Shohei Shofukutei, one of Japan’s leading comedy gurus and a well-known rakugo master, died on the morning of Jan. 22 at the age of 66.

According to an obituary issued by his management company, he died of an acute aortic dissection while lying on his back in his Tokyo home.

Rakugo originated in the Edo period. It is a famous traditional performing art in Japan and attaches great importance to the inheritance from masters to apprentices. Rakugo performers usually perform solo kneeling on cushions while wearing kimonos. With a fan in hand, they tell a series of stories. Whether a performer can tell the story vividly or make the audience laugh depends on his skill.

The art form of rakugo is similar to storytelling or stand-up comedy in China.

There are many schools of rakugo performers, each school requiring a master to teach his craft to apprentices. Rakugo performers usually use stage names, with the first part known as a “Pavilion name,” which is similar to a surname, such as Gui, Gujin Pavilion, Sanyou Pavilion, Spring Breeze Pavilion, Lin Family, Liu Family, etc. These Pavilion names belong to different schools and have been handed down from generation to generation since the Edo period.

Shofukutei was famous in Japan for his rakugo performance. Since his debut 42 years ago, he had been active in various TV variety shows. His unexpected death is a shock to the show-business community and the public.

Shofukutei was once rushed to the hospital in 2015 after experiencing chest pains while playing golf. To this end, he cut back on playing golf. His family and fans did not expect this sudden aortic dissection would take him away from them.

“It was a big shock,” said Kanpei Hazama, a well-known Japanese comedian. “We used to talk backstage. We were regulars on TV together. After I heard he collapsed on the golf course, we kept telling each other to take care of ourselves.”

The death rate from aortic dissection is extremely high. Famous victims of the disease include Taiwanese singer Alien Huang and Strait Exchange Foundation chairman Jiang Bing-kun.

“Aortic dissection is a complex cardiovascular disease with a high fatality rate. At least 50 percent of patients die within 48 hours of aortic dissection, making diagnosis and treatment a race against time,” Dr. Ryoichi Nakahara of Tokyo Medical University told The Epoch Times on Feb. 23.

Aortic dissection is caused by damage, such as high blood pressure or defective connective tissue, to the middle layer of the aortic vessel wall, Nakahara said. In addition, the inner wall of the aorta is ruptured, and the blood flow enters the wall of the aorta through the break in the inner wall, forming a tear between the inner wall of the aorta and the middle wall. This results in the separation of the inner and middle layers of the aorta, forming a dissection. If blood gushing from the tear penetrates the outer wall of the aorta, it can cause death. Therefore, emergency surgery is the only way to ensure the patient’s survival.

“If you have sudden, sharp pain in your chest and back, pain like a tear, or fainting from the pain, you probably have an aortic dissection or even a ruptured aorta, and you need immediate medical attention,” she said.