Showko Showfukutei
{{Short description|Japanese comedian and ventriloquist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Showko Showfukutei
| honorific_suffix = 笑福亭笑子
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| nationality = Japanese
| occupation =
- Actor
- Comedian
- Ventriloquist
- Rakugo Performer
| organization = Kamigata Rakugo Association
| family = Showfukutei
| website = {{URL|showkocomedy.com}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Showko Showfukutei|笑福亭 笑子|Shōfukutei Shōko}} is a Japanese comedian, ventriloquist, professional rakugo performer (Japanese traditional comedy), actor,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9844161/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm|title=IMDB - Showko Showfukutei|website=IMDb|publisher=}} and based in Melbourne.
Showko trained in method acting at the [https://melbourneactorslab.com Actors Lab] based on the [https://strasberg.edu/about/what-is-method-acting/ Lee Strasberg technique] and stars as [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35050712/fullcredits/?ref%20=tt%20cst%20sm Kimie] in the upcoming feature film Saccharine {{Cite web |title=Psychological horror Saccharine filming in Victoria |url=https://www.dsmelbourne.com/2024/12/19/psychological-horror-saccharine-filming-in-victoria/ |website=Docklands Studios Melbourne |date=19 December 2024 |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Showko is a professionally trained rakugo artist and is a member {{Cite web |title=笑福亭 笑子 |url=https://kamigatarakugo.jp/directory/ichimon/shofukutei_shoko/ |website=Kamigata Rakugo Association |language=ja |access-date=14 April 2025}}
of the [https://kamigatarakugo.jp Kamigata Rakugo Association] in Osaka.
She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo,{{cite web|url=https://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/japanese-entertainer-getting-laughs-and-friends-overseas-with-english-performances|title=Japanese entertainer getting laughs and friends overseas with English performances|date=27 September 2015 |publisher=}} Osaka, Singapore{{cite web|url=http://www.herworldplus.com/celebs/updates/celebs-updates-japanese-rakugo-performer-showko#.WLd8QsyGIq8.mailto|title=Japanese Rakugo Performer Showko|publisher=}} and regularly performs internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Showko was a finalist on Australia's Got Talent appears in the Amazon Prime Video special Absolutely Normal.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11681196/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1|title=IMDB - Absolutely Normal|website=IMDb|publisher=}}
Early Life
Showko was born in Kobe, Japan. She graduated {{Cite web |title=笑福亭 笑子 |url=https://kamigatarakugo.jp/directory/ichimon/shofukutei_shoko/ |website=Kamigata Rakugo Association |language=ja |access-date=14 April 2025}}
from Kobe Yamate University with a degree in psychology.
Her interest in ventriloquism began {{Cite web |title=Exploring Kookiness with Showko Showfukutei |url=https://colourboxstudio.com/exploring-kookiness-with-showko-showfukutei/ |website=Colour Box Studio |date=4 July 2022 |access-date=14 April 2025}} in childhood, and she later worked at a local police station teaching traffic safety to children using a ventriloquist puppet at [https://www.hyogo-ankyo.or.jp/activity/ Hyogo Traffic Safety Association].
After three years in that role, she moved to Canada to study English. During her time there, she focused on language immersion. Upon returning to Japan, she trained as a professional radio announcer, a decision influenced by her experience listening to English-language radio during her studies abroad.
Career
Prior to becoming a comedian, Showko was a radio presenter and DJ with regular programs for Radio Osaka, FM Uji, Yes FM and Beach Station FM in Japan, and later in Singapore at FM96.3 for MediaCorp.
Showko did her rakugo training with Rakugo Master Shōfukutei KakushowRakugo Master “[http://kakushow.jp/e-profile.htm Kakushow Showfukutei] to become a professional rakugo performer. Showko Showfukutei is a stage name awarded to her after completing a three-year Rakugo apprenticeship and she is the only fully trained professional rakugo performer living outside of Japan. {{Cite web |title=Showko Showfukutei – Japan Art Directory in Australia |url=https://artdirectory.sydney.jpf.go.jp/artists/showko-showfukutei/ |website=The Japan Foundation, Sydney |access-date=14 April 2025}}
Showko has written, produced and performed shows{{cite web|url=http://www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/culture_education/documents/Japan_Festival_Programme.pdf|title=New Zealand Japan Festival|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jad.jpf-sydney.org/artists/showko/index.html|title=Japan Art Directory in Australia|publisher=}} at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe (UK), Avignon Festival (France), Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sushi Dictator,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/comedy-festival/showko-in-sushi-dictator/news-story/132d9cd8c1cded1b2d89b2628f8326b3|title=Herald Sun Showko in Sushi Dictator ★★★★½|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=28 March 2014|publisher=|last1=Shanahan|first1=Brittany}}[http://katherinephelps.com/2014/03/2014-melbourne-comedy-festival•-showkosushi-dictator/ Katherine Phelps] The Butterfly Club,{{cite web|url=https://theatrepress.com.au/2012/06/16/review-showkos-japanese-puppet-raguko/|title=REVIEW: Showko's JAPANESE PUPPET RAGUKO|date=16 June 2012|publisher=}} Melbourne Fringe Festival,{{cite web|url=http://artsreview.com.au/melbourne-fringe-absolutely-normal/|title=Melbourne Fringe – Absolutely Normal|date=28 September 2017|publisher=}} The Athenaeum Theatre and was directed by Heath McIvor for her latest show Absolutely Normal {{cite web|url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/showko|title=Showko - Absolutely Normal - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018|publisher=}} at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Fringe receiving 5 star review.{{cite web|url=https://glamadelaide.com.au/fringe-review-showko-absolutely-normal/|title=Glam Adelaide - Absolutely Normal ★★★★★|date=16 March 2019|publisher=}}
Showko has appeared on a Japanese TV show Gooto Chikyu bin (グッと地球便)[https://www.ytv.co.jp/chikyubin/] “Good Chikyu bin" documenting her life and career, TV Tokyo Sekai Naze Sokoninihonjin (世界なぜそこに日本人海外で超有名人スペシャル).{{cite web |url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/nazesoko/backnumber/180827.html |title=世界ナゼそこに？日本人～知られざる波瀾万丈伝～：テレビ東京 |website=www.tv-tokyo.co.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928121636/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/nazesoko/backnumber/180827.html |archive-date=2018-09-28}} NHK Tsurube no Kazokini Kampai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯),{{Cite web|url=http://www4.nhk.or.jp/kanpai/|title = 鶴瓶の家族に乾杯}} Singapore (Channel NewsAsia: “Primetime Morning”) and Australia on Australia's Got Talent 2016 as a finalist, ABC TV for the "International Women's Day Debate"{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/iwd-allstar-debate/8296452|title=ABC Radio presents a special Debate for International Women's Day: That Motherhood Is Overrated?|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=23 February 2017|publisher=}} as well as being interviewed on ABC National Radio with John Faine.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/conversation-hour-live-diversity-and-comedy/9546828|title=What Makes You Laugh? Join Jon Faine for a special Conversation Hour Live|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=14 March 2018|publisher=}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shofukutei, Shoko}}
Category:Japanese women comedians
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)