What does the word rakugo mean?
(落語, literally ‘fallen words’)
Rakugo (落語, literally ‘fallen words’) is a form of Japanese verbal entertainment of yose. Using only a paper fan (扇子, sensu) and a small cloth (手拭, tenugui) as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical (or sometimes sentimental) story.
What is rakugo japan?
Rakugo is a 400 year old tradition of comic monologue storytelling in Japan. A minimalistic performing art, rakugo features a lone storyteller dressed in a kimono（きもの）、kneeling on a cushion（ざぶとん）、using only a fan（せんす）、and a hand towel（てぬぐい）as props. There are currently over 700 professional storytellers（落語家）practicing.
Does rakugo exist?
Japan has an ancient and highly respected culture. This respect extends to the art of storytelling with the traditional medium of rakugo still alive today. Rakugo is a form of Japanese verbal entertainment.
How long is a rakugo performance?
30 minutes
Performances are generally 30 minutes in length, although the teller must be agile enough to lengthen or shorten the piece as needed. The performer is normally equipped with two props, a paper fan (sensu) and a hand towel (tenugui), with which he illustrates his monologue.
What is seiza position?
Seiza involves sitting down on the floor and not on a chair. In traditional Japanese architecture, floors in various rooms designed for comfort have tatami floors. Seiza thus is closely connected with tatami flooring. There are circumstances, however, when people sit seiza-style on carpeted and hardwood floors.
What props are used in rakugo?
Rakugo is a traditional narrative art in Japan where the performer sits alone in the formal Seiza position while delivering a humorous story centered on dialog. Rakugo performances only use two props: a Sensu and a hand towel. Performers use their Sensu and hand towel to represent all kinds of objects.