Showko Showfukutei
Showko Showfukutei 笑福亭笑子 | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupations |
|
| Organization | Kamigata Rakugo Association |
| Family | Showfukutei |
| Website | showkocomedy |
Showko Showfukutei (笑福亭 笑子, Shōfukutei Shōko) is a Japanese comedian, ventriloquist, professional rakugo performer (Japanese traditional comedy), actor,[1] and based in Melbourne.
Showko trained in method acting at the Actors Lab based on the Lee Strasberg technique and stars as Kimie in the upcoming feature film Saccharine [2]
Showko is a professionally trained rakugo artist and is a member [3] of the Kamigata Rakugo Association in Osaka.
She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo,[4] Osaka, Singapore[5] and regularly performs internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Showko was a finalist on Australia's Got Talent appears in the Amazon Prime Video special Absolutely Normal.[6]
Early Life
[edit]Showko was born in Kobe, Japan. She graduated [7] from Kobe Yamate University with a degree in psychology.
Her interest in ventriloquism began [8] in childhood, and she later worked at a local police station teaching traffic safety to children using a ventriloquist puppet at Hyogo Traffic Safety Association.
After three years in that role, she moved to Canada to study English. During her time there, she focused on language immersion. Upon returning to Japan, she trained as a professional radio announcer, a decision influenced by her experience listening to English-language radio during her studies abroad.
Career
[edit]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 later in Singapore at FM96.3 for MediaCorp.
Showko did her rakugo training with Rakugo Master Shōfukutei Kakushow[9] 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. [10]
Showko has written, produced and performed shows[11][12] at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe (UK), Avignon Festival (France), Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sushi Dictator,[13][14] The Butterfly Club,[15] Melbourne Fringe Festival,[16] The Athenaeum Theatre and was directed by Heath McIvor for her latest show Absolutely Normal [17] at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Fringe receiving 5 star review.[18]
Showko has appeared on a Japanese TV show Gooto Chikyu bin (グッと地球便)[19] 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).[20] NHK Tsurube no Kazokini Kampai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯),[21] 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"[22] as well as being interviewed on ABC National Radio with John Faine.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ "IMDB - Showko Showfukutei". IMDb.
- ^ "Psychological horror Saccharine filming in Victoria". Docklands Studios Melbourne. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "笑福亭 笑子". Kamigata Rakugo Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Japanese entertainer getting laughs and friends overseas with English performances". 27 September 2015.
- ^ "Japanese Rakugo Performer Showko".
- ^ "IMDB - Absolutely Normal". IMDb.
- ^ "笑福亭 笑子". Kamigata Rakugo Association (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Exploring Kookiness with Showko Showfukutei". Colour Box Studio. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Rakugo Master “Kakushow Showfukutei
- ^ "Showko Showfukutei – Japan Art Directory in Australia". The Japan Foundation, Sydney. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "New Zealand Japan Festival" (PDF).
- ^ "Japan Art Directory in Australia".
- ^ Shanahan, Brittany (28 March 2014). "Herald Sun Showko in Sushi Dictator ★★★★½". Herald Sun.
- ^ Katherine Phelps
- ^ "REVIEW: Showko's JAPANESE PUPPET RAGUKO". 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Melbourne Fringe – Absolutely Normal". 28 September 2017.
- ^ "Showko - Absolutely Normal - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018".
- ^ "Glam Adelaide - Absolutely Normal ★★★★★". 16 March 2019.
- ^ [1] “Good Chikyu bin"
- ^ "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.
- ^ "鶴瓶の家族に乾杯".
- ^ "ABC Radio presents a special Debate for International Women's Day: That Motherhood Is Overrated?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 February 2017.
- ^ "What Makes You Laugh? Join Jon Faine for a special Conversation Hour Live". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2018.