Rakugo about a doctor who treats a patient with pain: Toyama native, Yanagiya Sansei, performs for the first time (Kyodo News)

Rakugo artist Sansei Yanagiya (68), who was born in Toyama City, created a rakugo story that depicts the life of Dr. Noboru Hagino (1915-1990), who devoted himself to identifying the cause and treating Itai-itai disease, one of the four major pollution-related diseases that occurred in the Jinzu River basin that runs through the city. The story was first performed in the city on the 5th, and is a heartwarming tale.