A master performer of kodan — the 400-year-old Japanese art of dramatic storytelling. Her stage name, Masami (昌味), means “a flavor that grows richer day by day.”
INVITE MASAMI TO PERFORM
Kodan (講談) is one of Japan’s classical performing arts, with roots reaching back over four centuries to the Edo period. A lone storyteller sits behind a small lacquered desk called a shakudai and, striking it rhythmically with a paper fan, brings to life tales of samurai, historical chronicles, and the joys and sorrows of ordinary people.
Unlike theater, everything — the wind, the battle, a mother’s tears — is conjured by a single voice. The storyteller shifts freely between narrator and characters, controlling tempo and silence so that the audience sees the story unfold in their own imagination. No stage sets, no costumes changes: just the power of the spoken word.
Even if you do not understand Japanese, the rhythm of the fan, the music of the voice, and the storyteller’s expressions make kodan a uniquely immersive way to experience traditional Japan.
Born in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanda Masami encountered kodan as a high-school student and was captivated by the art of storytelling. In 1989 she apprenticed to the celebrated master Kanda Sanyo II（二代目神田山陽）, and in 1999 she was promoted to shin’uchi（真打） — the highest rank of a professional storyteller — becoming the eleventh woman ever to attain it.
Based in Ena, Gifu Prefecture, she performs throughout Japan — from historic vaudeville halls in Tokyo to temples, shrines, schools and community theaters — and teaches kodan classes for students of all ages. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Nihon Kodan Kyokai (Japan Kodan Association).
Interested in inviting Masami to perform — for a cultural event, school program,
international exchange, or private gathering? We would love to hear from you.
English inquiries are welcome. Performances are given in Japanese.
日本語サイトへ / JAPANESE SITE