Showko Showfukutei

笑福亭笑子
Born
Kobe, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • Ventriloquist
  • Rakugo Performer
OrganizationKamigata Rakugo Association
FamilyShowfukutei
Websiteshowkocomedy.com

Showko Showfukutei (笑福亭 笑子, Shōfukutei Shōko) is a Japanese comedian, ventriloquist, professional rakugo performer (Japanese traditional comedy), actor,[1] and speaker based in Melbourne. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo,[2] Osaka, Singapore[3] and regularly performs internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Showko was a finalist on Australia's Got Talent in 2016, and in 2019 released an Amazon Prime Video called Absolutely Normal in the US and UK.[4] Her stage show is a combination of stand-up comedy and ventriloquism.

Showko regularly performs rakugo (Japanese traditional comedy) and she is a member of the Kamigata Rakugo Association (上方落語協会).

Career

Showko did her rakugo training with Rakugo Master Shōfukutei Kakushow[5] to become a professional rakugo performer. Showko Showfukutei is a stage name awarded to her after completing a three-year Rakugo apprenticeship and she is the only fully trained professional rakugo performer living outside of Japan.

Showko has written, produced and performed her own shows[6][7] at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe (UK), Avignon Festival (France), Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sushi Dictator,[8][9] The Butterfly Club,[10] Melbourne Fringe Festival[11],, The Athenaeum Theatre and was directed by Heath McIvor for her latest show Absolutely Normal[12] at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Fringe receiving 5 star review.[13]

Showko has appeared on a Japanese TV show Gooto Chikyu bin (グッと地球便)[14] documenting her life and career, TV Tokyo Sekai Naze Sokoninihonjin (世界なぜそこに日本人海外で超有名人スペシャル).[15] NHK Tsurube no Kazokini Kampai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯),[16] Singapore (Channel NewsAsia: “Primetime Morning”) and Australia on Australia's Got Talent 2016 as a finalist, ABC TV for the "International Women's Day Debate"[17] as well as being interviewed on ABC National Radio with John Faine.[18]

Radio

Prior to becoming a comedian, Showko was a radio presenter and DJ with regular programs for Radio Osaka, FM Uji, Yes FM and Beach Station FM in Japan, and FM96.3 at MediaCorp Singapore.

References

  1. ↑ "IMDB - Showko Showfukutei". IMDb.
  2. ↑ "Japanese entertainer getting laughs and friends overseas with English performances". 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Japanese Rakugo Performer Showko".
  4. ↑ "IMDB - Absolutely Normal". IMDb.
  5. ↑ Rakugo Master “Kakushow Showfukutei
  6. ↑ "New Zealand Japan Festival" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "Japan Art Directory in Australia".
  8. ↑ Shanahan, Brittany (28 March 2014). "Herald Sun Showko in Sushi Dictator ★★★★½". Herald Sun.
  9. ↑ Katherine Phelps
  10. ↑ "REVIEW: Showko's JAPANESE PUPPET RAGUKO". 16 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "Melbourne Fringe – Absolutely Normal". 28 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Showko - Absolutely Normal - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018".
  13. ↑ "Glam Adelaide - Absolutely Normal ★★★★★". 16 March 2019.
  14. ↑ “Good Chikyu bin"
  15. ↑ "世界ナゼそこに？日本人～知られざる波瀾万丈伝～：テレビ東京". www.tv-tokyo.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-09-28.
  16. ↑ "鶴瓶の家族に乾杯".
  17. ↑ "ABC Radio presents a special Debate for International Women's Day: That Motherhood Is Overrated?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "What Makes You Laugh? Join Jon Faine for a special Conversation Hour Live". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2018.
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