top of page

Artist Profile....

KANARIYA EIRAKU is a Tokyo-based English rakugo storyteller.

 

He participated in the Rakugo Tatekawa-ryu in 1984, to learn about the essence of rakugo from Tatekawa Danshi. He began offering Japanese rakugo classes in Tokyo in 1991, and in 2007, he established his English rakugo classes.

He has translated and performed over sixty classical and contemporary rakugo stories. Since 2007, he has performed in front of enthusiastic audiences in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Laos.

34323988_1411600595608834_7225353761856684032_n_edited.png

鹿鳴家英楽

In the tradition of a typical yose performance, Eiraku also incorporates several iromono (variety) acts into his routine. He is highly skilled in the art of tamasudare and quite adept at performing Japanese songs in English while playing the ukelele.

Eiraku is one of the founding members of the English Rakugo Association in Tokyo. The organization was established in 2020 with the mission to spread rakugo all over the world.

In 2021, he collaborated with author Kristine Ohkubo on a book titled Talking About RAKUGO: 1 The Japanese Art of StorytellingThe two teamed up once again in 2022 to publish Talking About RAKUGO 2: The Stories Behind the Storytellers.

The combined works feature twenty-four classical rakugo scripts, which Eiraku translated into English and currently performs on stage.

He plans to release a book later this year titled, Eiraku’s 100 English Rakugo Scripts (Volume 1). Edited by Kristine Ohkubo, the work will feature 35 classic rakugo stories translated into English by Eiraku.

He also offers English performance classes at universities.

86969794_2390594671042750_3540704458239377408_n_edited.jpg

Click on the underlined words for additional information.

Kanariya

Eiraku

 Official Website

bottom of page