Mr. Shinoharu Tatekawa, a Rakugo performance artist, was invited to Tokyo Institute of Technology to perform the classic Rakugo story of Tenshiki, in English, for TiROP and TKT Campus Asia exchange students.
Tenshiki is the story of an arrogant, wiseacre priest. One day, a Buddhist priest felt ill and called for the doctor. After examining the priest, the physician asked, “Do you have a Tenshiki?” The priest did not know the meaning of Tenshiki. However, not wishing to appear ignorant, he pretended to know and answered that he did. After the doctor left, the priest called a disciple in order to try to find out the meaning of Tenshiki without revealing that he himself did not know. When the disciple too did not know, the priest humiliated him and sent him out to “find out by himself” the meaning of Tenshiki so that he will not forget it again. The priest claimied to have already taught the incapable disciple the meaning once before.
“You might think Japanese are very shy and serious, but we have cherished and transmitted this humorous story for over 300 years!” Mr. Shinoharu said.
After the performance, there was a lengthy and lively Q&A period about Rakugo and Japanese culture with many cross references to the students’ own cultures, which numbered over half a dozen.
Mr. Shinoharu Tatekawa, a Rakugo performance artist, was invited to Tokyo Institute of Technology to perform the classic Rakugo story of Tenshiki, in English, for TiROP and TKT Campus Asia exchange students.
Tenshiki is the story of an arrogant, wiseacre priest. One day, a Buddhist priest felt ill and called for the doctor. After examining the priest, the physician asked, “Do you have a Tenshiki?” The priest did not know the meaning of Tenshiki. However, not wishing to appear ignorant, he pretended to know and answered that he did. After the doctor left, the priest called a disciple in order to try to find out the meaning of Tenshiki without revealing that he himself did not know. When the disciple too did not know, the priest humiliated him and sent him out to “find out by himself” the meaning of Tenshiki so that he will not forget it again. The priest claimied to have already taught the incapable disciple the meaning once before.
“You might think Japanese are very shy and serious, but we have cherished and transmitted this humorous story for over 300 years!” Mr. Shinoharu said.
After the performance, there was a lengthy and lively Q&A period about Rakugo and Japanese culture with many cross references to the students’ own cultures, which numbered over half a dozen.