[Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Almanac] Interview with Takarai Kotetsuru! Storytelling and the charm of Kanagawa and Yokohama

On February 18, 2024, the "Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Almanac 2023" was held, where children could experience the performing arts and games that are passed down throughout Japan, including Kanagawa Prefecture. We spoke with Takarai Kinkaku V, a storyteller from Yokohama City who served as the instructor for the children's workshop.
Top image provided by: Takara Kototsuru V

A shy girl becomes a storyteller

This year, the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center was used as the venue, and the charms of traditional performing arts and traditional games were introduced from six different angles in five areas of the building. Kotozuru was in charge of the storytelling workshop "Discover and Experience! Traditional Japanese Performing Arts."

"2023 Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Almanac" Storytelling Workshop_Lessons (Provided by Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center)

-This was your second storytelling workshop since last year.

This year, five boys and girls from 4th to 6th grade participated. All of them were new to storytelling, but they all read a story and completed it together. After three lessons, they presented their results.

--The theme last time was "The Soga Brothers," in reference to the venue, Odawara. What about this time?

I wrote the script based on "The Origin of the Dance Hall" by my master, Takarai Kinsei. A vaudeville show usually lasts 30 minutes, but this one is shorter at 10 minutes. The story is called " Yokohama Legend: The Origin of the Dance Hall" and is about a cat memorial tower near Odoriba Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line.

-The participants are elementary school students in Yokohama, just like Kotozuru when she was a child.

Kotozuru : Yes, but I was probably quieter and more withdrawn than you guys (laughs). However, I liked reading and was praised for my reading aloud in Japanese classes, so I was confident in my reading.

-I'm also curious about how you first encountered storytelling.

Kotozuru 's parents loved storytelling and were close to his teacher, Kotosei. When he became a junior high school student, he wanted to learn how to read aloud, so he looked for a class, but couldn't find one. He was then encouraged to try storytelling, and enrolled in the "Takai Kodan Shuraba Juku." He was by far the youngest student at the school, but he studied alongside adults, wanting to hone his reading aloud skills and express himself in some way.

-After that, did you smoothly move into storytelling?

Kotozuru : No, I went to university and got a job in an agricultural editorial department. I liked reading and writing, so I thought I could become an editor/writer. However, I actually ended up working in sales, visiting farmers all over the country to introduce and sell agricultural books. During that time, I noticed the appeal of storytelling, which I continued as a hobby, and thought, "With storytelling, I can create and recite my own stories." Once again, I applied to become a student of my master, Kotosei.

On April 1, 2006, he became a disciple of Takarai Kinsei and took the name Takarai Kinkan (Courtesy of Takarai Kintetsu V)

Two conversation skills you can learn through storytelling

After joining the dojo and training, Kotozuru was promoted to futatsume on June 1, 2010, and to shin'uchi on October 14, 2019. He has over 150 jokes, ranging from classics to new works.

"Hyakka Ryoran Kodan Festival" August 8, 2023, National Engeijo Theater (Photo: Matsuo Mori / Courtesy: Kototsuru Takarai V)

--It's been four years since you took on the stage name "Takarai Kotozuru V," which was revived for the first time in 32 years. What do you think of the appeal of storytelling?

From my experience of running storytelling workshops for children for about 18 years since I first started studying at Kototsuru Hoi School, I would like to recommend it as a "word play" for children from around the age of 3. It's fun to hit the stage with a folding fan and make a sound to keep the rhythm while singing. Storytellers are also scriptwriters who write their own scripts and news anchors who tell stories. It will hone your "ability to communicate" and "ability to perform," so I think it will also improve your conversation skills in front of others.

--The more you get to know storytellers, the more profound their field seems to be.

Kotatsuru's roles and themes are wide-ranging. Kodan has a history of 500 years, and the number of plays is said to be about 5,000. Kodanshi are masters who use their skillful storytelling to tell lies as if they were the truth, arranging historical facts from the Heian period, historical figures, foreign history, the latest news, novels, and more in an interesting way.

Making use of tradition to convey the charm of Kanagawa

Kotozuru often tells stories about Kanagawa Prefecture, such as Enoshima, Kamakura, and the Miura Peninsula. He has a special attachment to Yokohama, where he was born and raised, and says he finds it to be a multifaceted attraction.

"Kodan Botanical" July 1, 2022, Takeyoshitei (photographed by Matsuo Mori / provided by Kototsuru Takarai V)

-What does your hometown, Yokohama, mean to you, Kotozuru?

Kotozuru Port Town is not only a fashionable place for different cultures, but also has a deep impression as a place with a downtown feel and where workers gather. I think it is a city that should be noted historically as well. Yokohama and Kanagawa Prefecture have many old customs and legends. I would like to unearth these traditions in the long term.

-- "Takarai Kotozuru Reading Kanagawa (the 9th installment of the series)" is scheduled to be released on June 23rd.

Kotozuru : This time's performance is "Urashima Taro." I was inspired by the fact that one of the Urashima Taro legends found all over the country also exists in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City. Please look forward to seeing what kind of script it will be.

After the storytelling workshop

"2023 Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Almanac" Storytelling Workshop - Results Presentation (Provided by Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center)

--This year's Children's Saijiki has ended with great success. Please say a few words to the children who participated in the storytelling workshop.

Kotozuru: First of all, thank you for participating. It was great to be able to share ideas and work hard towards the presentation. Please treasure this encounter with storytelling! Please come and listen to a live storytelling session at least once.

"2023 Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Almanac" Storytelling Workshop - Teacher's Model Storytelling (Provided by Kanagawa Youth Center)

Kotozuru says that in 2024, he will work hard to solidify his foundation and look for new themes. In addition to next year's "Children's Seasonal Almanac," he is also looking forward to a new story related to Kanagawa Prefecture.

Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)

《The 5th generation Takai Kotatsuru》

A storyteller. A member of the Kodan Association. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
He was exposed to storytelling from a young age, and began attending the Takai Kodan Shuraba Juku when he was in junior high school. On April 1, 2006, he became a disciple of Takai Kotosei and took the name Takai Kotokan. On June 1, 2010, he was promoted to futatsume, and on October 14, 2019, he was promoted to shin'uchi and took the stage name Takai Kototsuru V.