Apr 1st
Jul 21st

National Engei Hall in Tokyo

A free exhibition celebrating 40 years of traditional entertaining

Venue: Exhibition Room (first floor) When: Apr 1st - Jul 21st 2019

The National Engei Hall in Tokyo is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary with a free exhibition until late July of the hall's history of engei entertainment.

Engei are traditional stage and performing arts. The most commonly known of these is rakugo, featuring a storyteller seated alone on a cushion on stage telling comic stories. Another popular engei is manzai, a stand-up comedy act that sees two performers trading tit-for-tat verbal jousts with each other at one or the other's expense. More obscure engei include kodan storytelling where the orator uses a clapper for rhythm, kijutsu sleight-of-hand magic shows and kyokugei entertainment acrobatics, often with props.

Please check the official website for opening times and holidays. Entry is free.

Getting there

The hall is a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 and Exit 6 of Hanzomon Station on the Hanzomon Subway Line or a 15-minute walk from Yotsuya Station on the JR Chuo-Sobu Line.

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Kim 4 years ago
Another great freebie - love it!
Sleiman Azizi Author 4 years ago
Even understanding is sometimes not enough! That's why I think just absorbing the atmosphere is its own entertainment and is often enough, whether you're fluent or not.

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