Shibuya culture PROJECT

Year-end this time of the featured theme Oshisema' also is "laugh". Laughter paid, and the first laugh this time of, originating from the Shibuya against the background of the unprecedented comedy boom, culture of this city unique is really diverse. That seem to hear is laughter of people from here and there in the city, but the state of the number of powerful. So, once from the stage play of legendary fame, to street-based comedy, I tried to solve or non-current from the history of the "laugh" to walk with Shibuya.

1. form of laughter in Shibuya

2. "Yoshimoto ∞ hall" is change the gait of the city center

 

『エンタの神様』『爆笑オンエアバトル』といったTVのバラエティ番組から若手お笑いタレントが多数輩出され、同じくTVドラマ『タイガー&ドラゴン』の影響から落語人気が高まるなど、世は相変わらず、空前のお笑いブームの最中にある。当然渋谷も、そのトレンドに敏感に反応している。1996年に誕生以来、若手お笑いタレントの育成・登竜門と位置づけられる劇場「シアターD」や、2007年センター街にオープンした無料のライブホール「ヨシモト∞（無限大）ホール」をはじめ、アップリンク・ファクトリーやLa. mamaといったライブハウス、さらにはセルリアンタワー能楽堂で行われる「落語」と、渋谷はバラエティに富んだ笑いの発信地として注目されている。

Even so, the eye-catching or would not be a "rakugo in Noh theater"? Leave the familiar place for comic storytelling, such as vaudeville and Hall, it was established in the basement of sophisticated high-rise building at the forefront of the times, to the stage of traditional Japanese performing arts. Keeping an eye on such Shibuya seems innovative collaboration, I asked to talk to Takako Kato Corporation lot that held the "Toyoko storyteller Association Shibuya". "Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Asakusa ..., even if looked Tokyo suburbs, but the storyteller Association is a lot, did not have to Shibuya. Nevertheless, such as Kabuki and Koki Mitani's theater of Kanzaburo Nakamura It was doing , "because I'm a city of culture I Shibuya, storyteller do not you say, even if there?" that, I really simple idea. "

Then despite looking for a hole, to find a suitable location for the storyteller in Shibuya, that was difficult. Then it came up is, was Noh Theater in the basement of the Cerulean Tower. "Rakugo, Nante I improbable if ordinary It is" the same classical performing arts in the Noh theater, we received special permission that the "from wearing the socks. From the audience, is this two collaboration it is many people that you say with fresh, performers from the "tension of the Noh theater unique is interesting". well, but there is also the opinion that "difficult". is a special Noh stage arrangement of the stage and the audience, to the audience When evenly trying to get a look at the storyteller, pillars and may become a failure, it is the stage of still a variety of trial and error. "

In the Cerulean Tower underground second floor "Cerulean Tower Noh Theatre"
Photo by toshiya suzuki

Once referred to as "Toyoko rakugo meeting" in Shibuya, was loved by a lot of lovers, the legendary storyteller meeting to be representative of the Tokyo there were from 1956 to 1985. It was in the current of Tokyu Department Store Toyoko shops the ninth floor in the "Toyoko hole", eight-generation Katsura Bunraku, which was driven by post-war rakugo world, fifth generation Kokontei Shinsei, six generation San'yutei Madoka students, master us, such as fifth generation Shosan Yanagiya one after another appeared and, ticket seems to have had success the first time that at the same time sold out, with the sale. Of seeing virtuosity while listening to the underground of sound, Showa specific tasteful, a great situation. "Anyway performer was amazing. Usually out of the young, to the end to the birds come, Bunraku, Maruyama students, because you something Shin students come out Gosotto, another is goose bumps things. Current" Shibuya Toyoko storyteller Association "is totally not aware of that, Nante taken over it. Osoreoku by,'m rude'm the same name as the old days. when you open a storyteller meeting just in the new Shibuya, want to aim once of the" Toyoko storyteller meeting "in all aspects . you doing at such a thought. But, we do not keep up with still more. "

Then Shibuya Toyoko storyteller meeting that began in August 2006 has been held once in each season while irregular. Personnel selection of performers to storyteller house that consists of three pillars. First of all you want to hear comic chat artist, comic chat artist has been attracting attention from the world, and lead the next generation, the young, which can become a virtuoso. Customers who gather in the venue, but the storyteller has many fans coming from the Tokyo suburbs, compared with the old days, it is so young people are very increasing. In recent years, such as the TV drama "Tiger & Dragon" and the NHK drama series "Chiritotechin", a story that was a storyteller and subject to record a hit, higher degree of attention from the world, about 20 years of the time the end of the Toyoko storyteller Association before and the environment surrounding the storyteller world was much changed dramatically. Or promising young is featured in color gravure of the weekly magazine, that the female fans to the chasing have emerged is, Mr. Kato also seem not hide his surprise.

"Without stance", story I think of that please laugh listening to (talk), "is that it is the storyteller. If you listen carefully the classical performing arts just because There 's no need to try to look big. Story, since the later is up to your imagination . rooted in life I storyteller, I mean, I'm events themselves. the title is said to be approximately 500, for example, food expiration date Toka Freeter of, neat Toka, as there is a world problem now such also I have a thing. what was transmitted from the late Edo is, because it is still the same thing is happening. the same Japanese, also a long time ago even now I can do a person, I do not change much. "

The ages carried the happiness and energy to people in the masses specific eyes, classical performing arts of the storyteller. Or locality of Shibuya, probably because of the space that was settled that the Cerulean Tower, storyteller fans gather in Shibuya, also because elegant and quiet there are many people, but interesting point. For the younger generation and beginners, it might be said to go easy environment to the storyteller. And Ayaka' to glamorous atmosphere of Shibuya, because rakugo meeting is always carried out on Friday, "It's Friday night, a little in rakugo?" Invitation complaint plucked out the day we, very fresh, and stylish of the one would not. In addition to these storyteller also, Shibuya, originally small-scale live entertainment space from the background that are scattered a large number, various comedy movement are mixed, are substantial surprisingly also its contents. Live by the entertainer beyond the framework of the agency in the "theater D", free live in "Yoshimoto ∞ hall", comic chat in the "Uplink Factory", "La. Mama" in the rookie Comte tournament etc. etc. . Others, such as music-based live house and one after another comedy live in space, such as cafe is planning, from the innovative attempt of Shibuya unique, for a while keep an eye.

1. form of laughter in Shibuya

2. "Yoshimoto ∞ hall" is change the gait of the city center

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