Shizuya Kawamura (河村 靜也), known by his stage name Katsura Bunshi VI (六代 桂 文枝), is a Japanese TV presenter and rakugo artist. His former stage name was Katsura Sanshi (桂 三枝). Sanshi received this name from his shishô (master) and one of the celebrated postwar Kamigata Rakugo greats, Katsura Bunshi V (五代目 桂 文枝). Sanshi's "san" came from, originally, being Bunshi's third deshi (pupil) and "shi" came from the second half of shishos stage name. Sanshi succeeded his shisho ' s stage name in 2012.

Earlier years

Sanshi was born in Higashi-ward, Sakai, Osaka on 16 July 1943. His father died when he was an 11-month-old baby. Despite early unfortunate circumstances, his efforts in the entertainment business have brought him success.

Youth

Sanshi entered Kansai University (Faculty of commerce), after graduating from Ichioka Commercial High School in Osaka. He immediately gained fans at University with his storytelling and humor, though he had no professional careers. After university, Sanshi entered the artistic school or Katsura Bunshi V and later signed with agents at Yoshimoto Kogyo.

TV presenter

Sanshi worked as a master of ceremonies on:

Punch De Date

Shinkonsan Irasshai

Filmography

Films

Television

Recent Activities

Sanshi is on the board of the Kamigata Rakugo Kyoukai (Rakugo artists and performers' Guild in Kansai region), and is the director of Yoshimoto Kogyo. In the rakugo world, Sanshi is known mostly for his "New rakugo" (in Japanese "創作落語"). He has been a guest professor at Kansai University.

Sanshi School

Sanshi has many deshi apprentices and all of them have been given stage names that have the "san" (number 3, 三), for example, Katsura SANpo, Katsura SANpu, Katsura SANpatsu, and so on.

Awards