He had the audience in peals of laughter as he sat on his knees,with a paper fan and a small cloth in hand. The Japanese never tell jokes,they are too busy exporting goods, said Utazo Katsura,a Rakugo artist who performed the traditional Japanese art of sit-down comedy as part of the Delhi International Arts Festival on Monday. With all the ingredients of a stand-up comedy,this Japanese art has only one thing distinct the performer sits on his knees while narrating a tale that is often a winding comedy. The voice is the defining element as the comedian plays all the characters,distinguishing each one with voice modulation,mannerisms and facial expressions. I usually give a twist to traditional Japanese stories, said Tokyo-based Katsura soon after his stellar performance at the India Habitat Centre. What was impressive was not the content,but the sheer hilarity of Katsuras accent and actions. The four acts narrated four stories. If the one titled Time Noodle had a clever customer tricking the owner of a noodle shop by paying him less money for a bowl of soba noodles,the last two acts were accompanied with music,which is not present in traditional Rakugo. Its different from the traditional Japanese form,so its taking time to gain popularity, said Kastura,adding,I have put it on YouTube. Another traditional art form of the vaudeville times being modernised in the digital age? Maybe. However,the act did bring a smile.
