Commemoration

　　One of the members of my Lions Club, who was nearly 90, had passed at the end of the year 2014. He loved Japanese sake and rakugo, which is traditional comic storytelling performed solo. You know rakugo? Seated on a zabuton cushion, a comic tells a story, energetically speaking the dialogue for all the characters. To clearly distinguish one character from another, rakugo performers use various speech patterns and physical mannerisms.
　　A unique party for remembering the deceased was held today, called by his friend, a full-fledged rakugo master of Katsura Koharudanji "桂小春団治". People who gathered honored his memory enjoying wonderful rakugo and Japanese sake, which were offered from more than 30 sake producers all over Japan.
　　Next, a young rakugo performer, Katsura Koume "桂小梅", accompanied Katsura Koharudanji from Osaka and showed his rakugo before Katsura Koharudanji. I didn't expect much of him, but it was fairly good. In the party, his seat was next to me and I heard of his daily life. I had a good time with him. I'd like to visit his homeground, Hanjo-Tei "繁昌亭" in Osaka in the near future.