HOTEL NIWA TOKYO, located in Kanda Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, will host a special cultural evening on May 16, 2026, bringing together traditional rakugo storytelling and seasonal kaiseki cuisine. Titled "Ajiwau Rakugokai (Rakugo & Dining Evening) – Vol. 10," the event is part of the hotel's long-running cultural series "Misakicho Salon," which has been held since the hotel opened in 2009.
Rakugo, the beloved comedic storytelling tradition that has entertained ordinary people since the Edo period, is filled with tales revolving around food — soba noodles, sake, and the everyday pleasures of Japanese life. This event takes those stories a step further: after enjoying the performance, guests move to the hotel's first-floor restaurant "Japanese Cuisine En (Yukuri)" for a kaiseki meal inspired by the day's rakugo repertoire.
The program is designed to bring to life a feeling that many rakugo fans will recognize — watching a skilled storyteller mime savoring a bowl of soba or a cup of sake, and suddenly feeling an irresistible urge to taste it yourself. Here, that moment is made real: the world of the story arrives at the table as a full course.
Event Details: Misakicho Salon "Rakugo & Dining Evening" – Vol. 10
- Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Time: 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Reception opens at 3:30 PM)
- Venue: Rakugo performance in Function Room "San"; Dinner at "Japanese Cuisine En (Yukuri)"
- Price: ¥10,000 per person (includes rakugo performance and dinner; tax and service charge included)
- Capacity: 28 guests (registration closes once full)
- Reservations: Via TableCheck, or by phone at 03-3295-4321 (Mon–Sat, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM)
Performer
Rakugo Storyteller: Katsura Bunjaku
Often described as a "department store of rakugo" for the sheer breadth of his repertoire, Katsura Bunjaku performs classical rakugo with his own distinctive interpretations, blending the old and the new in a way that has won him considerable acclaim.
- 1996: Became a student of Shunputei Koasa
- 2000: Transferred to the school of Katsura Bunsho
- 2006: Awarded the Encouragement Prize at the Kitopia Young Rakugo Storyteller Competition
- 2009: Won the Young Rakugo Storyteller Competition
- 2010: Promoted to "shin-uchi" (senior storyteller status) and took the name Katsura Bunjaku
- 2015: Received the 70th Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival New Artist Award
The program for the performance will be announced on the day of the event.
