KATSURA SUNSHINE'S RAKUGO Begins Off-Broadway Run Sep. 19

Celebrated, internationally renowned performer Katsura Sunshine will bring the ancient Japanese art of Rakugo to New York in Katsura Sunshine's Rakugo for its official Off-Broadway debut at New World Stages beginning September 19, press and running through January 4, 2020.

Recently the emcee of the G20 in Osaka, Katsura Sunshine's Rakugo comes to Times Square. Called the King of Kimono Comedy, Rakugo is the 400-year-old Japanese traditional art of comic storytelling, currently, there are only 800 Rakugo Masters. Hailing from Canada, Sunshine is the only Western Rakugo Master in the world and star of NHK Worldwide, he is hilarious, charming, universally funny and yet so very Japanese. Sunshine is the perfect performer to bridge the gap between the East and the West, in a hilarious style.

With a minimal set, Rakugo features a lone storyteller dressed in kimono, kneeling on a cushion, using only a fan and a hand towel for props, entertains the audience with a comic monologue followed by traditional stories.

In order to become a recognized professional Rakugo storyteller, one must apprentice to a Rakugo Master, from whom one receives a stage name. The apprenticeship lasts for three to four years and is very strict. Depending on the master, the apprentice may not drink, smoke, or go on dates, and is subject to a strict curfew during the apprenticeship period. The apprentice cleans the master's house, does laundry, cooking, preparing and folding kimonos, and other chores, and learns the art of storytelling by watching the master perform and imitating. Throughout one's career, one is only allowed to perform a given story once permission to do that story has been granted by a master storyteller.

KATSURA SUNSHINE was born in Toronto, Ontario, to parents of Slovenian origin. He studied Classics at the University of Toronto, specializing in Ancient Greek Theatre. In September 1995, his version of Aristophanes' "Clouds" opened at the Poor Alex Theatre in Toronto and ran for 15 months before embarking on a tour of central and eastern Canada. Sunshine went to Japan in 1999 to pursue studies in Japanese theatre. On September 1st, 2008, he was accepted as an apprentice to the great Rakugo storytelling Master, Katsura Bunshi VI (then named Katsura Sanshi), and received from his Master the Rakugo name Katsura Sunshine. Sunshine is the first-ever Western Rakugo storyteller in the history of the "Kamigata" Rakugo tradition, based in Osaka, and only the second ever in the history of Japan. He has performed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal, Ghana, Senegal, Gabon, South Africa, as well as throughout Japan. He had both his West End debut at the Leicester Square Theatre and his off-Broadway debut at the SoHo Playhouse for three weeks each in 2017. In 2019 Sunshine was part of the successful bid of the city of Osaka for the 2025 World Fair, for which he traveled to Paris to present Japanese culture, as well as featuring in a video which was played on the final voting day. He received praise from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for this work, particularly for the video presentation. Also in 2019, Sunshine was chosen to be Master of Ceremonies at the opening reception of the G-20 Summit in Osaka. Sunshine currently divides his time between New York and Tokyo.

Katsura Sunshine has performed around the world and has been called "Highly unique and hilarious! Not to be missed!" Camden New Journal, London; "Sunshine is one of a kind! Literally!" Islington Tribune, London; "Hilarious! Singularly Japanese and universally funny!"-The Edinburgh Reporter; "Blinding pace! Mastery of mime and physical comedy! Sheer enthusiasm and energy! It's infectious!" UK Anime Network; "Hilarious, universally funny!" This Is London Magazine; "Sunshine is a must-see!" - Japan Journal, UK; "The most I've laughed all year!" -Japan Journal (UK); "Hurray! Hurray for Sunshine!" -Nikka Times, Canada; "Sunshine has them laughing in the aisles!" - Edinburgh Evening News; "Charming! Engaging! Charismatic!" - Broadway Baby; "Drop-Dead funny!" - Metropolis, Japan; "An onstage dynamo!" -The Calgary Herald; "Japan's answer to stand-up comedy!" - CTV National News; "Fantastic! A sight to behold! Too much fun!" - CBC Radio, Canada.

Katsura Sunshine's Rakugo has set design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, lighting design by Ayumu Poe Saegusa and is presented by Steven Honigman and Joe Trentacosta in association with Yumi Shinozaki and The Yoshimoto Creative Agency of Japan, the company manager is Marie Fukuda with General Management by LDK Productions/Lisa Dozier King.

For more information about Sunshine and Rakugo please visit www.Rakugo.lol