Rakugo Experience & Kimodameshi(Courage testing) tour at Old town Minamisenju!

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【Event Overview】

Let’s try Japanese cultural experience & summer activity with Japanize!
This time, we will have the experience of “Rakugo”(落語) and “Kimodameshi”(肝試し)!

Let’s try one of the most traditional Japanese cultural experience Rakugo with “Yokai”(Japanese ghost) stories at “Sentou(銭湯)” which is the Japanese traditional bathhouse,
and also let’s go out to the historical town of Minamisenju for “Kimodameshi”(Japanese summer style courage testing)!

“Yokai”(Japanese Ghost) story told with “Rakugo” is not just scary but sounds nonsense and somehow humorous.
Let’s try the long time handed down stories like “Rokurokubi” or “Shinigami”, and start to explore & look for the stories nowadays in Minamisenju at night!

※ We will translate Rakugo in English with the subtitles on the screen,
so you will see the real Japanese Rakugo and also can understand the story and enjoy!

1. What’s ”Rakugo”? (from wikipedia)

Rakugo is a Japanese verbal entertainment.

The lone storyteller (落語家 rakugoka) sits on stage, called Kōza (高座).

Using only a paper fan (扇子 sensu) and a small cloth (手拭 tenugui) as props, and without standing up from the seiza sitting position, the rakugo artist depicts a long and complicated comical story.

The story always involves the dialogue of two or more characters, the difference between the characters depicted only through change in pitch, tone, and a slight turn of the head.

2. What’s “Kimodameshi”?

This is common Japanese summer activities to visit the scary sites for courage testing.

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【Event details for Rakugo & Kimodameshi】

• Date & Time: August 9th (Sat) 18:15 - 19:30

• Meeting Place & Time:
  Meeting at 18:15 at west exit of Minamisenju station(南千住駅) on JR

• MAP of the exact location
  https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zUHXPXjCy6hk.kdirboCTxp6o

• Attendees limit: 20

• We also invite from facebook event
  https://www.facebook.com/events/554105504700003/

• Entry fee: Free

【After Rakugo & Kimodameshi】

Let’s go out for food & drinks at the traditional Japanese Izakaya(public pub) if you want to join!

【About Japanize】

Japanize is company & Not-for-Profit Organization in Tokyo.

We organize the Japanese Cultural Experience & Local Spot Tour Events.

-Website:
http://www.japanize.org/ (http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japanize.org%2F&h=bAQEF6WZs&enc=AZPxu1RpRXQHuQ3a9k5-A10fB2-H4-JfxD-Uas8FY1fnxZWoxOULh21ESt-FubgrMlw&s=1)

-Blog:
http://blog.japanize.org/ (http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.japanize.org%2F&h=vAQFvHt1T&enc=AZPhh_UWW-y6h-8gxOgEli0h5BWfUWIcVcps7kE7_SwVK46pzryX1ofh7oN0CK3qGr4&s=1)

【Main Organization of the event】

Executive Committee of “Yokai Picture Scroll at Sumida River”

-NPO Senju Sumidagawa

-Minowa Ginza shopping street promotion association

-Minamisenju Naka-dori stores association

-Minamisenju

-Kotsu-dori stores association

-Bell Port Shioiri shopping street promotion association

【Support】

Arakawa ward

Foundation for Arakawa ward artistic culture promotion

【Cooperation】

Rakugo Research Society at University of Tsukuba

Art Environment Support Yasuyoshi Saito laboratory at University of Tsukuba

【Grant】

The Japan Science Society