Japanese Literary Awards

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Yanagiya Kyôtarô

やなぎや きょうたろう

Yanagiya Kyotaro

Aliases: キョンキョン
Pen Names: Yanagiya Kyotaro（Stage name used as rakugo performer）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-11-30 （Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Setagaya, Tokyo (birth/early childhood) → Yokohama (moved in childhood) → Tokyo (base of activities)

Career

Occupations
Rakugoka (comic storyteller), Actor, Voice actor, Radio personality
Active Years
1989-
Affiliations
Rakugo Kyokai (Rakugo Association)
Memberships
Rakugo Kyokai (Rakugo Association)
Influenced By
Yanagiya Sankyō, Sanyūtei Enjō
Influenced
Younger rakugo performers (various)

Education

Nihon University, College of Commerce
College of Commerce / Department of Business Administration
Period: 1983-1987
Year of Graduation: 1987
Country: Japan
Member of the university rakugo club (performed as 'Kinutaya Daraku')

Awards

Takada Fumio Cup Owarai Gold Rush II — Winner
1995
Organization: Organizing body (as recorded)
Result: 優勝
NHK Newcomer Entertainment Award (Rakugo category)
1998
Work: Gogo no Hokenshitsu (Afternoon Health Room)
Category: 落語部門大賞
Organization: NHK
Result: 受賞
Sainokuni Rakugo Award
2001
Organization: Saitama Arts Theater (Sainokuni)
Result: 受賞
National Engei Hall Hanagata Engeikai Award
2005
Organization: National Engei Hall
Result: 大賞（花形演芸会）
Art Encouragement Prize by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology — Newcomer Award (Popular Performing Arts)
2006
Category: 大衆芸能部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (selection)
Result: 受賞（新人賞）
National Engei Hall Hanagata Engeikai Award
2007
Organization: National Engei Hall
Result: 大賞（花形演芸会）
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (Popular Performing Arts)
2024
Work: Special program at Suzumoto Engeijo (Kyotaro企画)
Category: 大衆芸能部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Afternoon Health Room

1998 Contemporary rakugo (new piece)

A contemporary rakugo piece; performed for the NHK Newcomer Entertainment Award and became one of his representative works.

modern lifehuman sentiment

Pure-Heart Diary: Yokohama

2009 Contemporary rakugo (new piece)

Part of the 'Pure-Heart Diary' series; a contemporary piece set in Yokohama with literary, sensitive depiction.

nostalgiarelationships

Ultraman Rakugo (representative pieces)

2016 Adaptation / Contemporary rakugo

A set of rakugo pieces inspired by Ultraman and tokusatsu; reflects his well-known enthusiasm for the franchise.

tokusatsupop culturenonsense comedy

Bibliography

  • Rakugo Koten Pan (Poplar Publishing, 2009)
  • Yanagiya Kyotaro: Edo Cuisine — Eat and Tell a Story (Shogakukan, 2010)
  • Yanagiya Kyotaro's European Rakugo Travelogue (Film Art, 2019)
  • Yanagiya Kyotaro Variety Book (Tokyo Kawaraban, 2019)

Adaptations

  • Rakugo Musume (film, 2008) - Rakugo supervision and cameo appearance
  • Spring, Has, Come (film/stage, 2017) - Lead role
  • Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (TV drama 2018; musical 2025) - Rakugo supervision, appearance, and coaching

Style & Themes

Literary Style
A dual style that masterfully performs both classical and contemporary rakugoTalk-oriented delivery that gives prominence to the makura (opening talk)
Recurring Motifs
human sentimentghost stories / dark themesUltraman / tokusatsu referencesurban settings (Yokohama, Ikebukuro, etc.)

Health

  • Leg pain (from prolonged seiza posture)
    around 2022 - present
    Performs with a lectern/stand in front to avoid prolonged seiza; has sought treatment but busy schedule has limited hospital visits.
  • Brief emergency hospitalization due to sudden illness in Oct 2024
    2024-10（短期）
    Discharged safely and returned to performing shortly afterward.

Legacy

A highly regarded rakugo performer adept at both classical and contemporary pieces. Known for masterful opening talks and for expanding rakugo into film, stage and other media.

Academic Societies

  • Kanto Gakuin University (part-time lecturer)

In Popular Culture

  • Frequently featured in media as an Ultraman enthusiast
  • Broadened public recognition through supervision and acting in rakugo-themed films and dramas

Quotes

  • You don't need prior knowledge about rakugo. If you cannot enjoy it without such knowledge, then the rakugo probably isn't inherently entertaining.
    Source: Interview summaries / public statements (2013)

Trivia

  • Nickname 'KyonKyon'—the nickname is said to derive from pop idol Kyoko Koizumi's nickname.
  • Known as an enthusiastic Ultraman (tokusatsu) fan.
  • Worked at a large bookstore (Fuke Shoten) after university before leaving to become a rakugo performer.
  • Has written and released songs (e.g., 'Tokyo Hotetor Ondo')