Tribute to Sanyutei Enraku VI (February 8, 1950 – September 30, 2022)

On September 30, 2022, news spread throughout the rakugo world and the entertainment industry in general that rakugoka Sanyutei Enraku VI had passed away. He died at the age of 72, four years earlier than his master, Sanyutei Enraku V, who passed away at the age of 76. Ironically, both master and disciple succumbed to lung cancer.

Enraku, whose real name was Yasumichi Ai, was hospitalized on January 26th this year after suffering a stroke. He remained hospitalized after February 18, even though his treatment for the stroke had ended. He was under follow-up observation and treatment for lung cancer at the time. Enraku successfully completed treatment and was discharged on May 20. He returned to the stage on August 11, when he performed “Neko no Sara” (“Cat’s Dish”) at the National Engei Hall. The story is part of the repertoire for both Tokyo and Kamigata storytellers and involves a traveler who attempts to persuade the owner of a tea shop to sell him the cat’s feeding dish, which he believes is a priceless antique dish. Known for his sharp political humor, Enraku joked during the performance that he was not dead yet.

A Tokyo native, Enraku graduated from the Aoyama Gakuin University Faculty of Law in March 1972. While he was still attending university, he applied to become the part-time personal assistant of Sanyutei Enraku V. Shortly thereafter, he became the rakugo master’s student and adopted the stage name Sanyutei Rakutaro. He was promoted to the second level of futatsume in July 1976.

Enraku joined the popular TV show “Shoten” on August 28, 1977. His master became the emcee on January 1983 and worked as the longest-serving host of the program until his departure in 2006. Enraku (the younger) was a regular member of “Shoten” for 44 years, having performed with three different hosts. He was promoted to shinuchi, the highest rank achievable in rakugo, in March 1981. On March 1, 2010, he succeeded to his master’s stage name and became Sanyutei Enraku VI.

Since 2007, Enraku has been involved in the production of the Hakata Tenjin Rakugo Festival, a major event which features both Tokyo and Kamigata rakugo storytellers. He served as the Secretary General for the Fifth Enraku Ichimonkai, formed in 1980 by his master Enraku V, as well as a guest member of the Rakugo Art Association. As a result, he was able to perform in rakugo shows sponsored by the Association, a courtesy denied to other members of the Sanyutei family in light of the incident in 1978.

On September 28, 2018, Enraku announced that he had early-stage lung cancer. He underwent surgery on October 5th, and returned to the stage just seven days later. In 2019, he produced the Sapporo Rakugo Festival which was held in three different halls in Sapporo, Hokkaido and featured twenty-eight rakugo performers. Everything seemed to be going well for the 69-year-old rakugoka until he learned that he had a brain tumor later that year. On July 19, 2019, he announced that he would be hospitalized for three weeks. He was discharged from the hospital on August 19th and returned to the stage making appearances with his disciple Hikaru Ijuin (Sanyutei Rakudai). His son, Sanyutei Ichitaro, also took the stage with his father for the first time in six years.

Enraku performed rakugo for four days, but when he appeared on the 20th, he was forced to use a handheld microphone and he was seated in a wheelchair. His voice was hoarse and he disclosed that he had water in his lungs. It was to be his last performance on stage.

On August 26, he complained of having shortness of breath and was hospitalized because he had developed mild pneumonia. He was to give a solo performance on August 30. Enraku passed away on the morning of September 30th.

(Pick up your copy of “Talking About Rakugo 1: The Japanese Art of Storytelling” to read more about Sanyutei Enraku V and the popular TV program “Shoten.”)