US JAPAN 150 YEARS 日米150年祭2 The sesquicentennial of the signing of the first treaty between Japan and the U.S.-the Treaty of Peace and Amity, March 31, 1854. ■Rakugo in English (Free Admission) Rakugo group will perform traditional form of comedy routine in English. Sunday, March 21; 1p.m. to 3p.m. Japan Infomation Center Please RSVP (312)280-0428/jickono@webkddi.com For further information: Japan Information Center 737 N.Michigan Ave. Ste.1000, Chicago, IL 60611 (312)280-0430 Japan America Society of Chicago/ Consulate General of Japan at Chicago ←Kakushow performs puppet Rakugo. The story is made to concern about ecology and environmental issues.

US JAPAN 150 YEARS JAPANESE COMEDY GROUP HITS CHICAGO!! Sponsored by Consulate General of Japan at Chicago, Japan America Society of Chicago, Osaka Committee of the Chicago International Program The premier Japanese sit-down comedy group "English-Rakugo" -one of the few Japanese rakugo groups that perform in English- will appear Sunday, March 21 at the Japan Infomation center.Perfoamance will be form 1:00 to 2:30., followed by Q&A.Interested parties should RVSP to jickono@webkddi.com or (312)280-0428.$6 parking at Olympia centre Parking* with validation. FREE!! More about "English-Rakugo" at www.english-rakugo.com Information: Japan Information Center* Consulate General of Japan Olympia centre, Suite 1000 737 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 Phone: 312-280-0430 Email: jickono@webkddi.com URL: www.chicago.us.emb-japan. go.jp/jic.html *Entrance on Chicago Avenue English-Rrakugo's visit to the U.S. is sponsored by the Visiting East Asian Professionals Program of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

ENGLISH RAKUGO AT SECOND CITY Japanese Comedy Group Comes to Chicago on March 21!! Come and be entertaind by a unique Japanese comedy group performing "English-Rakugo" (Japanese sit-down comedy) at Chicago's premiere comedy club, Second City.Performers wear traditional Japanese clothes (kimono) and perform entirely on their knees. "Rakugo is a unique form of storytelling which includes comedy and play as well as art.Rakugo can be best described as Japanese sit-down comedy of comic story telling.In Rakugo only the conversations between characters appear in the story.Therefore, the performer must be able to play the role of each distinct character." Join us for diverse and entertaining evening of Japanese humor.

Date: Sunday, March 21, 2004 Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Fee: $5,00 To make a resevation please call Second City Box Office at (312)337-3992 or www.secondcity.com Place: Second City 1616 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60614 Sponsors: Consulate General of Japan at Chicago Chicago Sister Cities International Program (Osaka Committee) Japan America Society of Chicago Parking is available for a fee at 1608 N. Wells, 1/2 block west on North Avenue at the Piper's Alley self park garage.Fees range from $6 to $15. ←When in Chicago, can't avoid this! The thick big Chicago pizza. Five of us couldn't finish a pizza.

RAKUGO Japanese Sit-Down Comedy Performance in English 落語 Saturday March 27, 2004 3 p.m. Washington University Brown Hall Room 100 Reception to follow event FREE!! Rakugo is Japan's equivalent to what we know as 'stand-up comedy' - but, of course, the performers sit down rather than stand up.A lone performer seatd on a cushion plays the part of several characters in a single sketch.In a noodle shop, a man slurps his noodles while outwitting the shop owner over the bill; a daughter-in-law seeks a way to deal with her mother-in-law; and a death defying rickshaw driver takes his customer to heaven after his unsuccessful duel with a bullet train.The challenge for the performer is switching from one distinct character to another.Each character represents exaggerated aspects of the human personality that we can all readily relate to.The everyday predicaments that the characters find themselves in have the potential to make us all laugh.Yet, while the themes are somewhat universal, the stories have the flavor of Japan, and reflect traditional concepts and values.

Washington University in St.Louis ARTS&SCIENCE Presented by the Visiting East Asian Professionals Program For more information call (314)935-8772 or visit our website www.artsci.wustl.edu~veap ←The entrance of The Second City. Many American comedians are born at this theater and we were very excited about performing here. ←Katsura Kaishi performing "monkey story" at the beginning. He looks all happy receiving with cheers at the punch line.