Yose is a Japanese-style vaudeville theater. Rakugo (comic storytelling) and Manzai (comic dialogue) are commonly performed in yose theaters. You can watch Rakugo and Manzai on TV in Japan, but it's more fun to see them live. While you are in Japan, stop by a Yose theater and start the New Year with lots of laughs. Manzai is the Japanese stand up comedy in which two or three performers carry on funny dialogues. Performers are called Manzaishi, and they try to make the audience laugh by their speech and gestures. During New Year's Days, there are lots of Manzai comedies performed in Japan. Each performer has different parts in the dialogue. Boke is the part that says foolish things. Tukkkomi is the part that responds to the Boke.
The Kansai (which means western Japan) Manzai is famous, especially in Osaka, where Manzai is very popular. The Yoshimoto Kogyo, which is the most famous manzai production company, is based in Osaka. If you'd like to see manzai performances in Osaka, go to the Namba Grand Kagetsu theater, Shinsaibashi Ni-chome Theater, or the Naniwa-za theater.
Rakugo is a traditional Japanese sit down comedy, where a single performer tells a comic story. Rakugo originated in the end of the 17th century, and there are nearly 300 classic Rakugo stories. The performers are called Rakugo-ka, and they wear kimonos and sit on Zabuton (small cushions) on tatami or floor. Rakugo: universal laughter shows a picture of a Rakugoka, Shijaku Katsura.
To become a Rakugoka requires many long years of training. If a person wants to become a Rakugoka, the person needs to ask a professional Rakugoka to accept him/her as his/her student. If the Rakugoka thinks the person is talented, he/she will begin trainning. Japanese Sit-Down Comedy describes more about Rakugo. Rakugoka changes voices for various characters and uses props such as a fan and a hand towel to gesture throughout the stories. So, it should be fun to watch them even though you don't understand the much of the language.
The following is a list of Yose theaters in Tokyo. Have Fun!
Suehiro-tei (03-3351-2974)
JR Shinjuku Station
12:00-16:30, 17:00-21:30
Kokuritsu Engei-jyou (03-3265-7411)
Tokyo subway Hanzoumon line Hanzoumon station
13:00-16:10
Ikebukuro Engei-jyou (03-3971-4545)
JR Ikebukuro Station
13:00-16:30, 17:00-21:00
Asakusa Engei Hall (03-3841-6545)
Tokyo Subway Ginza line Asakusa station
11:45-16:30, 16:40-21:00
Suzumoto Engei-jyou (03-3834-5906)
JR Ueno or Okachimachi Station
12:30-16:30, 17:20-20:50
