Asakusa Engei Hall

The Asakusa Engei Hall is a famous rakugo-joseki (halls used for rakugo storytelling) in Tokyo among other rivals such as Suzumoto Engei Theatre in Ueno, Shinjuku Suehirotei, and Ikebukuro Engei Theater. Rakugo-joseki is also called yose (entertainment halls), and the term is used for a theater that holds rakugo performances (traditional comic stories delivered by a professional storyteller) every day throughout the year. In 1964, there was no yose in Asakusa at that time, so a long-awaited yose, the Asakusa Engei Hall opened on the fourth and fifth floors of the extension of Asakusa France-za, a performance art theater. The Association of Rakugo and the Association of Rakugo Art are holding performances, taking turns every 10-day period. In addition to rakugo, it hosts a variety of performances such as manzai (a two-man standup comedy), mandan (a comic monologue), conte (a short comic story), magic, kamikiri (silhouette cutting), acrobats, and the hall is also famous for producing many actors and comedians. In the vicinity, one can find a popular sightseeing spot, the Tokyo Skytree Building. It is located at a 5-minute walk from the Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.