Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Traditional · Arts
講談は釈台を扇でたたきながら、歴史物語を語る伝統的な話芸でございます。 — Kodan is a traditional storytelling art where the performer strikes a small desk with a fan while narrating historical tales. (Cultural · Traditional · Arts, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N3)
You
講談は釈台を扇でたたきながら、歴史物語を語る伝統的な話芸でございます。
こうだんはしゃくだいをおうぎでたたきながら、れきしものがたりをかたるでんとうてきなわげいでございます。
Kodan is a traditional storytelling art where the performer strikes a small desk with a fan while narrating historical tales.
Romaji: Koudan wa shakudai wo ougi de tatakinagara, rekishi-monogatari wo kataru dentou-teki na wagei de gozaimasu. / Reply Romaji: Rakugo to wa chigau n desu ne. Sou iu sekai mo aru no ka.
Reply
落語とは違うんですね。そういう世界もあるのか。
らくごとはちがうんですね。そういうせかいもあるのか。
So it's different from rakugo. There's that world too.
Gesture & etiquette
If demonstrating, mime striking an imaginary desk with one hand using a 'fan'. Make the 'pan!' sound for emphasis. Speak with measured dramatic tone—kodan is storytelling, more grand than rakugo's intimate comedy.
Kodan differs from rakugo: kodan is historical narration (samurai tales, war stories) with a 釈台 desk and 張り扇 (paper-wrapped fan for rhythm-keeping by striking), while rakugo is comedic dialogue. Famous performers: the late Ichiryusai Teisui, modern Kanda Hakuzan. The rhythmic 'pan! pan!' of fan-striking marks scene changes and emotional emphasis.