Rakugo Is Jazz
Rakugo is often compared to jazz.
Just as a jazz standard can sound completely different depending on the player’s interpretation and arrangement, classical rakugo stories also change dramatically depending on the storyteller. Each performer brings their own phrasing, rhythm, and perspective to the same material. The true pleasure of rakugo lies not only in the humor of the stories themselves, but in hearing those subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences between performers. With that in mind, this playlist deliberately places the same stories side by side, performed by different rakugo masters, so you can listen and compare. All of the performers featured here are leading figures in today’s rakugo scene. If you find a storyteller you like, we highly recommend experiencing rakugo live, in person.
-Classic Winter Tales-
Many rakugo stories set in winter—such as Shibahama or Bunshichi Mottoi—are heavyweight ninjōbanashi (human drama tales) that leave a deep emotional impact.
This time, however, we prioritized approachability. As with our previous Classic Summer Tales edition, we selected six lighthearted and humorous kokkeibanashi (comic stories) that are easy to enjoy. Below, you’ll find a brief synopsis of each story along with notes on the distinctive qualities of each performer.
① Hatsutenjin (First Shrine Visit)
Synopsis:
A seasonal staple often performed around the New Year. A father takes his son to a shrine festival after extracting a promise that there will be no begging for toys or sweets. Of course, things don’t go quite as planned…
1. Rakushō Sanyūtei - Knowing where—and how—to cut a story short is also part of rakugo technique. This is a condensed version that ends at the story’s peak without going all the way to the sage (punchline). In musical terms, think of it as a “Radio Edit.”
2. Ikkin Yanagiya - A full-length version performed by a disciple of the late Kosanji Yanagiya, a Living National Treasure. Since this story is often performed early in a yose program, it’s actually rare to hear it all the way through to the kite-flying finale.
②Toki Soba
Synopsis:
Probably one of the most famous rakugo stories of all. On a freezing night, a man witnesses someone cleverly shortchanging a soba vendor—and decides to try the same trick himself…
1. Ichinosuke Shunpūtei - Widely regarded as the top performer of his generation in both popularity and skill. Firmly traditional, yet subtly updated with a modern sensibility.
2. Hakushu Tōgetsuan - Bright, breezy, and rhythmically sharp. The soba vendor in the latter half is portrayed in a completely different way from Ichinosuke’s version—one of the real joys of comparison.
③Udon-ya (The Udon Seller)
Synopsis:
On a cold night, a street vendor selling nabeyaki udon wanders the town. Experience has taught him that customers who quietly call him over can sometimes be better for business than those who shout—but tonight, things go from bad to worse as he’s harassed by a drunk. Just when all seems lost…
A signature piece of the Shōwa-era master Kosan Yanagiya V, also a Living National Treasure, and a specialty of the Kosan lineage. Pay special attention to how each performer portrays the drunken man—arguably the story’s hidden protagonist.
1. Ichiba Ryūtei - Rock-solid and unshakeable. This is rakugo at its most orthodox and refined.
2. Gontarō Yanagiya - A powerhouse of laughter. Bold, boisterous, and overflowing with charm.
④Oyako-zake (Father and Son’s Sake)
Synopsis:
A sake-loving father and son decide to quit drinking together for the sake of the son’s future. But resisting temptation proves easier said than done…
1. Ryūraku Sanyūtei - A traditionalist in the lineage of the fifth-generation Enraku (former host of Shōten), yet also a true eccentric—known for performing in seven languages around the world.
2. Hakushu Tōgetsuan - A performance that leaves you, as always, with nothing but brightness and good cheer.
⑤Tengu Sabaki (Judgment of the Tengu)
Synopsis:
A wife asks her husband what kind of dream he was having during his nap. When he insists he had no dream at all, she becomes convinced he’s hiding something—and the argument spirals into pure absurdity.
Though not explicitly set in winter, the fleeting appearance of kakimochi (broken New Year’s rice cakes) qualifies it as a seasonal piece.
1. Kenkō Sanyūtei - One of the strongest performers in the Sanyūtei school today. Light, witty, slightly biting—and his portrayal of female characters is always delightful.
2. Ichinosuke Shunpūtei - A straightforward, elegant performance that highlights his classical technique.
3. Gontarō Yanagiya - Don’t miss his explosive reinterpretation of the sage.
⑥Niban Senji (The Second Brew)
Synopsis:
Men from the neighborhood gather for a nighttime fire patrol. Split into two groups, one patrols while the other warms up at the meeting hall—where a secret drinking party quietly begins…
1. Kikunojō Kokontei - One of the standout performers of the Kokontei school today. Graceful, dynamic, and deeply satisfying to listen to.
2. Gontarō Yanagiya - The king of big laughs at full throttle. His ability to juggle a large cast of characters in the climactic finale is astonishing.
3. Kumosuke Gokaidō - The only Living National Treasure in today’s rakugo world. A masterclass in restraint, elegance, and uncompromising orthodoxy.
Playlist, cover art & comments by Mikiya Tanaka (ELLA RECORDS)
PROMOTIONAL ONLY
