Katsura Sunshine

"The King of Kimono Comedy!" -Reuters New York

Katsura Sunshine is a master of Rakugo — Japan’s 400-year tradition of sit-down storytelling comedy. Trained in Osaka under legendary Katsura Bunshi VI, he received the historic Katsura family name and is a member of the Kamigata (Osaka) Rakugo Association. After 25 years living in Japan, he has become a leading English-language ambassador of the art, now mentoring four apprentices himself. Sunshine has performed at London’s West End and is currently in his seventh year of a continuing run on Broadway in New York City.

Sunshine blends high-craft tradition with big, contemporary laughs. Rakugo’s minimalist style lets one performer create a full cast through voice, timing, and character shifts, and Sunshine brings it to life with a modern, energetic edge. The result is a show that feels both culturally authentic and instantly accessible: a chance to experience a living Japanese art form!

"A Master Storyteller!" -The New York Times