[Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Calendar] An Interview with Kototsuru Takarai! The Charms of Kodan Storytelling and Kanagawa/Yokohama

On February 18, 2024, the "Reiwa 5th Year Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Event," which allows children to experience traditional performing arts and games from Kanagawa Prefecture and throughout Japan, was held. This time, we interviewed Kinkaku Takarai V, a storyteller from Yokohama City who served as an instructor for the children's workshop.
Top image provided by: Kototsuru Takarai V

A shy girl becomes a storyteller

This year, the event will be held at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center, showcasing the charm of traditional performing arts and folk games from six different perspectives across five areas within the center. Ms. Kototsuru was in charge of the storytelling workshop titled "Discover and Experience! Japan's Traditional Performing Arts."

"Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Events, 2023" Storytelling Workshop - Practice Session (Provided by Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center)

—This was the second consecutive kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling) workshop, wasn't it?

This year, five boys and girls from the 4th to 6th grades of elementary school participated in Kototsuru . Although it was the first time for all of them to perform kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling), they all worked together to complete a single story by reading it in their own way. After three practice sessions, they took on the challenge of presenting their results.

—The theme last time was "The Soga Brothers," in honor of the venue, Odawara. What about this time?

I've written a script based on "Odoriba no Yurai" (The Origin of Odoriba), originally written by my teacher, Kinsei Takarai. A typical rakugo performance is 30 minutes long, but this one is shorter at 10 minutes. It's titled "Yokohama Legend: The Origin of Odoriba," and it's a story about a cat memorial tower near Odoriba Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.

—The participants are elementary school students from Yokohama City, just like when you were a child.

Kototsuru : Yes, but I might have been quieter and more reserved than everyone else (laughs). However, I loved reading, and I was praised for reading aloud in Japanese class, so I approached it with confidence.

—I'm also curious about your encounter with kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling).

Kototsuru 's parents were fans of kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling) and were close to his master, Kotosei. When he was in junior high school, he wanted to learn "recitation" and looked for a class, but couldn't find one. So he was recommended to try kōdan, and he joined the "Takarai Kōdan Shuraba Juku" (Takarai Storytelling Shuraba School). He was by far the youngest student at the school, but he studied alongside adults with the desire to hone his reading skills and express himself in some way.

—So, after that, you smoothly transitioned into the world of storytelling?

Kototsuru: No, I went to university and got a job in the agricultural editorial department. I liked reading and writing, so I thought I could become an editor/writer. But in reality, I was in sales, traveling around the country visiting farmers to introduce and sell agricultural books. In the midst of that daily routine, I discovered the charm of kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling), which I had been doing as a hobby, and thought, "With kōdan, I can create my own stories and recite them." So I decided to take up my apprenticeship under my master, Kotosei.

On April 1, 2006, she became a disciple of Takarai Kotosei and took the name Takarai Kotokan (Photo courtesy of the fifth generation Takarai Kototsuru)

Two conversational skills you can learn from storytelling.

Kototsuru-san became an apprentice and completed her apprenticeship as a junior rakugo performer. She was promoted to the second rank on June 1, 2010, and to the highest rank of rakugo performer (shinuchi) on October 14, 2019. She has a wide repertoire of over 150 stories, ranging from classical to new works.

"Hyakka Ryōran Kōdan Matsuri" (A Hundred Flowers Blooming Storytelling Festival), August 8, 2023, National Engeijo (Photo: Matsuo Mori / Provided by: Kototsuru Takarai V)

—Four years have passed since you inherited the prestigious name "Fifth Generation Takarai Kototsuru," which was revived after 32 years. How do you feel about the appeal of kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling)?

Based on my experience running children's storytelling workshops for about 18 years since joining the Kototsuru Takarai school, I would recommend this as a "wordplay" activity for children from around the age of three. It's fun to tap the lectern with a fan and make a "papan" sound while making sounds. Also, storytellers are scriptwriters who write their own scripts and news anchors who tell stories to people. I think that their "communication skills" and "performance skills" will be honed, and their ability to communicate in front of others will also improve.

—The more you learn about storytellers, the more profound they seem.

Kototsuru's roles and themes are incredibly diverse. Kodan storytelling has a 500-year history, and there are said to be around 5,000 different stories. Kodan storytellers are masters at skillfully adapting historical events from the Heian period, historical figures, foreign history, current news, and novels into entertaining stories, making lies sound like the truth.

Using tradition to convey the charm of Kanagawa

Kototsuru-san often performs storytelling stories themed around Kanagawa Prefecture, including Enoshima, Kamakura, and the Miura Peninsula. She has a particular fondness for Yokohama City, where she was born and raised, and says she finds it to have many different facets to its charm.

"Kodan Botanical" July 1, 2022, Takeyoshitei (Photography: Matsuo Mori / Provided by: Kototsuru Takarai V)

―What does your hometown of Yokohama mean to you, Ms. Kototsuru?

Kototsuru Port Town has a stylish, multicultural feel, but also a deep, down-to-earth atmosphere, like a working-class neighborhood where people gather. I think it's a town that deserves historical attention. Yokohama, and Kanagawa Prefecture in general, are full of old customs and legends. I'd like to unearth these traditions over the long term.

—On June 23rd, "Kotsuru Takarai Reads Kanagawa (Series 9)" will be released.

Kototsuru 's performance this time will be "Urashima Taro." The inspiration came from the fact that one of the Urashima Taro legends found throughout Japan also exists in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City. Please look forward to seeing what kind of script it will be.

After the storytelling workshop

"Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Events, Fiscal Year 2023" Storytelling Workshop - Presentation of Results (Provided by Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center)

—This year's Children's Seasonal Calendar event has come to a successful close. Finally, do you have a message for the children who participated in the storytelling workshop?

Kototsuru, first of all, thank you for participating. It was great to be able to work together and exchange ideas in preparation for the results presentation. Cherish this encounter with kōdan! Please come and listen to a live kōdan performance sometime.

"Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Calendar for Fiscal Year 2023" Storytelling Workshop - Model Storytelling by the Instructor (Provided by Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center)

Kototsuru says that in 2024 she will focus on solidifying her foundation and also explore new themes. We look forward to her new storytelling piece related to Kanagawa Prefecture, along with her "Children's Seasonal Calendar" for next year.

Text by Mai Shimura (Editor/Writer)

《Fifth Takarai Kotsuru》

A storyteller specializing in kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling). He is a member of the Kōdan Association and holds the rank of shinuchi (master storyteller). Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Having been exposed to kōdan (traditional Japanese storytelling) since childhood, he began attending the Takarai Kōdan Shuraba Juku (Takarai Kōdan Shuraba School) in junior high school. On April 1, 2006, he became an apprentice to Takarai Kotoboshi and took the name Takarai Kotokan. On June 1, 2010, he was promoted to futatsume (second rank), and on October 14, 2019, he was promoted to shinuchi (master storyteller) and assumed the name of the fifth generation Takarai Kototsuru.