Brace yourself to be tickled silly by the comic stylings of renowned Rakugo performer Diane Kichijitsu.
Rakugo is Japan’s 400-year-old answer to stand-up comedy, involving a single storyteller who kneels on a cushion and uses only a folding fan and a hand towel to tell riotous tales of daily life in Edo period Japan or modern times. Born in England, Kichijitsu is frequently invited the world over to deliver her Osaka-accented anecdotes to various audiences, eliciting laughs from children and adults alike.
Having made brief visits to Kuala Lumpur and Johor last year, she is set to add more dates to her tour of several cities in Peninsular Malaysia.
The event is jointly organised by the Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia in celebration of the 60th anniversary since the establishment of Malaysia-Japan diplomatic relations.
EVENT DETAILS
KUALA LUMPUR
- Black Box, ASWARA
Thursday, 19 October, 3.00 p.m. - Black Box, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
Sunday, 22 October, 3.00 p.m. - Sunway Velocity Mall
Saturday, 28 October, 4.30 p.m. - Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences
As part of the 45th Japan Charity Bazaar organised by The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur (JCKL)
Sunday, 29 October, 2.00 p.m.
Entry by ticket purchase only. To purchase, visit the JCKL website.
Experimental Hall, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Monday, 30 October, 8.00 p.m.
PERAK
Recital Hall, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
Monday, 23 October, 2.00 p.m.
PENANG
Panggung Pulinggam Cahaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Tuesday, 24 October, 8.00 p.m.
JOHOR
Johor Bahru Writers + Film Festival 2017
Friday, 27 October, 5.00 p.m.
More venues to be confirmed soon.
NOTE: Admission is free to all venues stated above except for the 45th Japan Charity Bazaar on 29 October.
ABOUT THE PERFORMER
Diane Kichijitsu
ダイアン吉日
Diane Kichijitsu hails from Liverpool, England, and is a popular performer of the traditional Japanese art of comic storytelling known as Rakugo, entertaining audiences with stories in both English and Japanese.
Originally working in London as a graphic designer, she decided she wanted to see the world and arrived in Japan in 1990 as a part of her backpacking travels. She was introduced to the world of Rakugo when she worked as a stage assistant for the late Katsura Shijaku, the pioneer of Rakugo in English, and soon took up the art herself, performing a variety of genres from classic works to original stories she created herself.
Employing a plethora of ingenious dramatic techniques on the stage, she is loved by audiences of all ages from young children to senior citizens for her easy-to-understand Rakugo. Her performances are highly rated for their mix of humorous anecdotes drawn from her travels in over fifty countries, her surprising encounters in Japan, and her keen observations of cultural differences.
Along with her other talent as a balloon artist as well as a certified laughter yoga teacher, it can surely be said that Diane pours her energy into building bridges and connecting the world through the power of laughter.
Official website: diane-o.com
ENQUIRES & MORE INFORMATION
The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2284 6228
Email: press[AT]jfkl.org.my
fb.com/theJapanFoundationKL
