INDEX
Training under the blunt but kind master, Shunputei Ichinosuke
Celeina：The world of rakugo has a harsh image, but what do you think?
Ikkyu: Generally speaking, you might imagine training like living in a master’s house, going there every morning, cleaning, doing laundry, and doing all the little things at the master’s house. There are about half of the people who practice this kind of training.We are the other half, and we have nothing. Before Corona, I would go to my master’s house once a week in the morning, and we would have time to chat over a cup of coffee.
Celeina: Sounds super fun.
Ikyu: There are four Yose theaters in Tokyo, and every day I would go backstage to fold kimonos, serve tea, and other small things.
Takano: What kind of person is Shunputei Ichinosuke?
Ikkyu: He has been appearing on a famous entertainment program, and I think many of our listeners have seen him, but he has the same image of being blunt. He is a kind man despite his bluntness, and he says to his disciples, “Do as you please, I don’t know. ” but he is always watching over us.
Celeina: He has a deep love.
Takano: What steps will you take in your career in rakugo?
Celeina: You mentioned in your profile that you are a Futatsume .
Ikkyu: When you first get started, you become an apprentice, and then you become the Zenza. Up to that point is the training period, from which you become a full-fledged player and are promoted to the Futatsume and Shinuchi. I just became the Futatsume this month.
Celeina: Congratulations!
Ikkyu: Thank you very much. I still have a long way to go.
Takano: What did you do as an apprentice?
Ikkyu:When I was an apprentice, I had not yet trained at a theater, so I worked as a bag-bearer for my master. I followed my master around and went to various places to learn how to work in the theater, and I also watched his rakugo performances from offstage.
Celeina: I’ve heard a lot of stories about rakugo so far, and I want to know what rakugo actually is.Will you be able to perform for me?
Ikkyu: Of course. The shortest is 10 minutes, and the longest is about an hour, but I will only perform the first part.
Celeina: Thank you very much. (Music starts playing.) Debayashi?
Ikkyu: Yes, it’s the Dehyayashi.
Celeina:Thank you very much.
Ikkyu: Now I would like to say a few words. (performs the beginning of “Kinmeichiku”)
Celeina:I’m very curious about the rest of the play.
Ikkyu:Please come and listen to the rest of the story at a Yose or Rakugo performance.
Takano: Thank you very much. Now that we have heard the rakugo, I would like to listen to a song. What song would you like everyone to listen to at this time?
Ikkyu： “Smile” by Quruli. I like comedies and watch a lot of comedy, movies, and cartoons, and this is the theme song for the movie “River, Nagarenaideyo” which was shot by a theater company called Europe Kikaku in 2023.
Takano: Let’s listen to it then.
