The economic ripple effect that Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei, a permanent theater for rakugo (monologue comic storytelling), has brought to nearby shopping areas since it began operating in Osaka in September last year is estimated at 11.6 billion yen, according to the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The rakugo house, which is the first to operate daily in the city in six decades, was opened with about 185 million yen in donations from thousands of citizens and businesses. It thus achieved impressive results in only one year.
According to questionnaires answered by visitors, 11% of them were from 20 prefectures other than those in Kansai, ranging from Hokkaido in the north to Kagoshima in the south. And 84% of shops near the rakugo house replied that passersby increased while 50% said customers and sales volume also increased.
On Sept. 5, the total number of visitors to the house exceeded 140,000. Rakugo has been given a fresh look as interesting and profound traditional culture and the name of the house has become widely known. As a result, exchanges with rakugo performers in Tokyo have been promoted and local rakugo performances elsewhere have also drawn interest. There are requests for pubic performances at elementary schools, and 'New York Hanjotei' has been staged on Broadway in New York.
For inquiries, please contact Kita, Miyakojima, & Fukushima Branch, Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Tel: 06-6130-5112)
From Kansai Window Kippo News September 19th, 2007
Link to official Tenma Tenji Hanjo Tei site (Japanese only)
Past news related to Rakugo
Sanshi Katsura delivers lecture at Kansai Press Club