Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 39 (1989) award
Katsura Konan (2nd)
かつら こなん
Katsura Konan II
Aliases:
谷田金次郎 / 山遊亭金太郎 / 金太郎
Pen Names:
Yamayutei Kintaro（Stage name used during apprenticeship and early career (1939–1958)）,
Katsura Konan (2nd)（Name assumed upon promotion to shin'uchi (1958–1996)）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1920-01-02 （Ido, Yamaguni Village, Kitakuwada District, Kyoto Prefecture (now Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City), Japan）
- Died
- 1996-05-04 age 76
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Religion
- Rinzai Zen (Tenryu-ji school)
- Residence History
- Ido, Yamaguni Village, Kitakuwada District, Kyoto Prefecture (birthplace) → Tokyo, Japan (main base of activities) → Osaka, Japan (performed frequently as Kamigata rakugo)
Career
- Occupations
- Rakugo storyteller, Author
- Active Years
- 1939-1996
- Affiliations
- Toho Meijinkai (1939–1951), Japan Art Association → Rakugo Geijutsu-kai (Rakugo Art Association) (1951–1996)
- Memberships
- Toho Meijinkai, Rakugo Geijutsu-kai (Rakugo Art Association)
- Influenced By
- Sanyutei Kinba (3rd), Katsura Kobunji (2nd), Katsura Bunraku (8th), Tachibana no Ento (senior Kamigata rakugo master)
- Influenced
- Katsura Nanpachi, Katsura Nanjī, Katsura Nannan, Yamayutei Kintaro (3rd), Katsura Konan (3rd)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary school (completed) | — | — | — | 〜1933 / until 1933 | Japan |
Primary school (completed)
Period:
〜1933 / until 1933
Year of Graduation:
1933
Country:
Japan
After completing primary school, he entered service (apprenticeship) at a printing shop and later a kimono wholesaler before moving to Tokyo.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Encouragement Award | — | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs | 受賞 |
| 1969 | Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Grand Prize | — | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs | 受賞 |
| 1981 | Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Encouragement Award | — | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs | 受賞 |
| 1989 | Arts Selection — Minister of Education Award | — | — | Arts Selection (Agency for Cultural Affairs related) | 受賞 |
| 1990 | Medal with Purple Ribbon | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Encouragement Award
1968
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result:
受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Grand Prize
1969
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result:
受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Encouragement Award
1981
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result:
受賞
Arts Selection — Minister of Education Award
1989
Organization:
Arts Selection (Agency for Cultural Affairs related)
Result:
受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1990
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Katsura Konan Collection
1972 Rakugo collectionA rakugo collection edited by the University of Tokyo Rakugo Society, compiling performances and pieces associated with Katsura Konan.
Classical rakugoKamigata (Kansai) tales
Rakugo Guide: Invitation to the Dressing Room
1982 Essays / Performing arts guideAn essayistic guide introducing the world of rakugo and backstage anecdotes; includes notes on school performances and efforts to popularize classical rakugo.
Rakugo popularizationEducationBackstage insights
Bibliography
- Katsura Konan Collection (ed. University of Tokyo Rakugo Society, Seiao-bo, 1972)
- Rakugo Guide (Rippu Shobo, 1982)
- Omoshiro Rakugo Land Vol.1-3 (co-authored, Kin no Hoshi-sha, 1987)
Adaptations
- LP record recordings released by CBS/Sony
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Performance style based on Kamigata (Osaka/Kansai) rakugo traditionTechnique-focused style grounded in rigorous practice
- Recurring Motifs
- Human-emotion (ninjō) storiesFood and culinary cultureSubtleties of everyday lifeFamily relationships
Health
-
Typhoid fever太平洋戦争中（1940年代）He nearly died from typhoid fever during the Pacific War but recovered and resumed his performing career after repatriation.
-
Cerebral infarction (stroke)1996年Died of a cerebral infarction in 1996 at the age of 76.
Legacy
A rakugo performer who contributed to the revival and popularization of Kamigata rakugo and trained many successors. Known for a distinctive delivery and strict emphasis on practice, he had over 200 signature pieces and left publications and recordings aimed at broader and younger audiences.
Archives
- CBS/Sony LP recordings archive (holding)
In Popular Culture
- Promotion of classical rakugo to children through school performances
- Dissemination of recordings via LP records
Quotes
-
He said his rakugo was between Tokyo and Osaka, calling it 'Shizuoka rakugo'.
Source: Interview / accounts (source: Wikipedia article) -
He was called a 'demon of practice' in recognition of his lifelong emphasis on rehearsal.
Source: Biographical commentary (source: Wikipedia article)
Trivia
- Reportedly had over 200 signature pieces.
- Hobby: watercolor painting; frequently visited galleries and antique shops.
- Born in a settlement with the Joushou-ji temple of the Rinzai (Tenryu-ji) school.
- Suffered severe typhoid fever during wartime and narrowly survived.
- Has rakugo recordings released on LP by CBS/Sony.