REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE

Words : Shofukutei Tsurube
     Edit : Shoko Matsumoto
Styling : Maki Ueno
     Photography : Kento Mori
Hair & Make-Up : Miho Ueda (BEAM)

REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE
REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE

日本語
English

  • REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE
  • I grew up in Hirano Ward, Osaka. Back then, it used to be Higashisumiyoshi Ward, but it became Hirano halfway through. It was in the southern edge of Osaka, near Yao Airport where propeller planes fly in and out. Rice fields stretched all around, and you could already see the airport. It was the outskirts of Osaka and felt much more like the countryside. It used to take an hour by bus to reach Tennoji. The subway came along later, but by that point, I had already gone off to university in Kyoto. I lived in Kyoto for two years, then I became an apprentice at my master’s (Shofukutei Shokaku VI) home in Sumiyoshi Shrine. The site is now called ‘Mugaku’, where we hold our ‘yose’ (vaudeville) shows. That’s why I still go to Sumiyoshi once a month. Hirano was rural, but it was a great place. There were a lot of kind aunties in the neighborhood. It was a warm, inviting town. Oh, and the row house seen in the movie 35th Love Letter (releasing March 7) looks so similar. It’s almost identical. It’s set in Nara Prefecture, but that row house looks just like the one where I was born in. It was a row of four houses, and right outside stood a torii gate. As kids, we’d race to Shiki Nagayoshi Shrine or play games like kicking cans near the gate. So, it wasn’t a city – I grew up in the countryside. I went to a massive middle school with so many students. It was a really fun childhood.


  • REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE
  • I create rakugo, you know, based on events from my childhood. But whether I added the humor to it or if it really happened, I can’t tell anymore. There was this strange old man in the neighborhood. Instead of taking me to school, he took me to the horse races. He asked me for my betting number, I told him, and I ended up winning 400,000 yen. That 400,000 yen back then was a huge amount. My parents even added an extra bath to the house with it (laughs), but now I’m not sure if the money really paid for the bath. You see, I’m 73 years old, and my childhood was about 70 years ago. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s true or just a story. But he was a funny uncle, always hanging out with me. He must’ve really liked kids. Even though my mom was like “Stop playing around” (laughs). I also went to the public bathhouse a lot. I was a kid, so I’d hide inside the lockers in the changing room. When an uncle opened one, I’d jump out and shout, “Wah!” Their screams would startle other adults. I used to play hide and seek but would often go home. My friends would still be looking for me while I was eating dinner. It was against the rules (laughs). There weren’t any other kids who did that. I played a lot of pranks and got scolded often.


  • I made many great friends back then, and we’re still close. About 50 of them attend my solo shows. I’ve stayed in touch with my friends from kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school. They say, “You haven’t changed at all since.” After the show, it’s become a tradition for us to gather at a nearby izakaya, and I’m happy that they bought the tickets to see me, right. I tried to cover the bill as a thank you, but they insisted, “We’re all equal, so let’s split it.” It was about 3,000 yen per person, so it wasn’t about trying to look good or anything. I thought “If that’s the case, I’ll just give 10,000 yen and get the change back.” But then they didn’t give me any change (laughs). That was pretty funny. No one wants to be treated, but it’s okay to put in a little more, it seems (laughs). According to other comedians, they don’t have those kinds of relationships. The dozens of friends from elementary school, and the circle keeps expanding. People find it unusual. You know the NHK program Tsurube’s Salute to Families – it’s just like that in real life too. I end up becoming close with the people I meet on the show and visit their homes. I won’t say “I don’t know you” when they come to me (laughs). It’s just how I am.


  • REMINISCENCE of OSAKA 追憶の大阪 - SHOFUKUTEI TSURUBE
  • My favorite spot in Osaka is Grill Bon. My master was a regular there. It’s a Western-style restaurant near Shin- Kagetsu, where I made my first stage debut. The Curry Stew is exceptional. The owner there is a wonderful person, and I was taken there often. Same goes for Daikoku and its Kayaku Gohan. We used to go there often when my kids were little. My master was a real food connoisseur and showed me all the best places to eat. I host a talk show called Tezukayama Mugaku no Kai. I personally invite guests, dive into their background, and then after the show, I enjoy thinking about where to go for a meal together.


  • Osaka is my origin. I was born in Hirano and spent my apprenticeship at Mugaku near Sumiyoshi. I grew up between the outskirts and the heart of Osaka. That town is very dear to me.
  • I wear NEEDLES regularly. Today, I’m wearing a mohair cardigan and track pants from NEEDLES. I really liked the chic striped set from ENGINEERED GARMENTS that I wore for this shoot, and the pullover hoodie from aïe. Of course, NEPENTHES has fantastic clothes, but what makes it even better is the people at the store. Their personalized recommendations mean a lot to me. I might not have gotten anything if I didn’t get to know them, but now even my manager goes there. What draws me to places, be it a store or a restaurant, is the people. In the end, good places have good people.





Shofukutei Tsurube : Born in 1951, from Osaka Prefecture. A rakugo comedian, host, actor, and more, active across various fields. His live, Mugaku Tsurunoma, is streamed monthly on U-NEXT. Upcoming projects include the film 35th Love Letter (Toei), among others.