Yakumo Yuurakutei

The Eighth Generation Yakumo Yuurakutei is the main protagonist of Haruko Kumota's manga and anime series Showa Rengoku Rakugo Shinju. He is a famous performer of rakugo, a form of Japanese spoken theatre wherein a lone person sits down in the middle of a stage and tells an (often comical) story, with multiple characters depicted through different pitches, tones, and gestures.

Even though the series has been highly praised for its dramatic plot, its main subject -- rakugo -- is a niche art which is little-known among international audiences. Despite this, the rakugo performer has been nominated for the International Saimoe League's main tournament, successfully qualifying in the 2017 edition with just 6 nomination votes.

The character's English name in ISML is displayed as "Kikuhiko", his given name during his apprenticeship under the Seventh Yakumo Yuurakutei.