About Danshi Tatekawa
Lived 1935 – 2011 (aged 75). Danshi Tatekawa was a Japanese politician, rakugoka, seiyū and rakugo, known for Shōten.
was a popular Japanese rakugo entertainer from Koishikawa, Tokyo.
Born Katsuyoshi Matsuoka (松岡 克由), he was a disciple of . Katsuyoshi would adopt the name of the famed Meiji era rakugoka Danshi Tatekawa (ja) in 1963 upon his recognition in rakugo as "shin'uchi", or a rakugo master (ja). Tatekawa was the presenter of the long running NTV variety show Shōten when it first aired in 1966, and host of the popular radio program "Danshi Tatekawa Kayo Battle" (談志・円鏡 歌謡合戦) with Tsukinoya Enkyō from 1969 through 1973. He would go on to host many other radio and television programs during his long career, and write more than a dozen books on Rakugo theory.
Failing to win a second term, Tatekawa returned to entertainment, withdrawing from his mentor Yanagiya's Rakugo Kyokai association and establishing his own school, the Tatekawa-Ryū, mentoring a number of successful rakugo, including Tatekawa Shinosuke.
A fan of Osamu Tezuka, Tatekawa developed a friendship with the prolific animator and had guest star roles in A Thousand and One Nights and Jungle Emperor Leo, and wrote an introduction to Black Jack.
Tatekawa would die at 75 of laryngeal cancer at his home in Tokyo on 21 November 2011.
According to Gendai Business columnist Kenichiro Horii, the character Issho Arakawa in the 2022 rakugo manga series Akane-banashi is modeled after Tatekawa Danshi.
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Important facts
People in Danshi Tatekawa's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Danshi Tatekawa's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Danshi Tatekawa?
Japanese politician and rakugoka (1936-2011)
When was Danshi Tatekawa born?
Danshi Tatekawa was born on 2 December 1935 in Koishikawa-ku.
When did Danshi Tatekawa die?
Danshi Tatekawa died on 21 November 2011 in Bunkyō-ku.
What was Danshi Tatekawa's occupation?
Danshi Tatekawa was a politician, rakugoka, seiyū and rakugo.
What was Danshi Tatekawa known for?
Danshi Tatekawa was known for Shōten.
What nationality was Danshi Tatekawa?
Danshi Tatekawa was Japanese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Danshi Tatekawa. https://biography.guide/danshi-tatekawa/
MLA: "Danshi Tatekawa." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/danshi-tatekawa/.
Chicago: "Danshi Tatekawa." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/danshi-tatekawa/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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