Born in the Tokyo Olympic Year, 1964! The Birthplace of Rakugo Legendary Masters “Asakusa Engei Hall”

“Asakusa Engei Hall” (浅草演芸ホール) is one of 5 Tokyo’s ‘Rakugo Joseki’ (落語定席, We describe later) including Suzumoto Engei Theatre (Ueno), Shinjuku Suehirotei, and Ikebukuro Engei Theater. You can find this hall when walking along the shopping street ‘Asakusa Rokku-Dori Street‘ (浅草六区通り) with 15 street lights decorated with photos of 33 celebrities who are relater to this district. This time, we’re going to introduce the history of such “Asakusa Engei Hall.”

Rokku, where Asakusa Engei Hall is located, had been developed as an entertainment district after the opening (1887) of ‘Tokiwaza’ which was famous for Asakusa Opera. In 1951, ‘Asakusa France-za’ was opened as a strip theater. And then, in 1964 of the Tokyo Olympic Year, Asakusa Engei Hall made on the 4th and 5th floor of the same building.

Not only Rakugo legendary masters such as Katsura Bundaku and Sanyuei Ensho but also young storytellers at that time such as Tachikawa Danshi and 5th Sanyutei Enraku appeared. That’s why this hall gathered attention from lots of people although it was the begging of the television era.

Currently, Asakusa Engei Hall is one of the ‘Rakugo Joseki’ where various entertainment shows including Rakugo and magic shoes, Manzai and mimicking are performed 365 days a year (It might be closed depending on the situation). Still now, this hall has continued to be the birthplace of a new history of Japanese comedy. You can enjoy entertainment shows anytime you want to watch regardless of the daytime and nighttime.