Rakugo for Peace: Stories That Bring Us Together

Experience a unique charity evening at Morgan Lewis’s Houston office, where the wit of traditional Japanese storytelling opens a conversation about the lives of young people affected by conflict and the possibilities for peace. *This event will be held in person. Sign up here Accept International is a hands-on international NGO working in conflict-affected countries and regions, including Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, Indonesia, and Colombia. Through our efforts on peacebuilding and conflict resolution, we work to break cycles of violence and build sustainable peace. As part of this mission, we support young people who have become involved in armed groups to lay down their weapons, reintegrate into society, and become agents of peace in their communities. We are excited to host a “Rakugo Charity Event” for audiences in the United States, particularly those in Houston, Texas. Enjoy a live Rakugo performance* by Jitsuro Morishita, a partner at Morgan Lewis’s Tokyo office who has also performed at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Through voice and gesture, Rakugo brings unseen characters and their worlds vividly to life. Then hear from Dr. Yosuke Nagai, Executive Director of Accept International, as he shares the stories of young people in Somalia and Yemen and his work supporting those who leave armed groups and rebuild their lives. Taking the imagination sparked by Rakugo as a starting point, we invite you to picture the experiences and circumstances behind these young people’s stories and, together with peacebuilding practitioners, explore what peace can mean from different perspectives. *Rakugo is a traditional Japanese form of comic storytelling performed by a single seated storyteller. If you have any questions before the event, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] We look forward to meeting you! ▼Event Information ▷Date & Time: Monday, October 19, 2026, 5:00–8:00 PM (CDT) ▷Location: Morgan Lewis Houston Office 1000 Louisiana St., Suite 4000 Houston, TX 77002-5006, United States ▷Participation Fee：Free Sign up here 【Speakers】 Jitsuro Morishita Partner, Morgan Lewis U.S. Patent Litigator Rakugo Performer Jits represents leading Japanese companies in high-stakes U.S. litigation and advises on intellectual property and antitrust strategy, as well as M&A transactions. Performing under the stage name Horaku, he also shares the wit and humor of rakugo, Japan’s traditional art of comic storytelling, with audiences in both Japanese and English. Dr. Yosuke Nagai Executive Director of Accept International Founder of Global Taskforce For Youth Combatants (GTY) Dr. Nagai has been working for more than 15 years to help young people who have been involved with armed groups leave violence behind and rebuild their lives and communities in areas most affected by armed conflict, including Somalia and Yemen. He is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford and has contributed to expert and advisory groups connected to the UN agencies. ▼Timeline ・5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. Registration ・6:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. Seminar/Rakugo ・7:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. Reception *All times are in Central Daylight Time (CDT). Sign up here