Author: Kanariya Eishi

English Rakugo performer and actor based in NZ. A full-time rebel with common sense. A lover of art, books, comedy, Japanese culture/ language, music, peace, positivity, theatre, and trivia. Idealistic, but ain't no saint. 鹿鳴家英志（本名：中辻拓志）。ニュージーランドを拠点とする役者・英語落語パフォーマー。アメリカへの演劇留学をきっかけに、気付くと海外滞在20年。現在ニュージーランドに永住中。アメリカの4大卒業後は日本で英会話講師を経験、その後ニュージーランドの高校教師資格を取得する。ニュージーランドでは英語にてスタンダップコメディーを行い、2005年ニュージーランド国際コメディーフェスティバルの新人大会にて全国優勝を果たす。その後、テレビドラマ、CM等に出演、テレビのレポーターも勤める。

A Rap About My Life! (With English Translation)

On By Kanariya EishiIn Random, UpdatesLeave a comment

Hi all, long time no see! Hope everything is well with you!

I am sorry about my long absence… a lot have been happening in my rakugo journey… I will have to catch up in another article about my latest projects soon!

I have just realised that I have not introduced the rap song that my Japanese rapper friend, Kotaro Akiyama, kindly composed for me a while ago.

It’s really catchy, and a lot of thoughts must’ve gone into this project. I am very moved that he gave me this one of the most thoughtful gifts ever in my life! Thank you so very much Akiyama-san!!!

Some of my English-speaking friends have asked me for the English translation of the lyrics, so I will give you rough translation below next to the Japanese lyrics.

Sorry it will be a bit of a Japanglish!

Rakugo Life

Access to the audience’s imagination
This process is not always a success story
English Rakugo born in NZ, check out Kanariya Eishi
Fell in love with rakugo at the age of 10
The ordinary and the poor are on the centre stage
Silly episodes with loose screws
Adorable crazy characters

Crazy and adorable
Because I’m crazy!
S, s, screw, s, s, s, screw
Folks missing a screw or two unfold
Chaotic tales with punchlines

Jugemu jugemu gokouno surikire
Kaijari suigyono suigyoumatsu unraimatsu furaimatsu
Journey to the world of rakugo through shelves-full of
Cassette tapes from Oiso Library

Devoured hundreds of tales
The boy who dreamed of becoming a storyteller
Found himself being a stand-up comedian in America
Fell in love with his partner, a major turn
Tied the knot, to the southern hemisphere, New Zealand
Life is unpredictable, unforeseen plot
How you end your story is up to you
Time goes, scenery changes
Ain’t let go of the torch of passion
Ignite the fuse with sparks
Back to the world of rakugo again

Ecstasy in the rakugo universe　
Now share rakugo with pupils
Stage name gifted by Master Eiraku
Kanariya, yeah, extremely dangerous!
Check it out! Kanariya Eishi

落語人生ラップ

聞き手の想像力にアクセス
サクセスストーリーとは限らんぜこのプロセス
英語落語NZ産　鹿鳴家英志チェックしときな
落語に魅せられ10歳で虜
大衆貧困層が主に主人公
ねじ外れ滑稽なエピソード
クレイジーな様が愛らしいんだな

クレイジー愛らしい
Because I’m crazy!
ネッネジが　ネッネッネネネネジが
１本や２本抜け落ちた市民が
やたら賑わす巻き起こす落としばなし

寿限無　寿限無　五劫のすりきれ　
海砂利水魚の水行末　雲来末
カセットテープで落語を楽しんだ
大磯町立図書館　行けば豊富にあった　
数百の噺貪りほうばった
噺家目指した少年は
いつしかアメリカに渡りStand-up comedian
ここでパートナーと出会って大転換　
結婚後移住　南半球 NewZealand
人生は意外　想定外な展開　
どこではなし落とすかはてめぇ次第
されば時が経てど場所変われど　
決して消さねぇぞ情熱灯を　
着火源　落語への導火線　
火花散らし舞い戻れ Back again

無我夢中　落語の宇宙　
今じゃ生徒に落語を伝授
師匠英楽から授かる屋号
鹿鳴家　yeah 　かなりヤベー！
Check it out !　 鹿鳴家英志

Introducing THE English Rakugo Association!!!

On By Kanariya EishiIn Notice, Updates3 Comments

I can’t believe that I haven’t written an article about this HUGE news until now, but…

THE English Rakugo Association is born!!!

It was officially registered with the Japanese government at the end of last year, but it kicked off its activities last month in March 2021.

The first event that they organised was a duo performance by Sanyutei Koseinen (三遊亭好青年), the one and only Swedish rakugo performer on earth, and Kanariya Eiraku (鹿鳴家英楽), my dear master and the founder of the association.

They run many performances, but their next big gig will be held at Edo-Tokyo Museum on 3 May to commemorate the launch of the association. This is a very special event that you don’t want to miss!!!

The tickets can be purchased here.

They usually stream their live performances, but unfortunately this particular one will not be available online i.e. I’m gutted that I will miss out on this special occasion!

I am really excited that my master’s long-term dream has come true, and it is my sincere hope that rakugo will keep spreading outside of Japan.

I will do my small part here in New Zealand 😃

Free Rakugo Workshops! RSVP by Mon 5 April 2021!

On By Kanariya EishiIn Notice, UpdatesLeave a comment

Hi all,

Hope everything is well with you and your loved ones!

Our Aoteya Rakugo Club is back in full swing 😃

I’m letting you know that I am considering running two free rakugo workshops for those who are thinking of joining the club.

If you have been wondering if rakugo is for you, this is a great opportunity to learn the basic of this Japanese traditional art of comic storytelling.

Having said that, this workshop will only go ahead IF we have at least 5 people interested.

Because I will use our usual rakugo club time and venue, I need to make sure that there is enough interest to justify this event as our regular members will miss out on our usual activities for 2 sessions.

I hope I was clear enough with bold fonts and underlines! 😁

If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP by Mon 5 April 2021, which is next Monday so that I have enough time to prepare for the sessions.

I haven’t run open workshops since 2019 and have no idea when I will run them next, so please take this opportunity if you are interested!

Venue: Onehunga Community Centre

Time: 2:00-4:00PM, 10 April AND 17 April 2021

More details to be provided to people who have RSVP-ed 😃

Rakugo History in the Making

On By Kanariya EishiIn UpdatesLeave a comment

Correct me if I’m wrong, but…

our Aoteya Rakugo Club is probably the oldest English rakugo club outside of Japan.

I am aware that there have been a few groups of self-taught performers overseas, but our club has a strong connection to Japan though me. So it’s perhaps more like the oldest authentic-ish club of its kind (it will never be authentic because I am a bit too unconventional… sorry!).

For your information, the club was established on Sun 6 Oct 2019.

Please do let me know if your club is older than ours as we are really curious!

Last Saturday (20 March 2021), after 1 1/2 years since its conception, we finally had our first performance, which had originally been planned in March 2020.

Again, I, Eishi, claim it to be the first English rakugo performance produced by an overseas-based English rakugo club (until corrected)!

It was a small performance but a meaningful first step for us especially after going through the four strict lockdowns here in Auckland.

I am just so thankful that the members did not abandon rakugo after so many interruptions.

Thank you all those who have helped us reach this milestone!

We are looking forward to having more public performances together!

Four Defenders of Japanese Festivals

On By Kanariya EishiIn Japanese Culture, Japanese History, Japanese Language, TriviaLeave a comment

At Japanese festivals, four banners with the pictures of the four divine beings are sometimes displayed.

You might have also seen them at a ceremony at the imperial palace.

They are the defenders of Shin’iki (神域 しんいき) or the sanctuary of the shrine.

These four defenders are: Blue Dragon (青龍 せいりゅう Seiryu; the defender of the east), White Tiger (白虎 びゃっこ Byakko; the defender of the west), Vermilion Bird (朱雀 すざく Suzaku; the defender of the south), and Black Tortoise (玄武 げんぶ Genbu; the defender of the north; usually entwined together with a snake).

Together these four flags are called “Four Godly Flags/ Banners” (四神旗 しじんき Shijinki).

But in the Edo period (1603-1868), they were also called “Four Godly Swords” (四神剣 しじんけん Shijinken) in the Tokyo area as they put swords at the tips of the flags.

There is a hilarious rakugo story that involves a set of “Four Godly Swords”, which is based on a true story that happened at a restaurant called Momokawa (百川 ももかわ).

Unfortunately, it is one of those stories that would get lost in translation, but I will attempt explaining it another time!

See you next time!

Japanese Street Wisdom Podcast Episode 4 [Un Kon Don 運根鈍]

On By Kanariya EishiIn Podcast1 Comment

Hello everybody! Hope you are safe and well!

Welcome to the 4th episode of the Japanese Street Wisdom Podcast.

In this episode, I will introduce a Japanese saying “Un Kon Don” (運根鈍), the Japanese secret of success!

I had never really thought hard about this saying before, but I found it interesting that it is actually heavily influenced by Japanese fatalism and our effort to defy it!

Please do let me know what you thought about this episode and/ or your suggestions (for improvement, future content, etc.)!

As in the thumbnail above, this podcast is now available both on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!!!

You can also listen to it on my YouTube Channel if you prefer.

Thank you always for your continued support!