"How to Be Funny in Japanese," or Kobanashi in the Modern World: Independent Research Results

Kobanashi, an ancient form of Japanese entertainment, involves the oral performance of a detailed story using nothing but a fan, a small handcloth, and the speaker’s own imagination. Often ending in a humorous punchline,... [ view full abstract ]

Kobanashi, an ancient form of Japanese entertainment, involves the oral performance of a detailed story using nothing but a fan, a small handcloth, and the speaker’s own imagination. Often ending in a humorous punchline, kobanashi is colloquially considered to be the outdated and lowbrow “dad joke” of Japanese culture in direct contrast to rakugo, a higher-class style with the same content. However, kobanshi is still popular in older circles and remains a long-standing Japanese tradition. How exactly has it remained relevant to modern Japan? In this presentation I will report my findings from an independent research project on the cultural prevalence of kobanashi in modern Japan, explaining kobanashi’s multifaceted cultural history, context, and impact along the way. In doing so, I will also provide my own predictions on kobanashi's future trajectory as Japanese culture continues to develop at a break-neck pace.