Laughter knows no borders
Rhode Island native Bill Crowley developed comedic Rakugo monologues during his seven years in Japan; utilizing verbal skills to understand the subtle differences in the way to do art, business or politics in Japan and America. (Cultural News Photo)
By Gavin Kelley
Rakugo, or “fallen words,” are comedic monologues featuring a story teller who sits in front of an audience on a zabuton cushion constrained to hand gestures (sometimes with a fan or hand towel used as props), facial and vocal expressions. It is a style of story telling that is deep in tradition and has early traces that date back to the 13th century.
In the history of Rakugo, there has never been a professional Rakugo Westerner; at least not until Bill Crowley was introduced to this traditional art of Japanese comic storytelling in 1992.
Crowley, a native of Rhode Island graduated from Stanford University with a Political Science degree, with an emphasis in International Relations. After graduating, he was a professional 1500 meter runner, ranked second in the U.S.
Once finished with his running career, he moved to Japan with the intention of teaching English for one year.
Arriving in Osaka in 1992 with little more than $80, Crowley soon began teaching English at a small school. One of his English conversation students was the well-respected Rakugo Master Katsura Shijaku.
“Many things in Japan, looking back, I think were fate,” Crowley said.
Master Shijaku was taking conversation lessons so he could perform his style of Rakugo in English for foreign audiences. At first Shijaku asked Crowley to edit his written pieces. Then, only a month and a half after Crowley started working at the school, Shijaku asked him if he wanted to try his hand at performing Rakugo in English.
“I was very afraid and I hate being afraid, so I faced my fear of performing,” explained Crowley. “You have defining moments in life where opportunities come and you can either say yes or no to them.”
So two and a half months after arriving in Osaka, Crowley performed an English translated Rakugo story “Tanusai,” a comedic story about a tanuki (raccoon) that magically turns into a sai (dice).
It was the result of his first performance that a new life path opened up to him.
“I planned to be in Japan for one year and I stayed for seven,” Crowley explained. “I learned to appreciate Japanese art, culture and customs in ways that even some Japanese aren’t aware of, due to my entry into the Rakugo world.”
During his stay in Japan, Crowley stopped teaching English in order to become a professional Rakugo performer, in both English and Japanese. This led to multiple opportunities, including acting as a Goodwill Ambassador for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the writer, performer and host of two national shows on the NHK TV network teaching English: “Rakugoka Bill Rediscovers Japan,” and “Bill Goes to the West Coast.”
He was also a weekly columnist for the Mainichi Daily English newspaper and other magazines. From April 2006, Japan’s Ministry of Education has approved his English Rakugo in a national English textbook and DVD for junior high schools in Japan.
The lessons in the textbooks all use humor, according to Crowley, as a tool to teach both English and cross-cultural messages.
“The best way to build bridges is through humor,” said Crowley. “But in my humor, I always have a cultural message.”
Crowley moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue an acting career. He says he continues to use the humor and understanding he gained in Japan, specifically his Rakugo experience, to act as a cultural liaison.
“Rakugo enabled me to understand the subtle differences in the way to do art, business or politics in Japan and America,” Crowley explained. “Being a bridge, that’s my passion.”
While Crowley continues to pursue acting in Hollywood and working as a consultant to multinational companies, he still loves performing Rakugo in Japan and America.
Bill Crowley will perform Rakugo at the Arizona Matsuri in Phoenix on the weekend of Feb. 24 and 25, and will host the Awaya Kai Koto Concert at El Camino College’s Marsee Auditorium in Torrance on Sunday, May 6.
Gavin Kelley is a Los Angeles-based writer who is currently working on a compilation of short-stories.