Shijaku Katsura

Katsura Shijaku II 2代目 桂 枝雀 Nidaime Katsura Shijaku August 13 1939 April 19 1999 was a Japanese rakugo performer of the late 20th century who often performed in English He was born Tōru Maeda 前田 達 Maeda Tōru in Kobe the son of a brickmaker In 1960 he entered the tutelage of the rakugo performer Katsura Beichō III 桂米朝 and upon completion of his study was given the stage name Katsura Koyone X 桂小米 He changed his stage name to Shijaku Katsura Shijaku Katsura II in 1974