About Katsura Sunshine
Katsura Sunshine is a traditional Japanese "Rakugo" comic storyteller and the 15th apprentice to the great Rakugo Master, Katsura Bunshi VI.
Rakugo is a 400-year tradition of storytelling in Japan, and has been a popular theatrical entertainment alongside Kabuki theatre since the Edo period.
Sunshine is only the second non-Japanese in history to become a Master of Rakugo and the first in 100 years.
He has performed Rakugo all over the world, and is most notably in his 6th year of performing Rakugo on Broadway.
Rakugo on Broadway
Sunshine opened Rakugo on Broadway on September 19th, 2019 and his long run continues to this day. He received excellent reviews from New York press, as below.
"A Master Storyteller!"
~The New York Times
"The King of Kimono Comedy!"
~Reuters New York
"There is only one Sunshine!"
~The New Yorker
Osaka G20 Summit, 2019
Sunshine was MC for the Opening Reception of the G20 Summit held in Osaka in July, 2019.
This was a great honour, and unforgettable experience.
Tetsuko's Room (徹子の部屋）
Sunshine was honoured last summer to be a guest on the legendary program Tetsuko's Room.
Tetsuko Yanagiya has been interviewing the stars in Japan for over 50 years.
Previous guests from outside Japan include Mikhail Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth, Placido Domingo, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise and Robert DeNiro.
Osaka Expo 2025 - Campaign Leader
Sunshine was a main member of the successful campaign to bring the Expo World Fair to Osaka in 2025.
His short film about Osaka was shown to judges at the final round of judging in Paris, alongside a video message from the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Sunshine was later personally congratulated on the film and the successful bid by Prime Minister Abe himself.
Companies Sunshine has worked with
All Nippon Airways （VIP Gala New York)
Amazon Japan
Asahi Television
Asteria
Aviva Canada
Blue Man Group Productions
Bosch
Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Japan Gala (Performed for her majesty Takamado no Miya Hidenka)
Dentsu
Ebay
Harvard Business School
Hilton Hotel - Canopy by Hilton
IBM
Ikigai Fruits
Metaplanet
Mitsubishi
Mitsui New York
New Otani Hotel
Nikkei / Financial Times London
NSSK 日本産業推進産業
Osaka Expo 2025 Campaign
Osaka Expo Canada Business Leader’s Dinner
Sawakami Toshin
Shin Kumi 全国信用協同組合連合会
Shiyomi Prince Hotel
TMI (Perform Annually for TMI Winter Gala Dinner)
About Katsura Sunshine
Katsura Sunshine is a traditional Japanese "Rakugo" comic storyteller and the 15th apprentice to the great Rakugo Master, Katsura Bunshi VI.
Rakugo is a 400-year tradition of storytelling in Japan, and has been a popular theatrical entertainment alongside Kabuki theatre since the Edo period.
Sunshine is only the second non-Japanese in history to become a Master of Rakugo and the first in 100 years.
He has performed Rakugo all over the world, and is most notably in his 6th year of performing Rakugo on Broadway.
Rakugo on Broadway
Sunshine opened Rakugo on Broadway on September 19th, 2019 and his long run continues to this day. He received excellent reviews from New York press, as below.
"A Master Storyteller!"
~The New York Times
"The King of Kimono Comedy!"
~Reuters New York
"There is only one Sunshine!"
~The New Yorker
Osaka G20 Summit, 2019
Sunshine was MC for the Opening Reception of the G20 Summit held in Osaka in July, 2019.
This was a great honour, and unforgettable experience.
Tetsuko's Room (徹子の部屋）
Sunshine was honoured last summer to be a guest on the legendary program Tetsuko's Room.
Tetsuko Yanagiya has been interviewing the stars in Japan for over 50 years.
Previous guests from outside Japan include Mikhail Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth, Placido Domingo, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise and Robert DeNiro.
Osaka Expo 2025 - Campaign Leader
Sunshine was a main member of the successful campaign to bring the Expo World Fair to Osaka in 2025.
His short film about Osaka was shown to judges at the final round of judging in Paris, alongside a video message from the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Sunshine was later personally congratulated on the film and the successful bid by Prime Minister Abe himself.
Companies Sunshine has worked with
All Nippon Airways （VIP Gala New York)
Amazon Japan
Asahi Television
Asteria
Aviva Canada
Blue Man Group Productions
Bosch
Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Japan Gala (Performed for her majesty Takamado no Miya Hidenka)
Dentsu
Ebay
Harvard Business School
Hilton Hotel - Canopy by Hilton
IBM
Ikigai Fruits
Metaplanet
Mitsubishi
Mitsui New York
New Otani Hotel
Nikkei / Financial Times London
NSSK 日本産業推進産業
Osaka Expo 2025 Campaign
Osaka Expo Canada Business Leader’s Dinner
Sawakami Toshin
Shin Kumi 全国信用協同組合連合会
Shiyomi Prince Hotel
TMI (Perform Annually for TMI Winter Gala Dinner)
Universities Sunshine has lectured and performed for
Harvard University
Yale University
Brown University
Cambridge University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Embassies Sunshine has performed for
Embassy of Japan in Canada
Embassy of Japan in the United States
Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom
Embassy of Japan in France
Embassy of Japan in Slovenia
Embassy of Japan in Ghana
Embassy of Japan in Senegal
Embassy of Japan in Gabon
Embassy of Japan in South Africa
Embassy of Japan in Nepal
Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka
Embassy of Japan in India
Embassy of Japan in Australia