| Showko Showfukutei | |
| Honorific Suffix: | 笑福亭笑子 |
| Birth Place: | Kobe, Japan |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Occupation: |
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| Organization: | Kamigata Rakugo Association |
| Family: | Showfukutei |
is a Japanese comedian, ventriloquist, professional rakugo performer (Japanese traditional comedy), actor,[1] and speaker based in Melbourne. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo,[2] Osaka, Singapore[3] and regularly performs internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Showko was a finalist on Australia's Got Talent in 2016, and in 2019 released an Amazon Prime Video called Absolutely Normal in the US and UK.[4] Her stage show is a combination of stand-up comedy and ventriloquism.
Showko regularly performs rakugo (Japanese traditional comedy) and she is a member of the Kamigata Rakugo Association (上方落語協会).
Showko did her rakugo training with Rakugo Master Shōfukutei Kakushow[5] 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.
Showko has written, produced and performed her own shows[6] [7] at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe (UK), Avignon Festival (France), Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sushi Dictator,[8] [9] The Butterfly Club,[10] Melbourne Fringe Festival[11],, The Athenaeum Theatre and was directed by Heath McIvor for her latest show Absolutely Normal[12] at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Fringe receiving 5 star review.[13]
Showko has appeared on a Japanese TV show Gooto Chikyu bin (グッと地球便)[14] 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).[15] NHK Tsurube no Kazokini Kampai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯),[16] 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"[17] as well as being interviewed on ABC National Radio with John Faine.[18]
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 FM96.3 at MediaCorp Singapore.