I have just learned about the passing of another great rakugo master, Katsura Zakoba II.
According to JiJi Press, he passed away due to his asthma yesterday (Wednesday 12 June 2024).
He was one of my favourite performers of all time, and I loved his warm-hearted AND hilarious rakugo so much.
As some of you may know, he has his relatives in New Zealand, and his entire rakugo family once visited here to entertain the Japanese community in Auckland. It seems like the Japanese Kiwi singer, JAY’ED, is his nephew, so perhaps through this connection he decided to produce the show.
This performance was broadcast in Japan. I was laughing so uncontrollably that the TV cameraman caught me, and some of my relatives saw me on TV and contacted me, saying, “I saw you laughing hard out!”.
It was how good he was and how happy he could make people around him.
I was your huge fan, Shisho!
Hope you are having fun catching up with other masters who have already passed on!
English Rakugo NZ 