The Comic Storytelling of Western Japan: Satire and Social Mobility in Kamigata Rakugo
M. W. Shores
(Author)
Description
Rakugo, a popular form of comic storytelling, has played a major role in Japanese culture and society. Developed during the Edo (1600-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods, it is still popular today, with many contemporary Japanese comedians having originally trained as rakugo artists. Rakugo is divided into two distinct strands, the Tokyo tradition and the Osaka tradition, with the latter having previously been largely overlooked. This pioneering study of the Kamigata (Osaka) rakugo tradition presents the first complete English translation of five classic rakugo stories, and offers a history of comic storytelling in Kamigata (modern Kansai, Kinki) from the seventeenth century to the present day. Considering the art in terms of gender, literature, performance, and society, this volume grounds Kamigata rakugo in its distinct cultural context and sheds light on the 'other' rakugo for students and scholars of Japanese culture and history.Product Details
Price
$109.99
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publish Date
August 12, 2021
Pages
270
Dimensions
6.0 X 9.0 X 0.69 inches | 1.2 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781108831505
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
M. W. Shores is a Lecturer of Japanese at The University of Sydney, and has been a Fellow of Peterhouse at the University of Cambridge. Shores has spent over a decade in Japan for research and apprenticeships with two of Kamigata rakugo's respected practitioners, Katsura Bunshi V and Hayashiya Somemaru IV.
Reviews
'Shores includes five translations of full rakugo classics from the Kamigata repertoire, providing many performance details and giving readers a better idea of what this lively, raucous art form might be like to experience live ... Recommended.' C. Lanki, Choice Connect