The Kyodo News said Sunday that Enraku, whose real name was Hiroumi Yoshikawa, died last Thursday at an unspecified location, ending a career heralded for the TV host's elegant style.
Enraku embraced the Japanese entertainment style known as rakugo in which a single storyteller offers comical tales from on stage.
The Kyodo News said Enraku's last rakugo performance took place in February 2007 at the National Engei Hall in Tokyo.
Details regarding Enraku's survivors were not reported.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.