Hello, Merry Christmas.
I usually update on the 15th of every month, but due to a busy end-of-year schedule, I ended up being late.
As you walk through the city, you are inevitably greeted by the illuminations, Christmas songs, and the colors red, white, and green.
Every time I feel this way, I think to myself, "Oh, I better hurry up and write that Cloakroom column..."
Or so I thought, but...
Before I knew it, M-1 had started.
Ah, I want to see it.
But more importantly, I have to write.
Reiwa Roman got such a high score that it's hard to believe he was in first place.
Even with expectations at their highest, Sayaka still got the laughs.
So interesting.
No, no, I have to finish writing it as soon as possible.
Even as I write this there is still a lot to do.
First of all, I have to make the New Year's gifts.
During New Year's, when the opening act and musicians say "Happy New Year," we storytellers have to give them a New Year's gift.
It's such a wonderful custom.
Furthermore, as for the futatsume comedians, even though they do not have a performance at the first show of the New Year, they still go to the comedy hall just to give out New Year's money.
It’s a very nice custom.
Of course, I also received a lot of this when I was an opening act, so I am very grateful.
Due to the new banknotes this year, it seems that new bills are difficult to get hold of, and my friends are complaining about this.
But it has nothing to do with me.
This is because I have still kept all of the New Year's money I received when I was an apprentice performer, in exactly the same condition.
Four years' worth of New Year's money in crisp bills folded in thirds.
He puts them back into his own envelope and hands them over.
A large number of 1,000 yen bills are just being circulated among friends.
It's been a busy time at the end of the year, but the other day I was given a job that felt like a reward.
"Please read picture books to the children."
and.
It's finally here.
All the times I've been saying how much I love children, the results are finally starting to show.
"Oh, of course, I would be happy if you could do some Rakugo as well..."
It's usually the other way around.
If it was "Mainly Rakugo, but also picture books..." I would understand, but it's mainly picture books.
I did my best in both.
A collaborative cafe with picture book author Sena Keiko.
There were families with children gathered there.
The youngest child is 3 years old.
The children were absorbed in the picture books and enjoyed them.
Now, the question is Rakugo.
First of all, they don't understand the system of one person playing multiple characters.
Let's start with a short story.
"Mom, your pants ripped again."
I tried doing this.
Then the three-year-old girl turned around and
"Mommy's calling!"
It's still difficult.
Next, try slurping the soba noodles.
This was visually enjoyable.
Okay, okay. Then,
"The sound that you make when slurping udon noodles actually changes."
When I said that, the child suddenly raised his hand and said,
"I've eaten udon before!"
It's the best.
"Have you ever tried udon?"
But I didn't hear anything about it.
I was happy to see his positive attitude and praised him wholeheartedly.
"I've eaten it before! It's amazing!"
Then, many children began to want to be praised as well,
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
Even though the story isn't moving forward, it's incredibly exciting.
It seemed like a peaceful classroom breakdown.

This year, I had the opportunity to speak at various places.
For the first time, the number of performances in a year exceeded 300.
Today, on Christmas day, I learned another story.
We will continue to work hard next year as well.
My immediate goal is to upload this column on the 15th.
We look forward to your continued support next year.

Biography
Shunputei Yoichi
Born April 5, 1998
In March 2017, he became a disciple of Shunputei Ichinosuke.
He became a junior performer on January 21 of the following year. His junior performer name was "Yoichi."
Promoted to Ni-dan on March 1, 2021.