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Shizuya Kawamura (河村 靜也, Kawamura Shizuya), known by his stage name Katsura Bunshi VI (六代 桂 文枝, Rokudai Katsura Bunshi), is a Japanese TV presenter and rakugo artist. His former stage name was Katsura Sanshi (桂 三枝, Katsura Sanshi).
- Why and when did you first come to Japan? I was researching Greek theater at the time and a scholar had written an article pointing out similarities between ancient Greek tragedy, comedy and Japanese Noh and Kabuki.
- Your first time seeing rakugo? I was living in Yokohama and I went to this tiny yakitori shop literally eight times a week. The owner held a rakugo show there once every two months, and he said, “if you like Japanese culture so much, you should see rakugo.”
- How is performing in New York compared to Tokyo? And would you say that a lot of people that go to your show have an interest in Japan? It was incredible.
- Could you tell me more about the apprenticeship? It sounds like a movie montage. It’s interesting because The Karate Kid is very ‘Hollywood’. That apprenticeship ‘wax-on wax-off’ scene has nothing to do with karate and yet Mr Miyagi goes to hit him after a week and he blocks it.
Katsura Sunshine (桂 三輝, Katsura Sanshain, born Gregory Robic, 6 April 1970) is a Canadian traditional Japanese rakugo comic storyteller, theatre producer, and television personality, currently residing in New York City, United States. He was also known in Toronto for his musical version of Aristophanes ' "Clouds".
Oct 3, 2017 · Katsura Sunshine Rakugo is a minimalistic performance featuring a lone storyteller dressed in a kimono, kneeling on a cushion, using only a fan and a hand towel for props to entertain the audience with a comic monologue followed by a traditional story.
WHO IS SUNSHINE? 1. RAKUGO: ~16th apprentice to the famous Rakugo storytelling master, Katsura Bunshi VI. ~Currently the only Western-born Rakugo Master. ~First in 100 years and only the second in the history of Japan. WHAT IS RAKUGO? ~400-year tradition of Japanese Comic Storytelling.
Oct 5, 2019 · Toronto native Katsura Sunshine has experienced setbacks as a rakugo storyteller, the 400-year-old Japanese comedic art form, but he has not given up on a long-held dream to build a rakugo theater in the Big Apple.
Feb 13, 2018 · Sunshine was the uchi deshi of the famous Katsura Bunshi VI (六代桂文枝) for three years. Both appear regularly on Japanese television and Sunshine is currently establishing his show on Broadway in New York.
