Houkan (Hōkan)
ほうかん
Industry & Occupation
Classification
- Major : Service Occupations
- Middle : Customer Service and Food Service Occupations
- Minor : Hospitality Entertainment Workers and Geisha
Summary
Traditional hospitality art that primarily provides laughter and entertainment at banquets and social gatherings to entertain guests.
Description
Houkan primarily perform at lively venues such as banquets and teahouses, beating drums, showcasing storytelling and entertainment acts to make guests laugh and feel welcomed. They liven up the atmosphere with comedic performances and quick-witted responses, using attentiveness and conversational skills to meet guests' needs. They are in demand across a wide range of settings, including local festivals, events, ryotei restaurants, and ryokan inns, and have played an important role in Japanese social culture since ancient times.
Future Outlook
Due to declining birthrates, aging population, and challenges in cultural inheritance, the number of practitioners is decreasing. On the other hand, increased recognition as traditional entertainment and demand from tourism and events are expected to maintain niche demand.
Personality Traits
Able to Make Judgments According to the Situation / Cheerful Personality / Sharp Observation Skills / Sociable
Work Style
Career Path
Apprentice Houkan → Houkan → Chief Houkan → Seat Leader → Cultural Transmitter/Instructor
Required Skills
Communication Skills / Humor Expression / Improvisational Acting / Reading the Room / Storytelling
Recommended Skills
Drum Performance / Entertainment Knowledge / Japanese Culture Knowledge / Physical Expression
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Adaptability | Because flexible responses are required. |
| Communication Skills | Because it is essential for conversations with guests and livening up the atmosphere. |
| Creativity & Ideation | Because it is necessary to constantly devise original entertainment and storytelling. |
| Stress Tolerance | Because continuous immediate responses to audience reactions are required. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Analytical & Logical Thinking | Because sensory expression is valued more than logical thinking. |
| Numerical & Quantitative Analysis | Because money management is often handled by others. |
Aliases
- Taiko-mochi
Related Jobs
- Bartender
- Geisha
- Hostess