must apprentice to a Rakugo master. The apprenticeship lasts for three to four years, and is very strict, nearing indentured servitude.
Sunshine went to his Master's home every morning for 3 years, did laundry, cleaned, carried bags, folded kimonos, and watched and learned in the way that every Japanese apprentice has done for hundreds of years.
A show of hilarity and culture in equal doses!
Sunshine's performances have delighted audiences throughout the world as well as all over Japan.
Sunshine has graced the Broadway stage with a different delightful Japanese story each month since 2019, at the famous New World Stages in Manhattan.
Join Sunshine in his home theatre of Asakusa Mokubatei in the most historic and lively area of Tokyo, a minutes walk from Sensoji temple.
Come for an hour of laughter and leave with a piece of Japan in you heart!
RAKUGO IN ASAKUSA
2025 SCHEDULE
JANUARY SHOWS:
Tuesday January 21st, 2pm
Tuesday January 21st, 7pm
Wednesday January 22nd, 2pm
Wednesday January 22nd, 7pm
Thursday January 23rd, 2pm
Thursday January 23rd, 7pm
Friday January 24th, 2pm
Friday January 24th, 7pm
Saturday January 25th, 7pm
Sunday January 26th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
FEBRUARY SHOWS:
Monday February 24th, 7pm
Tuesday February 25th, 2pm
Tuesday February 25th, 7pm
Wednesday February 26th, 2pm
Wednesday February 26th, 7pm
Thursday February 27th, 2pm
Thursday February 27th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
MARCH SHOWS:
Saturday March 22nd, 7pm
Sunday March 23rd, 7pm
Monday March 24th, 2pm
Monday March 24th, 7pm
Tuesday March 25th, 2pm
Tuesday March 25th, 7pm
Wednesday March 26th, 2pm
Wednesday March 26th, 7pm
Thursday March 27th, 2pm
Thursday March 27th, 7pm
Friday March 28th, 2pm
Friday March 28th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
APRIL SHOWS:
Monday April 21, 2pm
Monday April 21, 7pm
Wednesday April 23, 2pm
Wednesday April 23, 7pm
Thursday April 24, 2pm
Thursday April 24, 7pm
Friday April 25th, 2pm
Friday April 25th, 7pm
Sunday April 27th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
MAY SHOWS:
Sunday May 25th, 7pm
Monday May 26th, 2pm
Monday May 26th, 7pm
Tuesday May 27th, 2pm
Tuesday May 27th, 7pm
Wednesday May 28th, 2pm
Wednesday May 28th, 7pm
Thursday May 29th, 2pm
Thursday May 29th, 7pm
Friday May 30th, 2pm
Friday May 30th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
JUNE SHOWS:
Friday June 20th, 2pm
Friday June 20th, 7pm
Saturday June 21st, 7pm
Sunday June 22nd, 7pm
Monday June 23rd, 2pm
Monday June 23rd, 7pm
Tuesday June 24th, 2pm
Tuesday June 24th, 7pm
Wednesday June 25th, 2pm
Wednesday June 25th, 7pm
Thursday June 26th, 2pm
Thursday June 26th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
JULY SHOWS:
Friday July 25th, 2pm
Friday July 25th, 7pm
Saturday July 26th, 7pm
Monday July 28th, 2pm
Monday July 28th, 7pm
Tuesday July 29th, 2pm
Tuesday July 29th, 7pm
Wednesday July 30st, 2pm
Wednesday July 30st, 7pm
Thursday July 31st, 2pm
Thursday July 31st, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
AUGUST SHOWS:
Friday August 22nd, 2pm
Friday August 22nd, 7pm
Monday August 25th, 2pm
Monday August 25th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
SEPTEMBER SHOWS:
Monday September 8th, 2pm
Monday September 8th, 7pm
Tuesday September 9th, 2pm
Tuesday September 9th, 7pm
Wednesday September 10th, 2pm
Wednesday September 10th, 7pm
Thursday September 11th, 2pm
Thursday September 11th, 7pm
Friday September 12th, 2pm
Friday September 12th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
OCTOBER SHOWS:
Monday October 20th, 2pm
Monday October 20th, 7pm
Tuesday October 21st, 2pm
Tuesday October 21st, 7pm
Wednesday October 22nd, 2pm
Wednesday October 22nd, 7pm
Thursday October 23rd, 2pm
Thursday October 23rd, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
NOVEMBER SHOWS:
Sunday November 23rd, 7pm
Monday November 24th, 2pm
Monday November 24th, 7pm
Tuesday November 25th, 2pm
Tuesday November 25th, 7pm
Wednesday November 26th, 2pm
Wednesday November 26h, 7pm
Thursday November 27th, 2pm
Thursday November 27th, 7pm
Friday November 28th, 2pm
Friday November 28th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
DECEMBER SHOWS:
Monday December 22nd, 2pm
Monday December 22nd, 7pm
Tuesday December 23rd, 2pm
Tuesday December 23rd, 7pm
Wednesday December 24th, 2pm
Wednesday December 24th, 7pm
Thursday December 25th, 2pm
Thursday December 25th, 7pm
Friday December 26th, 2pm
Friday December 26th, 7pm
Saturday December 27th, 7pm
Asakusa Mokubatei
Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-7-5
