Katsura Utamaru

In this Japanese name, the surname is  Katsura.

Utamaru in 1966.

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Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸, 14 August 1936 – 2 July 2018) was a Japanese rakugo comedian best known for hosting the Shōten comedy show on Nippon TV. He is known as a master of the Japanese comic art of rakugo, in which a single performer or storyteller appears on stage and tells comedic stories to the audience.

## Career[edit]

Born in Yokohama, Utamaru's real name was Iwao Shiina. He became an apprentice of the rakugoka Kokontei Imasuke V in 1951 at the age of 15, assuming the name Kokontei Imaji.[1] He left rakugo for a while, then became the apprentice of Katsura Yonemaru, assuming the new name Katsura Yonebo.[1] He changed his name to Katsura Utamaru in 1964 and rose to the shin'uchi rank in 1968.[1]

He was one of the first members of Shōten when it started in 1966.[1] He became its host in 2006, but retired in 2016 for health reasons.[2] He became the head of the Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai in 2004, and received many honors, including the Order of the Rising Sun in 2007.[1] He died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on 2 July 2018 at a hospital in Yokohama.[2]

## Kōzamei[edit]

* Kokontei Imaji (古今亭 今児, 1951-1961)
* Katsura Yonebo (桂 米坊, 1961-1964)
* Katsura Utamaru (桂 歌丸, 1964-2018)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Rakugo storyteller, TV personality Katsura Utamaru dies at 81". Mainichi Daily News. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
2. ^ a b "Renowned rakugo storyteller Katsura Utamaru dies at 81". The Japan Times Online. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.

## External links[edit]

* Official profile, Rakugo Geijutsu Kyōkai

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