22 Years of Epitaphs] “It’s best to die while doing rakugo,” said Enraku, who died of lung cancer, and his true feelings.

On September 30, Sanyutei Enraku VI passed away due to lung cancer at the age of 74.

He was 74 years old. In 2006, he announced that he had lung cancer in its early stages, and for the next four years he was battling the disease. Even so, Enraku revived like a phoenix, appearing energetically on “Laugh Spot” (Nippon Television) and continuing to appear on the stage, maintaining his “tongue-in-cheek” character to the very end.

In October 2006, just one week after his lung cancer surgery, Enraku returned to the stage, and when this magazine interviewed him directly, he said, “I really don’t like to talk about my illness.

He told us, “The truth is, I don’t like to talk about my illness. What’s this about my struggles? The best thing for me is to die while doing rakugo.

He answered jokingly. The following year, a test revealed a brain tumor, and he was hospitalized for three weeks, but returned to the stage a month later. Referring to Utamaru Katsura (who passed away in 2006), his famous tongue-lashing partner for many years on “Laugh Spot,” he said, “I’m sure [the illness] is nothing like Utamaru’s.

He said, “I’m sure he (Utamaru-san) told you about my illness. He told me, “You shouldn’t come over here yet. （If you were trying to call me to heaven, I’m not going to leave you alone.

He spat out a loving comment. In January 2010, he was hospitalized, this time for a stroke. In July, he participated in the “Sanyu Festival,” an event organized by the Enraku V family. When he appeared in front of the press for the first time in about six months, he said

I am sorry for your loss. I’m alive. I’m not dead yet!

He said.

In August, he returned to the stage for the first time in seven months, and said, “I’m back here.

He said, “I’ m back here. I don’t care how pathetic I look, I’m going to do it until I die.

He then added with tears in his eyes, “This is my third time back from the ICU.

This is my third time back from the ICU. It’s all Utamaru’s fault.

When he talked about the TV program he had been watching while in the hospital, he said, “It’s not funny.

When he talked about the TV programs he had watched during his hospital stay, he spat his venomous tongue at the audience.

The audience laughed loudly. In the end, this was the last public appearance of Maraku, who became a member in 1977 as Sanyutei Rakutaro and was a regular performer for 45 years until January of this year. When Utamaru passed away in 2006, he was in tears.

He mourned him with his character in full force, saying, “It’s too soon, old man.

It is not difficult to imagine that all the remaining members of “Laugh Spot” sent those words to Mr. Maraku. May he rest in peace.