Katsura Shinnosuke

Katsura Shinnosuke was born Hiroshi Tsutagawa (伝川博, Tsutagawa Hiroshi)^[1] on 16 May 1952 in Shibuya, Tokyo.^[2] He became the disciple of Katsura Bunji X [ja] (then Katsura Shinji II) in October 1970^[2] and adopted the name Katsura Hiroji (桂ひろ治).^[3] He adopted the name Katsura Shinnosuke in April 1976 after being promoted to futatsume,^[3] and was promoted to star performer in May 1986.^[2][1]

His performances of his first master's works were described as "clever" and "indispensable".^[3] He was a member of the rakugo jazz band Newoirans [ja], for whom he was the pianist.^[1] His rakugo performances included Chōtan, Rokurokkubi, and Sanada Kozō,^[3] and Chihaya Furu was his final performance on 14 December 2019.^[3]

Katsura was admitted to the Itabashi Hospital at the Nihon University School of Medicine,^[2] where he died on 1 January 2020, aged 67, from acute myeloid leukemia.^[1]

He married Yūko (悠子).^[1]