Solitude as a Luminous Body: Tatekawa Danshi, Navel Fires of Art and Politics: A Collection of Sayings (1980s)

Solitude as a Luminous Body: Tatekawa Danshi, Navel Fires of Art and Politics: A Collection of Sayings (1980s)

Danshi Tachikawa said, "It is natural for a professional to disappoint his audience, because we are luminaries. These words symbolize his view of comedians, that they should not be pandering to the audience, but should be shining their own light and illuminating the path. He disagreed with the Japanese idea that "the customer is God," and said that a comedian should be an independent expressionist. This statement reflects his belief that as a performer, he should not make it his mission to meet the expectations of the audience, but rather to express what he himself believes in.

Danshi also said, "Neither concubine nor blindfold can be used in broadcasting. There are too many terms that are banned on the air..." He expresses a strong sense of crisis at the current trend of what could be called word-hunting. Rakugo is a form of storytelling that tells the lives, feelings, and desires of ordinary people as they really are, and it is necessary to use words that are alive and well in this context. However, he says that his art is being torn to shreds as words are cut down one after another to meet broadcast standards. This is an outrage against the suppression of words, the lifeblood of rakugo, and a scathing criticism of the lack of freedom of expression in modern society.

He also said, "The world today is a place where the weak and the weakest are the ones who are righteous. This is a reaction against the over-protection of the voices of victims and the weak in contemporary society, which makes it difficult for them to be the subject of criticism and satire. He points out that the fact that the weak act righteously is itself a kind of power, and the fact that the media and politicians elevate it is an obstacle to free expression. For those who live the art of rakugo, the art of criticism, this is a serious structural problem.

Danshi also has his own ideas about the transmission of the art, saying, "The apprentice should not bring the monthly fee. Rather, the master even gives him an allowance. This shows his belief that the master-disciple relationship is not merely an educational contract, but that the master should give everything to the disciple and support him financially and spiritually. He believes that the art is a transmission that includes an individual's inner self and way of life, and that it is not something that can be learned for money. For Danshi, the art was life itself, with all its emotions and sacrifices.

His memories of his time as a politician are also impressive. The first time I was elected to the House of Representatives, I failed, and the second time I was elected to the House of Councillors," he said indifferently. He was an independent," he says matter-of-factly, "but behind that was a kind of rebellious spirit that kept him from being taken in by power or the system. He explains why he, a comedian, threw himself into politics by saying, "I was told, 'If you have a problem with me, you should get out there too...'" He also explains why he, a comedian, threw himself into politics. Instead of complaining from the outside as a critic, he wanted to go inside and take on the responsibility of making a difference.

In describing his artistic style, he also stated, "Rakugo is one-third rakugo, one-third comic storytelling, and one-third my feelings. This shows the importance of not rigidly adhering to rakugo as a traditional art form, but rather incorporating modern sensibilities and one's own thoughts and feelings into it. Danshi's rakugo performances are not limited to the framework of rakugo, but are a comprehensive art form, and at the core of his art was always "himself speaking about the present.

His comment, "No good art can grow without a base," speaks to the importance of a base in the world of the performing arts. Regardless of the form, whether it is a rakugo study group or a student rakugo club, the broadening of the base creates competition and refines the quality of the art. He felt that talent does not grow in a hothouse, but rather grows through competition like weeds.

He was also particular about the sound and aesthetics of his stage name. His own stage name, Shi-o-dan-ru, was a symbol of his freedom of self-expression: "I do emceeing, comic storytelling, and rakugo as well. This symbolizes Danshi's stance of expanding his art in his own unique direction while continuing to carry on the tradition.

Behind the aloof words, "I'm getting drunk (laughs)," there was no hesitation in showing his true self, and he had the presence of mind of a performer who could relax the atmosphere of the audience. This attitude shows how much he believed in the fun of human beings.

His words in every situation reflect his pride in his way of life and his strong sense of criticism toward the ever-changing society and the performing arts. He remained unique as a performer who lived his life without being bound by classical forms and as a critic who shot to the heart of the matter from the margins of society.