A MASTER STORYTELLER!
~The New York Times
THE KING OF KIMONO COMEDY!
~REUTERS
WHO IS SUNSHINE?
1.
1.
RAKUGO:
~16th apprentice to the famous Rakugo storytelling master, Katsura Bunshi VI
~Currently the only Western-born Rakugo Master
~First in 100 years and only the second in the history of Japan
WHAT IS RAKUGO?
~400-year tradition of Japanese Comic Storytelling
~Currently over 800 professional performers based in Tokyo and Osaka
~Sunshine is a pioneer in bringing Rakugo to the world
Links to more detailed information:
CULTURAL AMBASSADOR
2.
2.
OSAKA G20 SUMMIT, 2019
~Sunshine was MC for the opening reception of the G-20 Summit in Osaka
~Was personally thanked by the Governor Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture
OSAKA WORLD FAIR, 2025
~Sunshine served as spokesman and ambassador for the successful bid to hold the 2025 world fair in Osaka
~Was personally thanked by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
~The video below was played at the final presentation in Paris and was credited by the Japanese media for playing an important role in securing the bid
PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE
~Sunshine is congratulated personally by Prime Minister Abe for his work on the campaign to bring the World Expo to Osaka
BROADWAY AND WEST END
3.
3.
RAKUGO LONG-RUNNING HIT SHOW!
New York - Broadway
~Sunshine opened at the New World Stages theater complex in the heart of Broadway in September 2019 and ran 6 months
~Scheduled to re-open from February 10, 2022 through September 1, 2022
~Rakugo was nominated for Best Unique Theatrical Experience at the 2020 Off-Broadway Alliance Awards
London - West End
~Sunshine will open at the glorious Leicester Square Theatre in London on December 12, 2021 for a monthly show residency of one year through December 11 2022.
~It is almost unprecedented to have one performer playing a long run simultaneously like this in New York and London, and a great moment for the history of Rakugo
NEW YORK PRESS
4.
4.
REVIEWS OF RAKUGO FROM THE NEW YORK PRESS
A MASTER STORYTELLER!
~The New York Times
THE KING OF KIMONO COMEDY!
~Reuters
THERE IS ONLY ONE SUNSHINE!
~The New Yorker
DELIGHTFUL!
~Splash Magazine, New York
BEAUTIFUL AND SIMPLE!
~The Times Square Chronicle
SO MUCH FUN!
~WBAI Radio, New York
HILARIOUS!
~Three Tomatoes, New York
EIGHTY MINUTES OF NON-STOP LAUGHTER!
~Three Tomatoes, New York
SIMPLE AND ELEGANT!
~Theatre is Easy, New York
LOVELY AND BRILLIANTLY PERFORMED!
~TheaterScene, New York
SUNSHINE IS AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMER!
~The Front Row Center, New York
NEW YORK AUDIENCES
HAVE BEEN ENRAPTURED!
~Hollywood Soapbox, New York
RELATABLE AND DELIGHTFUL!
~TDF, New York
CHARMING, THOUGHTFUL,
AND GUARANTEED TO BRING A SPARKLE!
~Broadway World, New York
FUNNIER THAN THE TALES IS SUNSHINE HIMSELF!
~The New Yorker
SUNSHINE HAD ME IN STITCHES!
~Reuters
BUOYANT HUMOR AND PLAYFULNESS!
~The New York Times
New York Times Full Review
The New Yorker Full Review
WORLD AMBASSADOR
FOR JAPAN
5.
5.
For over a decade, Sunshine has had the honour of performing for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, at Japanese Embassies and Consulates around the world.
Embassies of Japan:
Embassy of Japan in Canada
Embassy of Japan in the United States of America
Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom
Embassy of Japan in France
Embassy of Japan in Slovenia
Embassy of Japan in Australia
Embassy of Japan in Ghana
Embassy of Japan in Senegal
Embassy of Japan in South Africa
Embassy of Japan in Gabon
Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka
Embassy of Japan in Nepal
Consulates General of Japan
Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong
Consulate General of Japan in Toronto
Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver
Consulate General of Japan in Montreal
Consulate General of Japan in Chicago
Consulate General of Japan in New York
Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu
Consulate General of Japan in Houston
Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles
Consulate General of Japan in Nashville
Consulate General of Japan in Saipan
Consulate General of Japan in Seattle
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
6.
6.
NETFLIX, RAKUGO WORLD TOUR!
~Plans are underway for a Netflix Comedy Special currently accepting investment
~Rakugo World Tour underway virtually now, will begin in theatres after current pandemic subsides
ORIGINAL DENIM KIMONO FASHION!
~Just this fall, Sunshine launched his original Denim Kimono Fashion Line, in collaboration with the legendary denim makers Japan Blue of Okayama
More about Katsura Sunshine Original Fashion
