Departures of note

Katsura Yonesuke, born Motoaki Koyama in Osaka in 1950, was a Kamigata (Osaka-style) rakugo comic storyteller. In April 1970 he became a disciple of the third-generation Katsura Beicho, one of the most celebrated figures in the revival of Kamigata rakugo, and made his stage debut that October at the Katsura Beicho Rakugo Research Society in Kyoto. He belonged to the Beicho office throughout his career and served as a director of the Kamigata Rakugo Association.

Beyond his storytelling, Yonesuke was widely respected as a master of the hayashi musical accompaniment, excelling on the transverse flute, shamisen, and nagauta. He taught these skills to numerous younger Kamigata rakugo performers and also served as a lecturer in the rakugo introduction course at Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei. He was president of the senryu poetry group "Nihiki-me no Dozeu."

Yonesuke died of pneumonia at his home in Suita, Osaka, on July 15, 2026, at the age of 75. His death was announced by the Beicho office about a month later, on August 21, 2026.