Everybody’s Comfier with a Good Pillow: Rakugo’s Makura Prologues

Rakugo, traditional Japanese comic storytelling, boils down to three parts: makura, hondai, and ochi, or introduction, story proper, and punchline. Scholars have systematically scrutinized hondai and ochi because they consider them fundamental to the art. Makura (lit. pillows), on the other hand, have received scant attention. This is because technically the art can do without them, particularly in non-live formats (i.e., print and other media). Yet rakugo is crafted for live audiences and continues to thrive in this format, so makura are vital and deserve close examination. In makura, rakugoka (storytellers) present topical material that links to the hondai, elucidate traditional subject matter that might prove difficult later, get a feel for the audience, establish rapport, among other things. It is crucial that they make an effective start and there are various approaches to this. Of chief concern, however—particularly since many view rakugo as “traditional” and perceive it to be complex—is providing context for listeners and making them feel confident that they will be able to follow the story to the end. More so, rakugoka seek to make audiences feel as though they share common ground, that they already possess the knowledge needed to enjoy rakugo. Makura provide all this. This study presents and discusses a selection of makura in part and full, highlighting nine primary elements.