Japanology Plus · SEASON 10

Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling

Episode 15 · 2023-08-31

★ N/A
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Episode overview

Sometimes described as "solo opera," Rokyoku was once Japan's most popular form of entertainment, with top performers among the richest people in the land. Rokyoku rose to prominence in the late 19th century, but the advent of TV triggered a rapid decline. Now young performers are revitalizing this storytelling art by incorporating English, rock and pop music, and even dance. Peter Barakan experiences rokyoku in both old and new styles. And in Plus One, Kyle Card tries giving a performance himself.

28 minutes

Season 10 episodes

1. Kitchens2023-01-12 2. Satsumaimo: Sweet Potatoes2023-02-09 3. Dinosaurs2023-03-02 4. Japanophiles: Kyle Holzhueter2023-03-23 5. Camping2023-04-13 6. Male Aesthetics2023-04-27 7. Konnyaku2023-05-11 8. Japanophiles: Isabelle Sasaki2023-05-25 9. Ueno2023-06-08 10. Meteorological Data2023-06-22 11. Amami Oshima: Paradise Found2023-07-06 12. Amami Oshima: Shaped by Adversity2023-07-13 13. Japanophiles: Francesco Panto2023-08-03 14. Vacant Homes2023-08-17 15. Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling2023-08-31 16. Japanese Honeybees2023-09-14 17. Japanophiles: Martin Holman2023-09-28 18. Unused Fish2023-10-12 19. Garbage2023-10-26 20. Firefighting2023-11-09 21. Japanophiles: Benjamin Flatt2023-11-23 22. Izumo: Home of the Gods2023-12-07 23. Izumo: Land of the Supernatural2023-12-14