＋－ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTheatre · Osaka
Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei
天満天神繁昌亭
Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei is a theatre built only for rakugo, the Japanese art of sit-down comic storytelling, in its Osaka (Kamigata) style. It opened in 2006 beside Osaka Tenmangu shrine, the first dedicated rakugo hall in Osaka in decades.
On stage one performer kneels on a cushion with just a fan and a hand towel, and plays every character in the story by turning the head and changing the voice. The hall is small and wooden, and the laughter is loud. Shows are in Japanese, but the energy, gestures and sound effects come through even if you don't follow every word.
What to see and do
The daily afternoon programme runs about two and a half hours, with a string of storytellers and often a variety act such as music or magic.
Mornings and evenings host solo shows and school-lineage nights. Times and prices change every day.
The theatre sits right next to this big shrine to the god of learning. Walk through before or after the show.
Japan's longest covered shopping street starts nearby. It's good for cheap snacks after the show.
What’s on
Good to know
- Performances are in Japanese. Pick the afternoon show for the widest mix of styles and acts.
- The afternoon line-up changes weekly and the others change daily, so check the programme and buy ahead for weekends.
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