Katsura Shinnosuke


Katsura Shinnosuke was a Japanese rakugoka and musician who performed the works of Katsura Bunji X and performed in the jazz band Newoirans.

Biography

Katsura Shinnosuke was born Hiroshi Tsutagawa on 16 May 1952 in Shibuya, Tokyo. He became the disciple of in October 1970 and adopted the name Katsura Hiroji. He adopted the name Katsura Shinnosuke in April 1976 after being promoted to futatsume, and was promoted to star performer in May 1986.
His performances of his first master's works were described as "clever" and "indispensible". He was a member of the rakugo jazz band, for whom he was the pianist. His rakugo performances included Chōtan, Rokurokkubi, and Sanada Kozō, and Chihaya Furu was his final performance on 14 December 2019.
Katsura was admitted to the Itabashi Hospital at the Nihon University School of Medicine, where he died on 1 January 2020, aged 67, from acute myeloid leukemia.

Personal life

He married Yūko, who survived him.