Japanology Plus Season 2023 Episode 15 - Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling

Airdate: 2023-Aug-31

Episode summary:

Sometimes described as "solo opera," Rokyoku was once Japan's most popular form of entertainment, with top performers among the richest people in the land. Rokyoku rose to prominence in the late 19th century, but the advent of TV triggered a rapid decline. Now young performers are revitalizing this storytelling art by incorporating English, rock and pop music, and even dance. Peter Barakan experiences rokyoku in both old and new styles. And in Plus One, Kyle Card tries giving a performance himself.

About Japanology Plus series:

Going a step further from our previous series BEGIN Japanology, host Peter Barakan visits experts in various fields to show Japanese culture from a...Show more >