Rakugo (literally means "fallen words") is a Japanese entertainment form based on comical monologues. The speaker sits on a large pillow called zabuton, and using only a paper fan as a prop, and without standing up from his seat, 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.I'ts funny and I enjoy both watching and reading the story.Here is one of my rakugo story that I have read:
A young student named Saburo falls in love with a beautiful woman named Otsuyu, the daughter of his father's best friend. They meet secretly, and promise to be married. But Saburo falls ill, and is unable to see Otsuyu for a long time.
Later, when Saburo recovers and goes to see his love, he is told that Otsuyu has died. He prays for her spirit during the Obon festival, and is surprised to hear the approaching footsteps of two women. When he sees them, they look remarkably like Otsuyu and her maid. It is revealed that her aunt, who opposed the marriage, spread the rumor that Otsuyu had died and told Otsuyu in turn that Saburo had died.
The two lovers, reunited, begin their relationship again in secret. Each night Otsuyu, accompanied by her maid who carries a peony lantern, spends the night with Saburo.
This continues blissfully until one night a servant peeks through a hole in the wall in Saburo's bedroom, and sees him having sex with a decaying skeleton, while another skeleton sits in the doorway holding a peony lantern. He reports this to the local Buddhist priest, who locates the graves of Otsuyu and her maid. Taking Saburo there, he convinces him of the truth, and agrees to help Saburo guard his house against the spirits. The priest places ofuda(a talisman issued by Shinto(the native religion of Japan) shrine) around the house, and prays the nenbutsu (It refers to praise offered to Amitabha(a celestial Buddha) Buddha as a devotional act) every night.
The plan works, and Otsuya and her maid are unable to enter, all though they come every night and call out their love to Saburo. Pining for his sweetheart, Saburo's health begins to deteriorate. Saburo's servants, afraid that he will die from heartbreak leaving them without work, remove the ofuda from the house. Otsuya enters, and again has sex with Saburo.
In the morning, the servants find Saburo dead, his body entwined with Otsuya's skeleton. His face is radiant and blissful.
Why don't you guys share your rakugo story too :)
Rakugo - Japanese Sit Down Comedy
Linear Mode
