Naomi Watanabe Brings Her Stand-up Comedy to NYC
The Japanese pop culture icon will perform at The Town Hall in NYC this Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Naomi Watanabe – From Tokyo
Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
The Town Hall – 123 W. 43rd Street (between 6th Avenue and Broadway)
Admission: $51.45
There are still a handful of tickets available for Naomi Watanabe’s stand-up comedy show at The Town Hall on Saturday, June 6.
The Japanese pop culture icon, who has almost 10 million Instagram followers, set a Guinness World Record for most tickets sold for a comedy show by a solo female comedian when 44,356 fans packed Tokyo Dome to see her perform on February 11, 2026. She kicked off her first North American tour this April.
More than a comedian, Watanabe is also an actress, model, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and advocate for plus-size women. Her streetwear brand, PUNYUS, which she launched in 2014, has forced Japan’s fashion industry to be more inclusive. To learn more about Watanabe, please visit her website.
To purchase tickets, please visit The Town Hall’s website.
Enjoying JapanCulture•NYC? This site is supported by our community, and a $5/month membership helps offset the costs of keeping it running so we can continue spotlighting the people and events that make our community shine. Please click here to join.
Rakugo at Japan Village
Rakugo, a traditional Japanese storytelling art, comes to Japan Village
Discover the Art of Rakugo!
Sunday, February 16 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue (2nd Floor), Brooklyn
Admission: Free
Japan Village and the English Rakugo Association present rakugo this Sunday in The Loft on the second floor.
What Is Rakugo?
Rakugo, a traditional art of Japanese storytelling with a 400-year-old history, features a lone rakugoka (storyteller) performing on a koza, a small, slightly elevated platform on a stage. Seated on a zabuton (cushion), the storyteller uses only a sensu (folding fan) and tenugui (hand towel) as props. This minimalist staging emphasizes the performer's storytelling skills.
Through quick voice changes, expressive facial expressions, and slight head turns, the rakugoka brings multiple characters to life—whether it's a hilarious comedy, a heartwarming tale, or a dramatic story. The punchline, or ochi, gives rakugo its name: “Rakugo” literally means “fallen words,” with the “fall” being the comedic twist at the end of the story that is characterized by clever wordplay.
Rakugo in English
In the 1980s, Katsura Shijaku wowed audiences in the U.S. and Canada by performing rakugo in English, gaining international recognition and helping to introduce this traditional Japanese art form to global audiences. At Japan Village, Kanariya Eisho will perform, showcasing how the English Rakugo Association uses the art form not only to share Japanese culture but also as an entertaining and creative way to help storytellers sharpen their English communication skills.
For more information about the English Rakugo Association, please visit their website.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!