Shijaku Katsura

Katsura Shijaku II was a Japanese rakugo performer of the late 20th century, who often performed in English. He was born Tōru Maeda in Kobe, the son of a brick-maker. 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 in 1974.