Tags: Actor.
Katsura Shijaku II (2代目 桂 枝雀 Nidaime Katsura Shijaku August 13 1939-April 19 1999) was a Japanese rakugo performer of the late 20th century who often performed in English. He was born Tōru Maeda (前田 達 Maeda Tōru) 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 (Shijaku Katsura II) in 1974.
