What a roller-coaster of a year!

The year 2021 began peacefully, almost too peacefully, here in New Zealand as if we were completely intact from the you-know-what.

Then, we (mainly us Jafa‘s) rejoined the rest of the world .

Sure, it absolutely sucked to home-school my children for 1/3 of the year, but this year also turned out one of the most glorious years in my English Rakugo journey!

Here’s the timeline of the GREAT things that happened this year:

January 2021

I FINALLY completed my Creative NZ-funded project after requesting for an extension

March 2021

English Rakugo Association had its launch at Edo-Tokyo Museum

Fiona Amundsen and I produced an Asia NZ Foundation-funded video project Half-Life, which became the prototype for our later project An Ordinary Life (commissioned by Christchurch Art Gallery)

May 2021

Rakugo Association of America was born

June 2021

Talking About Rakugo : The Japanese Art of Storytelling by Kristine Ohkubo was published

July 2021

I had my first Wellington performance at NZALT conference

An Ordinary Life was exhibited at Christchurch Art Gallery (until November)

August 2021

I was accepted as a Special Member of the English Rakugo Association

December 2021

I completed a full-immersion Māori programme (Te Ataarangi through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi; continuing on to the advanced level, Te Kaupae 5& 6, next year!)

Note: One of my dreams is to perform rakugo in Māori someday so that I can give my taonga to this beautiful Aotearoa!

As you can see, this year indeed was a very crucial year in my rakugo journey regardless of all the lockdowns and my current status as an unemployed performer. All this was possible especially thanks to all the people like you… who are still reading this article all the way down here 😁

We never live alone.

Thank you so very much for being a part of my life!

May 2022 be a year of unity, empathy, and some good stories and uproarious jokes!

Here’s my special thank you to:

Asia New Zealand Foundation, Creative New Zealand, Auckland Council, Christchurch Art Gallery, University of Auckland, Embassy of Japan, Auckland Council Libraries, Onehunga Community Centre, NZ Japan Society, Paul, Echo, & “Kazuma” Janman, Yasheeka Bertram, Kirsty Sharp, Bevan Chuang, Athena Dennis, Kristine Ohkubo, Miki, Alex, Fiona Amundsen, Dr Valance Smith, Kanariya Eiraku Shisho, Kanariya Jincho, Kanariya Aimu, Kumiko Imai, English Rakugo Association, Aoteya Rakugo Club (Pukeko, Raki, Sakura, Ichigo), Fookes Family, Yee Yang ‘Square’ Lee, X, M, & M, and my supportive family members!

* This list is in a random order and not conclusive. I hope I didn’t miss out anyone…