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About Katsura Sunshine
Katsura Sunshine is a traditional Japanese "Rakugo" comic storyteller and the 15th apprentice to the great Rakugo Master, Katsura Bunshi VI.
Rakugo is a 400-year tradition of storytelling in Japan, and has been a popular theatrical entertainment alongside Kabuki theatre since the Edo period.
Sunshine is only the second non-Japanese in history to become a Master of Rakugo and the first in 100 years.
He has performed Rakugo all over the world, and is most notably in his 6th year of performing Rakugo on Broadway.
Rakugo on Broadway
Sunshine opened Rakugo on Broadway on September 19th, 2019 and his long run continues to this day. He received excellent reviews from New York press, as below.
"A Master Storyteller!"
~The New York Times
"The King of Kimono Comedy!"
~Reuters New York
"There is only one Sunshine!"
~The New Yorker
Osaka G20 Summit, 2019
Sunshine was MC for the Opening Reception of the G20 Summit held in Osaka in July, 2019.
This was a great honour, and unforgettable experience.
Tetsuko's Room (徹子の部屋）
Sunshine was honoured last summer to be a guest on the legendary program Tetsuko's Room.
Tetsuko Yanagiya has been interviewing the stars in Japan for over 50 years.
Previous guests from outside Japan include Mikhail Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth, Placido Domingo, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise and Robert DeNiro.
Osaka Expo 2025 - Campaign Leader
Sunshine was a main member of the successful campaign to bring the Expo World Fair to Osaka in 2025.
His short film about Osaka was shown to judges at the final round of judging in Paris, alongside a video message from the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Sunshine was later personally congratulated on the film and the successful bid by Prime Minister Abe himself.
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