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Damascus International Fair - Syria

A Syrian puppeteer entertains children at the Damascus International Fair by imitating the role of the “Hakawati,” a traditional storyteller, while using hand puppets. The performance reflects Syria’s cultural heritage and was part of activities organized for young visitors. September 3, 2025. Photo by Mohammad Daher/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Damascus International Fair - Syria

A Syrian puppeteer entertains children at the Damascus International Fair by imitating the role of the “Hakawati,” a traditional storyteller, while using hand puppets. The performance reflects Syria’s cultural heritage and was part of activities organized for young visitors. September 3, 2025. Photo by Mohammad Daher/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Damascus International Fair - Syria

A Syrian puppeteer entertains children at the Damascus International Fair by imitating the role of the “Hakawati,” a traditional storyteller, while using hand puppets. The performance reflects Syria’s cultural heritage and was part of activities organized for young visitors. September 3, 2025. Photo by Mohammad Daher/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rakugo on "itai-itai" disease doctor

Rakugo storyteller Yanagiya Sansho, a native of Toyama, performs rakugo in the central Japan city on April 5, 2025. He told of the life of late doctor Noboru Hagino (1915-1990), who devoted himself to treating patients of "itai-itai" disease, caused by cadmium poisoning in Toyama following the discharge of untreated water into rivers by a mining company in a neighboring prefecture.

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Rakugo on "itai-itai" disease doctor

Rakugo storyteller Yanagiya Sansho, a native of Toyama, performs rakugo in the central Japan city on April 5, 2025. He told of the life of late doctor Noboru Hagino (1915-1990), who devoted himself to treating patients of "itai-itai" disease, caused by cadmium poisoning in Toyama following the discharge of untreated water into rivers by a mining company in a neighboring prefecture.

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Free story classes for rural children in NW China

STORY: Free story classes for rural children in NW China SHOOTING TIME: recent footage DATELINE: June 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:48 LOCATION: XI'AN, China CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of free story classes for rural children by Jiao Meining 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): JIAO MEINING, Storyteller 3. various of free story classes for rural children by Jiao Meining STORYLINE: In 2015, under the influence of Japanese painter Miyoshi Tatsuya, a woman named Jiao Meining began to offer free story classes to children in rural China. Over the past 9 years, Jiao has taught at least 4 classes a week, covering over 400 schools. Nearly 100,000 rural children have enjoyed her story classes. Born in rural area of Shaanxi, NW China, Jiao has always enjoyed reading since her childhood. She knows that compared to children in big cities, rural students lack high-quality reading resources. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): JIAO MEINING, Storyteller "When I was telling a story, I can see the glow from children's eyes. I can also feel

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Ancient Arab storytelling tradition shines amid hardship in Syria

STORY: Ancient Arab storytelling tradition shines amid hardship in Syria SHOOTING TIME: March 26, 2024 DATELINE: March 27, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:53 LOCATION: Damascus CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Al-Nofara Cafe 2. various of Ahmed Al-Laham telling stories 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus 4. various of Ahmed Al-Laham telling stories 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SALEH AL-RABBAT, Owner of the Al-Nofara Cafe STORYLINE: Amid conflict and turmoil in Syria, many Syrians choose to seek solace in traditional forms of entertainment that remind them of better old days. One such form is Hakawati, or storyteller, whose popularity is on the rise as people want something to take their minds off of the seemingly never-ending crisis. The Hakawati tradition dates back to a time without modern technology. Men would gather in coffee shops to listen to tales of love and war, which served not only as entertainment but a means of

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Trypillia Culture Reserve in Cherkasy region

LEHEDZYNE, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 2, 2024 - Storyteller Sashko Lirnyk (Oleksandr Vlasiuk) looks at exhibits at the Trypillia Culture State Historical and Cultural Reserve in Lehedzyne, Cherkasy region, central Ukraine.

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'Rakugo' comic storyteller wins Japan Foundation Award

TOKYO, Japan - Sankyo Yanagiya, a "rakugo" Japanese comic storyteller, is shown in this file photo taken on Oct. 30, 2014. He was selected as one of three recipients of the 2014 Japan Foundation Awards for his contribution to teaching rakugo to foreign students of the Japanese language for almost 15 years.

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Humanoid robot of master 'rakugo' storyteller on show

OSAKA, Japan - An android made to look like Katsura Beicho, a legendary Japanese "rakugo" comic storyteller, is on display at the Takashimaya department store in Osaka, western Japan, on Nov. 5, 2014.

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Android of master comic storyteller 'talks' to shoppers

OSAKA, Japan - An android made to look like Katsura Beicho, a legendary Japanese "rakugo" comic storyteller, "talks" to customers at the Takashimaya department store in Osaka, western Japan, on Nov. 5, 2014.

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Scientist explains android of master comic storyteller

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro (R), the developer of an android that looks like legendary Japanese "rakugo" comic storyteller Katsura Beicho, speaks about the robot at the Takashimaya department store in Osaka, western Japan, on Nov. 5, 2014.

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'Rakugo' comic storyteller speaks at famed resort

MATSUYAMA, Japan - Popular "rakugo" comic storyteller Katsura Bunshi presents one of his original tales at Dogo Onsen Honkan, an old wooden public bathhouse, on Oct. 24, 2014, in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the renovation of the bathhouse dating back to 1894.

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'Rakugo' comic storyteller speaks on famed spa resort

MATSUYAMA, Japan - Popular "Rakugo" comic storyteller Katsura Bunshi performs his original tale titled "Let's go to Dogo Onsen," one of Japan's oldest and most famous hot springs in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, on Oct. 24, 2014, to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the renovation of the Dogo Onsen Honkan wooden public bathhouse dating back to 1894.

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New theater to open for junior comic storytellers

TOKYO, Japan - Master "rakugo" comic storyteller Kokontei Shinsuke (C) holds a banner for his soon-to-be opened "Kanda Renjakutei" theater in Tokyo with "futatsume," or junior rakugo tellers, on Oct. 1, 2014, to give them more opportunities to perform before spectators.

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'Rakugo' legend Hikohachi festival held in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - A festival dedicated to Yonezawa Hikohachi, the founding father of "kamigata rakugo" comic story telling in the Osaka and Kyoto regions, is under way at Ikukunitama Shrine in Osaka on Sept. 6, 2014, to mark the 300th anniversary of his death. Performing at the center is well-known rakugo storyteller Katsura Yonedanji.

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'Rakugo' comic storytelling in Thai

BANGKOK, Thailand - Japanese "rakugo" comic storyteller Katsura Takemaru performs in both the Thai and Japanese languages at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Sept. 4, 2014.

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Storyteller tells ghost tale aboard ship on river

TOKYO, Japan - Storyteller Shunyo Kanda tells a ghost tale aboard a ship on the Nihombashi River in Tokyo on July 18, 2014, as part of a tour arranged by Hato Bus Co.

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Tour participants listen to ghost story aboard ship

TOKYO, Japan - Participants in a tour arranged by Hato Bus Co. listen to a ghost tale by storyteller Shunyo Kanda aboard a ship on the Nihombashi River in Tokyo on July 18, 2014.

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Katsura Bunshi wraps up name succession performances

OSAKA, Japan - Popular "rakugo" storyteller Katsura Bunshi greets the audience on March 8, 2014, in Osaka, western Japan, during the grand finale of a series of performances marking his succession to the name of his renowned master in "kamigata rakugo" in July 2012. He is the sixth-generation name holder.

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Japanese storyteller performs in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Japanese "rokyoku" storyteller Keiko Haruno (L) performs traditional narrative singing in English in New York on March 5, 2014.

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Japanese tells story in traditional style in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Japanese "rokyoku" storyteller Keiko Haruno conducts traditional narrative singing in English in New York on March 5, 2014.

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Traditional storytelling on Buddhism

OSAKA, Japan - Kyoko Okazawa, a storyteller to help laypersons understand Buddhism, explains about a "Nehan" painting of Buddha's deathbed and grieving followers and animals during her performance at a temple in Osaka's Tennoji Ward on Oct. 9, 2013.

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Traditional storytelling on Buddhism

OSAKA, Japan - Professional storyteller Kyokudo Nankai talks about a history of Kukai, who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism, before a gathering of people at a temple in Osaka's Chuo Ward on Dec. 27, 2013.

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Japanese "rokyoku" storyteller to perform in N.Y.

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 24, 2013, shows "rokyoku" storyteller Keiko Haruno, who will make her first overseas performance in New York in March 2014 with money raised on an online crowdfunding platform.

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Rakugo storyteller Danshi dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in March 2010 shows Tatekawa Danshi, Japan's top ''rakugo'' comic storyteller, making a speech during a party at a Tokyo hotel. Danshi died Nov. 21 of larynx cancer aged 75, his management office said Nov. 23.

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A-bomb storyteller Takahashi dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in July 2009 shows Akihiro Takahashi, former director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Takahashi, known for sharing his first-hand account of the 1945 atomic bombing, died of heart failure on Nov. 1, 2011, at a Hiroshima city hospital aged 80, the municipal government said the following day.

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'Rakugo' storyteller Hayashiya Sampei, actress Kokubu to marry

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Japanese ''rakugo'' storyteller Hayashiya Sampei. The 40-year-old comedian will marry actress Sachiko Kokubu, their agencies said Jan. 22, 2011.

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'Rakugo' storyteller to entertain Iraqi children

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese ''rakugo'' storyteller Shofukutei Kakusho (R) poses with Fumikazu Nishitani, who heads an organization to support Iraqi children, during a press conference in Osaka on Nov. 29, 2010. The sit-down comedian said he will perform traditional Japanese comedic routines for children in northern Iraq in the hopes of bringing them laughter.

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'Rakugo' storyteller to entertain Iraqi children

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese ''rakugo'' storyteller Shofukutei Kakusho speaks during a news conference in Osaka on Nov. 29, 2010. The sit-down comedian said he will perform traditional Japanese comedic routines for children in northern Iraq in the hopes of bringing them laughter.

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'Rakugo' storyteller Hayashiya Sampei in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China - Japanese ''rakugo'' storyteller Hayashiya Sampei performs in Shanghai on Nov. 20, 2010.

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Legendary 'rakugo' family mementos draw fans to Tokyo shop

TOKYO, Japan - Yasuji Ogawa poses for a photo at his shop ''Tamaru'' in Tokyo's downtown Yanaka district on April 21, 2010. The shop, dedicated to the legendary rakugo storyteller Kokontei Shinsho V and his sons Kingentei Basho and Kokontei Shincho, is packed with rare mementos of the family.

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Japanese 'rakugo' story teller performs at U.N.

NEW YORK, United States - Japanese comic 'rakugo' storyteller Katsura Koharudanji gives a performance at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Feb. 19, 2010. The stories presented in the Japanese language were subtitled in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. His performance at the U.N. headquarters commemorated the 10th anniversary of his overseas performances.

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Japanese storyteller to perform at U.N.

OSAKA, Japan - ''Rakugo'' comic storyteller Katsura Koharudanji poses during a news conference on Dec. 2, 2009, where he told reporters he will be performing at the United Nations Headquarters and Carnegie Hall in New York in February 2010. The internationally active performer of Japanese comic monologue in the ''kamigata'' style with instruments said he will be performing two classic rakugo stories at the U.N. with French, Spanish and Chinese subtitles.

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Japan storyteller entertains Cambodia students

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - ''Rakugo'' storyteller Katsura Utamaru performs a popular eel restaurant story, ''Shirouto Unagi,'' in Phnom Penh on Nov. 25, 2009. About 400 people including students learning Japanese listened to the comic monologue with English and Cambodian subtitles available, as part of a series of events for Japan-Mekong exchange year.

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Blind 'rakugo' storyteller makes debut in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Fukuten Katsura, a 41-year-old blind performer of ''rakugo'' -- a traditional Japanese art of humorous story-telling -- makes his debut performance before an audience of more than 200 at a theater in Osaka on Nov. 16, 2009.

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Rakugo comedian Sanyutei Enraku dies at 76

TOKYO, Japan - In this photo taken at Tokyo's National Engei Hall in February 2007, ''Rakugo'' comedian Sanyutei Enraku, who died on Oct. 30 of lung cancer at 76, gives his last rakugo performance, in which a lone storyteller relates a comic tale while seated. Known for his flowing storytelling, Entraku, whose real name was Hiroumi Yoshikawa, gained public popularity as a key member of the long-running TV comedy show ''Shoten.''

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Hayashiya Ippei

Hayashiya Ippei, comic storyteller (photo taken on Oct. 31, 2007)

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Reireisha Bafu

Reireisha Bafu, comic storyteller, chairman of Rakugo association (photo taken on Oct. 31, 2007)

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Hayashiya Shozo

Hayashiya Shozo, comic storyteller (photo taken on Oct. 31, 2007)

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Shumputei Koasa

Shumputei Koasa, comic storyteller (photo taken on Oct. 31, 2007)

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Some 1,800 people attend autumn imperial garden party

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) talks with comic storyteller Sanshi Katsura (2nd from R) during an annual autumn garden party at Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo on Oct. 25. Some 1,800 guests were invited to the party.

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Hayashiya Kikuo

Hayashiya Kikuo, comic storyteller (photo taken on May 25, 2007)

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Hayashiya Kikuzo

Hayashiya Kikuzo, comic storyteller (photo taken on May 25, 2007)

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Takao Yamada

Takao Yamada, TV personality and comic storyteller (photo taken on July 7, 2007)

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Katsura Utamaru

Katsura Utamaru, comic storyteller (photo taken on April 27, 2007)

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'Rakugo' comic storyteller ordered to pay penalty, back taxes

TOKYO, Japan - ''Rakugo'' comic storyteller Hayashiya Shozo speaks with reporters in Tokyo on April 16 after being ordered by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau to pay about 40 million yen in penalty and back taxes. The bureau said Hayashiya failed to declare around 120 million yen in income for the three years through 2005.

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Business storyteller Shiroyama dies at 79

TOKYO, Japan - Saburo Shiroyama (in photo taken in May 2003), a leading Japanese writer of business and biographical novels, died on March 22 of interstitial lung disease at a hospital in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, his agent said. He was 79. Brought up in Nagoya, Shiroyama, whose real name is Eiichi Sugiura, pioneered a style of business novel featuring inside stories of corporate Japan in the early 1970s, and also authored a number of books often modeled on existing personalities.

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Yanagiya Kosan

Yanagiya Kosan, comic storyteller (photo taken on Aug. 02, 2006)

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Expo celebrates couples on 30th wedding anniversary

NAGAKUTE, Japan - Twenty-six couples, including those from China, South Korea, Brazil and the Netherlands, are congratulated on their 30th wedding anniversary at an event at the World Exposition in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 11, with comic storyteller Katsura Sanshi (2nd from L) as host.