Rakugo storyteller Ichinosuke Shunputei (46) will be participating in the solo performance “Spring and Autumn Three Nights 2024 Autumn” (sponsored by Yomiuri Otemachi Hall, Sankei Shimbun, etc.), which will be held for three consecutive nights from the 28th. This is a popular series that has been held every spring and fall since 2014. This fall marks the 11th anniversary of the event, where he performs stories that he has never performed before on a dais to test his own growth. Ichinosuke’s thoughts on the next 10 years are natural: “I don’t have any aspirations, so I don’t have any big goals or anything. I just want to have fun as always and spread the joy of rakugo.”
Show off a new story
Ichinosuke is a talented player who was promoted to Shinuchi in March 2012 at the age of 33, beating out 21 other players. In February 2020, he was selected as an Ogiri member of Nippon Television’s national entertainment program “Shoten”. He is now one of the most difficult rakugo performers to get tickets for.
For Ichinosuke, the series “Three Nights of Spring, Autumn, and Autumn” was an experimental place for him to constantly seek heights, grow, and see himself changing. “I have been consciously presenting new stories. I must have already performed over 15 performances.”
Since he was just starting out, he has intentionally put himself under pressure to expand his skills and become a deep-rooted Rakugo storyteller, and the “Three Nights of Spring, Autumn, and Autumn” series was a good place to practice.
Problem awareness and strategy
Why did Ichinosuke need an experimental space? Behind this was Ichinosuke’s own awareness of issues and strategies.
“It’s not that I’m flattered by the audience, but in order to increase the number of rakugo fans, I think we need to increase opportunities for people to listen to rakugo and cherish it.”
There are two ways to do that. One is aimed at core rakugo fans.
“When I collaborate with talented performers such as Sanzo Yanagiya and Hakushu Momotsukian, who are known to all rakugo fans, what kind of rakugo do I present?This is something I should never neglect.”
The second is dealing with customers who only know “Shouten.”
“When we want to attract a lot of customers to a venue in Tokyo or a local area and make money, there are people who say things like, “We need two Shoten members” because it’s a show.I also take on such jobs,” Ichinosuke says. . The idea is that he can become a window into the new world of rakugo and convey its appeal.
He says that an essential part of his preparations is appearing in the “Three Nights of Spring and Autumn” series. “I will introduce new material, increase it, and make it available anytime and anywhere. Through me, the audience will learn about the wide world of rakugo.” He says he wants to visit more and more children who are hearing rakugo for the first time.
For the next 10 years
Ichinosuke, who was rather weak at team play when he was young, now has five disciples and has become a director of the Rakugo Association, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. My position and environment have changed significantly from 10 years ago.
“Actually, for me, it’s always been the same, and I feel like I’m at a normal temperature.I’ve made it this far with the same temperature.However, I want to continue over the next 10 years with the stance of meeting customer expectations without overdoing it. ”
That said, Ichinosuke has a reputation for increasing the number of rakugo fans. At the very least, I wonder what kind of blueprint he has hidden in his heart.
“I’m not a particularly charming person. However, I generally don’t turn down requests to appear. I do things like perform with my juniors, have a two-person party with my seniors, or go to a vaudeville show. A vaudeville show is like a show window. It’s important to expand the audience. I want to cherish the opportunity to be heard by people I don’t know.” (Tenchi Takahashi)
Shunputei Ichinosuke
Shunputei IchinosukeBorn in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture in 1978. Graduated from Nihon University College of Art. In 2001, he entered Shunpuutei Ischo and took the name Asasaku, and when he was promoted to the second rank Ichinosuke. 24 years, true hit. Received the National Entertainment Center Star Entertainment Award.
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Tickets for “Three Nights of Spring and Autumn 2024 Autumn” are sold out. Various online viewing tickets are currently on sale, including ones that come with a goods set (5,000 yen). For detailsherefrom.
Source: Japanese