At the end of the year in Senba, Billiken’s theater will “tell and sing” classic films. “Billiken-za Senba de Roadshow!”, a stage show by the imaginary theater “Billiken-za” — said to be managed by Billiken, the lucky god who is a symbol of Osaka — will be performed on Saturday, December 26, 2026 at the Osaka head office of Tamurakoma in Senba, Osaka. Following last year, this is the second show, and this time its subject is classic films from Japan and abroad. It will be an entertainment show that layers kodan (traditional Japanese storytelling), song, live music and illustration.
Billiken’s “theater” enters its second year
The show is organized by “BILLIKEN CREATORS OSAKA”, led by the textile trading company Tamurakoma. Tamurakoma runs the licensing business for Billiken, a god said to bring happiness if you rub the soles of his feet, and in 2022 it launched this project to use his power to promote Osaka culture and support creators. Under the slogan “Turn Billiken into art, and give Osaka energy”, it has worked on collaborations with artists, and in 2025 it expanded into the performing arts and started “Billiken-za”.
The first show, “Billiken-za Senba de Freude!”, combined kodan and opera. The second is built around storytelling about films that gives rise to songs, with those songs bringing famous scenes from the screen back to life. Even if you have never been to kodan or opera, films are a familiar way in — which makes this one easy to enjoy.
A kodan storyteller and a vocalist team up again
At the center is the duo who also appeared last time: kodan storyteller Kyokudo Nanpo and vocalist 池田真己. Kyokudo Nanpo became an apprentice of Kyokudo Nanzaemon, chairman of the Kamigata Kodan Association, in 2019. Based in Kansai, Nanpo carries on classical kodan while also working on “Human Kodan”, in which Nanpo interviews ordinary people and creates life stories with them as the heroes.
池田真己 is an opera singer living in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture. Ikeda studied at Kyoto City University of Arts and its graduate school, and won first prize at the Japan-Italy Vocal Concorso. Ikeda has also served as an instructor for the Suntory 10,000 Voices Beethoven’s Ninth (Suntory 10000-nin no Daiku).
Live electronic organ and newly created artwork
New to the lineup this time are electronic organist Anna Kamei and illustrator 奈路道程. Anna Kamei graduated from Soai University and won second prize in the classical category of the Yamaha International Electone Competition. Kamei performs and arranges music across a wide range of genres, including choral works, opera and musicals, and is also a part-time lecturer at Soai University and Osaka College of Music.
奈路道程 is an illustrator born in Kochi Prefecture and living in Osaka. Naro has created illustrations for Kansai magazines such as “Amakara Techo” as well as for advertising, books and newspapers, and received the Judges’ Special Prize at “BILLIKEN CREATORS OSAKA 2025”. Naro will create new film-themed artwork especially for this show. Advance tickets are ¥4,000 (tax included) and are on sale on tiget.
Show details
- Title: Billiken-za Senba de Roadshow!
- Date: Saturday, December 26, 2026; doors open 13:30, show starts 14:00
- Venue: Tamurakoma & Co., Ltd. Osaka Head Office (3-3-9 Azuchimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka)
- Performers: Kyokudo Nanpo (kodan storyteller), 池田真己 (vocalist), Anna Kamei (electronic organist), 奈路道程 (illustrator)
- Price: advance ticket ¥4,000, door ticket ¥4,500 (both tax included)
- Tickets (Japanese): https://tiget.net/events/521928
- Organizer: BILLIKEN CREATORS OSAKA Executive Committee
