<h3><strong>CD</strong><strong> Debut, starring in a movie&#8230; and a duet with voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi</strong><strong> </strong></h3>
<p> Kanehara-tei Anju is a female rakugo performer. In May 2011, she made her CD debut as a singer with the release of her mini-album &#8220;Shinagawa Shinju&#8221; (Rakugo Song &#8220;Shinagawa Shinju&#8221;) from TAICHIKU ENTERTAINMENT. He also starred in the movie &#8220;Shinpei Hayashiya&#8217;s Ninja Taisenki: Snake Dragon versus Gora,&#8221; which was directed by Shinpei Hayashiya.</p>
<figure id="attachment_341207" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341207" style="width: 3951px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="f295f621"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/17223b88d9739da3f654ae0b22bf5bf3.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341207" class="wp-caption-text"> In February 2011, after five years of training, he was promoted to the position of nitsume, a position he had longed for.</figcaption></figure>
<p> The songs on his debut CD include &#8220;Shinagawa shinju,&#8221; &#8220;Okiku no sazara,&#8221; &#8220;Meguro no akitogyo,&#8221; and others based on classic rakugo stories that are well known to everyone. One of the songs, &#8220;Shinagawa Shinju &#8211; Shinagawa no Koi no Monogatari feat. Kappei Yamaguchi,&#8221; written by Fumio Takada, was originally intended for release by Anju&#8217;s teacher, Senosuke Kanehara Tei, but was never released to the public.</p>
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<p> As the title says, this moist duet song is sung by Kappei Yamaguchi, a voice actor famous for his roles as Usopp in &#8220;ONE PIECE&#8221; and Shinichi Kudo in &#8220;Detective Conan&#8221;. Anju has always been a big fan, and when asked who he would like to duet with, Yamaguchi readily agreed, making his dream come true.</p>
<p><strong> I&#8217;ve always loved anime,&#8221; he said. When I was asked who I wanted to duet with, I gave my name, and I never thought it would come true. His dandy voice, which is different from the character in the anime, is also very good!　On the day of recording, I was completely thrilled from a fan&#8217;s perspective (laughs).</strong><strong> (Kanehara-tei Anju, hereafter referred to as &#8220;Kanehara-tei Anju&#8221;)</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_341208" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341208" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="470320e4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/87ef9469a393726034683b9999a42431.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341208" class="wp-caption-text"> Kanehara-tei Anju said, &#8220;I feel reassured that even though I do things that ordinary rakugo performers don&#8217;t often do, they understand me because I&#8217;m Yonosuke&#8217;s disciple (laughs).</figcaption></figure>
<h3><strong> Morning drama</strong><strong> Chimudon&#8221;, special effects monster movies&#8230;</strong><strong> Singing and acting are also for &#8220;expression of Rakugo</strong></h3>
<p> Before becoming a rakugo performer, Anju was an actress and TV personality in her native Okinawa, and has appeared in NHK&#8217;s television series &#8220;Jun to Ai. After joining the company, while training as a rakugo storyteller, she appeared in several films, including &#8220;Chimu Doton&#8221; and the WOWWOW drama series &#8220;Fence.</p>
<p> Anju&#8217;s starring role in the film &#8220;Ninja Beast Taisenki: Snake Dragon vs. Anju plays the dual role of a ninja and a descendant of the ninja, an officer of the Self-Defense Forces.</p>
<p><strong> I had a hard time because I had no experience in action, but I enjoyed the action in ninja costumes,&#8221; she said. However, ninja costumes have a lot of strings and are very difficult to put on.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> When I was struggling with it, the director, Master Shinpei (Hayashiya), said, &#8220;Yono-chan, do it this way,&#8221; and had my master, who had come to observe, help me. Shinpei and Yonosuke tied the strings around my feet, one leg at a time (laughs).</strong></p>
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<p> Kyouju is energetic in activities other than performing rakugo on stage.</p>
<p><strong> My master had experienced many things in his life, such as releasing records and working as a fashion model, and he suggested that I should also do various things for the sake of expressing rakugo.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> It is reassuring to know that even if I do things that ordinary rakugo performers don&#8217;t do, they will understand me because I am Yonosuke&#8217;s disciple (laughs).</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Okiku from &quot;Bancho Sarayashiki&quot; becomes a ghost idol!"></div>
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<h3><strong>The &#8220;BANCHO SALAYASHIKI</strong><strong> Bancho Sarayashiki</strong><strong> Okiku-san of &#8220;Bancho Sarayashiki&#8221; became a ghost idol</strong><strong> &#8230;</strong><strong> A bold arrangement of classic Rakugo!</strong></h3>
<p> At the CD release event held in June at the Asakusa Engei Hall, the group performed rakugo, of course. The story performed that day, &#8220;Okiku&#8217;s Plate,&#8221; was called a &#8220;version with song,&#8221; and was a bold rearrangement of Okiku&#8217;s classic &#8220;Bancho Sarayashiki,&#8221; in which Okiku becomes popular as a ghost idol, and her fans crowd the hall every night to cheer her on.</p>
<p> Okiku greets her fans like an idol, saying &#8220;Thank you for coming today ♡&#8221; and counting the number of plates together with her fans. In the middle of her storytelling, Okiku performs like an idol, and her younger apprentice plays the role of a fan and dances and calls with her, opening up a new style of rakugo.</p>
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<p><strong> He says, &#8220;My master used to do a rakugo musical in which he sang several songs with a band and interspersed rakugo in between, and I learned from him when I was a member of the front cast.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> I knew that if I got too shy when singing like an idol, it would be unbearable to watch, so I just let it all hang out (laughs). (Laughs.) I was also grateful for the encouragement of my younger siblings.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<figure id="attachment_341209" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341209" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="60dffc4f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/74340e0c58ec552f8df7222d859ec586.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341209" class="wp-caption-text"> When singing in an idol-like manner, I thought it would be unbearable to watch if I was too shy, so I just let it all hang out (laughs).</figcaption></figure>
<p> Mini uchiwa (miniature fans) of Ms. Anju were sold at the sales counter on the day of the event, and the audience was invited to wave them as they would at an idol concert.</p>
<p><strong> I was really happy that the audience enjoyed and created an atmosphere that I had never experienced before,&#8221; said Hinano.</strong></p>
<p> Of course, he is also aiming to take his rakugo (comic storytelling) act to the next level, and has been holding his own monthly rakugo performances since April, as well as a charity rakugo performance on November 17 featuring all members of the Yonosuke clan, <wbr></wbr>and a new rakugo performance on November 30 at the <wbr></wbr>Warring solo performance &#8220;Anju&#8217;s Toy Box: Kanehara-tei Anju He is also a member of the &#8220;Rakugo Women&#8217;s Advisory Board&#8221; and a member of the &#8220;Rakugo Women&#8217;s Association&#8221;.</p>
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<p> In addition, he and his master, Yonosuke, offer easy-to-understand explanations for beginners, such as &#8220;kyun points&#8221; for those who became interested in rakugo through manga and anime, under the title &#8220;Rakugo Girls&#8217; Advice.</p>
<p><strong> I think I have to make sure that my artistry is up to the task.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Toward promotion to Shinuchi..."></div>
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<h3><strong>The &#8220;Shin-Uchi Promotion</strong><strong> A New Start Toward Shin-uchi Promotion</strong></h3>
<p> Ahead of him, he has another major goal: promotion to the rank of shinuchi.</p>
<p><strong> Until now, promotion to the second rank has been like a goal for me, but now that I am on the Takaza stage as the second rank, I feel the weight of that promotion.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> NHK&#8217;s Newcomer Rakugo Awards will be held again this year. This is only my first year, but I would like to challenge myself with the goal of winning the grand prize.</strong><strong> </strong></p>
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<figure id="attachment_341211" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341211" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="073a392a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/3757e0733fcb4d328f16b396498ef040.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341211" class="wp-caption-text"> I am also making promidoes, postcards, and stickers (laughs).</figcaption></figure>
<p> Anju has the potential to further broaden her interest in rakugo. For this interview, she was photographed in a dainty one-piece dress near the Sumida River, which is full of downtown atmosphere, and showed us expressions and poses that are different from her usual image as a rakugo performer.</p>
<p><strong> I also make promidoes, postcards, and stickers (laughs). I also make promidoes, postcards, and stickers (laughs).</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> There is a term nowadays called &#8216;push-activism,&#8217; and I would be happy if people could enjoy rakugo not only by watching it, but also by supporting it through such goods and other means. I&#8217;d be happy if people could enjoy rakugo not only by watching it but also by supporting it with such goods.</strong></p>
<p> It is possible that people will get to know Anju through her &#8220;glossy and cute&#8221; charm and become interested in the world of rakugo through that. Do you think this is an important role for Anju?</p>
<p><strong> It would be a bit presumptuous to call it a &#8220;role,&#8221; but if people who have never heard of rakugo before see our performances as a gateway to the world of rakugo, I feel that would be a true honor.</strong></p>
<p> As the number of female rakugo performers attracting attention is increasing, the &#8220;guessing game&#8221; world of rakugo is being pioneered by those who find their &#8220;hot points&#8221; in rakugo.</p>
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<p> After working as a TV personality in her native Okinawa, she was introduced to <strong>Kinewaratei</strong> Yonosuke in 2005 as the first ever female rakugo performer from Okinawa. She released her debut mini-album &#8220;Shinagawa Shinju&#8221; (Rakugo Song: Shinagawa Shinju) in May 2011, and starred in the movie &#8220;Shinju Taisenki: Snake Dragon vs.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" He is also active in holding monthly rakugo performances!"></div>
<figure id="attachment_341212" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341212" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ca866757"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/8988a39abce8490d935653485e841e6c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341212" class="wp-caption-text">I would be happy if people could enjoy rakugo with a sense of &#8216;guessing.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_341213" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341213" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e61ef1bb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/d0fcb0b0ea2a7e2d76bee84d594d6cbd.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341213" class="wp-caption-text"> ＜In addition to the &#8220;Suggestions for Rakugo Girls,&#8221; she and her master, Yonosuke, also provide easy-to-understand explanations for beginners, such as &#8220;kyun points,&#8221; or points of interest, for those who have become interested in rakugo through manga and anime.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_341214" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341214" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="412114bb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/92e63c4da3f32ce24c5ccd220b4c1ab8.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341214" class="wp-caption-text"> Looking back on the duet with voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi, &#8220;I was completely thrilled on the day of recording from a fan&#8217;s perspective (laughs).</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_341215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-341215" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d5cc7d12"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/11/979dd01e134644718a3740c31bd9ef2b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341215" class="wp-caption-text"> In a dainty one-piece dress near the Sumidagawa River, which is full of downtown atmosphere, she showed a different expression and pose from her usual image as a rakugo storyteller.</figcaption></figure>
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 Writer, editor, interviewer. He has been a writer since he was a student, and currently writes mainly entertainment articles and interviews for websites and magazines.

 Satoru Ota

 Hinano Toshima

 Kanehara-tei Anju, a female rakugo performer, has attracted attention for her "glossy cuteness" since her days as a maeza performer, and in February 2011, after five years of training, she was promoted to the position of nitsume (second performer), a position she had long desired. With a mini-album and a starring role in a movie, the scope of her activities is expanding beyond the world of rakugo.

Okiku-san is a Ghost Idol? Female Rakugo performer Kanehara-tei Anju opens up the possibilities of &#8220;guessing Rakugo&#8221; with her &#8220;kyun points.

Okiku-san is a Ghost Idol? Female Rakugo performer Kanehara-tei Anju opens up the possibilities of “guessing Rakugo” with her “kyun points.

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