Approximately 300 popular stories are still performed as classic rakugo, along with many new stories written by contemporary rakugo performers in the traditional style and structure. Each narrative is divided into three sections: the makura, or prologue; the hondai (hanashi), or main story; and the ochi, or final punch line. The makura introduces the performer and the audience to each other while also setting up the story's context. The hondai tells the actual tale, while the ochi provides a surprise ending. The makura typically begins with the actor playing several different roles, often comically exaggerated, such as teacher, parent, friend, or lover. After introducing the characters, the actor will sometimes describe how they met with some sort of humorous incident. The hondai then proceeds directly from the makura to the climax of the story, where the actor reveals the plot twist at the end of the hondai. Finally, the ochi closes the performance with another joke or humorous anecdote. The makura and hondai are both spoken words, but the ochi is performed with facial expressions and body movements. A rakugo artist performs alongside a karuta player who writes the makura and hondai on paper cards. The cards are shuffled before being dealt out one by one for the performance to follow. The rakugo theater began in Tokyo's pleasure districts around 1920.