Press Release
OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 Draws 73,658 Attendees, Cirque du Soleil’s First Clown Auditions in Japan
Internationally Acclaimed Performers Bring Laughter Beyond Language Barriers to Osaka, Building on the Momentum of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Osaka, Japan, 20th Oct 2026 — Bringing together internationally acclaimed performers and productions recognized at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 celebrated the universal language of laughter in Osaka’s Minami district from October 10 to 12. The international comedy festival showcased nonverbal comedy that transcends language barriers, while a program held in conjunction with the festival saw Cirque du Soleil hold its first-ever clown auditions in Japan. Organized as part of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City’s efforts to sustain the momentum generated by Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the festival welcomed a total of 73,658 attendees over three days.
Organized by Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and the Osaka Cultural Arts Project Executive Committee, the three-day festival took place at Namba Square and SPACE14 on the 14th floor of Shinsaibashi PARCO. Centered on nonverbal comedy, the program brought together performers and productions that have earned international recognition, offering audiences from Japan and abroad the chance to enjoy comedy without language barriers. The event was managed by Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese entertainment company and talent agency.
Bringing the Energy of Expo 2025 to Osaka’s Cultural Scene
OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL is part of the Osaka International Cultural Arts Project, an initiative designed to build on the international attention generated by Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and sustain it through ongoing cultural and tourism exchanges.
The inaugural festival was held during Expo 2025. For its second edition, the festival took place in Minami, one of Osaka’s major entertainment and shopping districts, presenting three days of free street performances.
The festival sought to share Osaka’s distinctive comedy culture—traditionally represented by manzai, a form of Japanese double-act comedy, and rakugo, a traditional form of comic storytelling—with audiences around the world through physical and nonverbal comedy.
Festival Highlights and Attendance
– Total attendance: 73,658 over three days
– Street performances: Namba Square, October 10–12 (free admission)
– Theater performances: SPACE14, 14th floor of Shinsaibashi PARCO
・CHALLENGE: October 10, with two performances
・SKIT COMEDY SHOW: October 11
– Program held in conjunction with the festival: Cirque du Soleil Casting auditions, October 7–9
Internationally Acclaimed Performers Take the Stage
Cirque du Soleil Holds Its First-Ever Clown Auditions in Japan
As part of a program held in conjunction with the festival, Cirque du Soleil Casting conducted auditions in the clown and circus act categories. This marked the first time the company had held clown auditions in Japan.
Charlie Burrows, who oversees casting for all of Cirque du Soleil’s resident shows, traveled from Las Vegas to attend the auditions and took part in the opening ceremony on the festival’s first day. Reflecting on the performers he saw in Osaka, he said, “I saw so many wonderful performers in Osaka.”
THE TOKYO IDIOTS, Featuring Britain’s Got Talent Finalist TONY
THE TOKYO IDIOTS invite audience members onto the stage for a coordinated comedy routine.
THE TOKYO IDIOTS, a comedy unit featuring TONY (Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura), WES-P and GASSY (Koikuchi Ichikawa), took to the center stage at Namba Square.
TONY reached the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, while WES-P has appeared on Got Talent programs in more than 10 countries and regions. The trio have also appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the world’s largest performing arts festivals, and received the “Sea of Laughter Award” at the Busan International Comedy Festival in South Korea.
Their coordinated routines, including a segment that brought audience members onto the stage, filled Namba Square with laughter and applause.
CHALLENGE: Five-Star-Rated Nonverbal Comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
CHALLENGE, a nonverbal comedy production that received a five-star review at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
At SPACE14 on the 14th floor of Shinsaibashi PARCO, the festival presented CHALLENGE, a nonverbal comedy production that received a five-star review during the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Written, directed and produced by Akira Ishida of the Japanese comedy duo NON STYLE, the show incorporates distinctly Japanese elements, including sword-fighting choreography and kendama, a traditional Japanese skill toy. Through facial expressions, physical movement and music, the production tells its story without relying on dialogue.
The theater welcomed many international visitors. Following the performance, audience members shared reactions such as, “I’ve never seen a show like this before” and “It was much more fun than I expected.”
GABEZ, Known for Their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Pictogram Performance, Close the Festival
Namba Square, the venue for the festival’s free street performances. OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 drew a total of 73,658 attendees over three days.
Nonverbal performance duo GABEZ brought the festival’s final day to a close on the main stage. The duo are widely known for their pictogram performance at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Combining pantomime, dance and audience participation, their performance drew enthusiastic applause from spectators of all ages, including children and international tourists, through to the finale.
Akira Ishida, Festival MC and Director of CHALLENGE, Shares His Vision
Akira Ishida of NON STYLE, festival MC and director of CHALLENGE.
Akira Ishida of NON STYLE, who served as the festival’s overall master of ceremonies and directed CHALLENGE, commented:
“We have performers here who can make people laugh without relying on words. I really hope audiences from overseas will find them funny, too!”
OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL to Continue in 2027 and Beyond
OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL is scheduled to continue in 2027 and beyond. Details of the next edition, including dates and program information, will be announced on the official website and social media channels as soon as confirmed.
Information for International Media
The festival’s international media contact team welcomes inquiries in both English and Japanese regarding:
– Media materials: Official photographs from all three days and daily highlight videos are available for news coverage of the event only. No credit line is required. Online use of video footage is limited to one video of no more than five minutes, with use permitted until December 31, 2026.
– Future coverage and interviews: Inquiries are welcome regarding coverage of the next edition and interviews with performers and event organizers.
Event Information
Event name: OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 (Part of the Osaka International Cultural Arts Project)
Dates: October 10 (Saturday)–12 (Monday, national holiday), 2026
Venues:
– Street performances: Namba Square, 5-1 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
– Theater performances: SPACE14, 14th floor, Shinsaibashi PARCO, 1-8-3 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Organizers: Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and the Osaka Cultural Arts Project Executive Committee
Committee members: Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, and Kansai Tourism Bureau
Total attendance: 73,658
Official website: https://oc-fes.com
Official social media channels:
X: @osaka_comedyfes
Instagram: @osaka_comedy_festival
Media Inquiries
International Media Desk
Osaka Cultural Arts Project Operations Secretariat
International Public Relations (APOC Co., Ltd.)
Email: pr@apocc.co.jp
Tel: +81-3-6823-8848
Office hours: Weekdays, 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Email inquiries are accepted 24 hours a day.
General Inquiries and Performance Information in Japan
Osaka Cultural Arts Project Operations Secretariat
Tel: 06-7177-6938 (weekdays, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. JST)
Email: info@oica-project.jp
Media Contact
Organization: Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Contact Person: Satoko Kimura
Website: https://www.yoshimoto.co.jp
Email: Send Email
Address: 1-9-1 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi
City: Osaka
Country: Japan
Release id: 50054
View source version on King Newswire:
OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 Draws 73,658 Attendees, Cirque du Soleil’s First Clown Auditions in Japan
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
The 2026 AI Shopping Agent Awards scored eight AI shopping tools on checkout savings, and Saparo received 390 of 400 points across four published criteria.
United States, 20th Oct 2026, Grand Newswire – SAN FRANCISCO, October 14, 2026 — The AI Shopping Assistant Institute (bestaishoppingassistant.com) today announced the results of its 2026 Best AI Shopping Agent Awards and recognized Saparo (saparo.ai) with the 2026 award. The ranking reviewed the public documentation of eight AI shopping tools. It scored each tool on how well it helps a shopper pay the lowest honest price for a product they have already chosen, while keeping the shopper in control of the payment. All scores and the full rubric are published at bestaishoppingagent.com.
Disclosure
The AI Shopping Assistant Institute and the Best AI Shopping Agent Awards are operated by the clawbot.ai editorial team. Saparo is not owned or operated by the Institute or by clawbot.ai. Every score is published with its documentation sources so readers can check the results themselves.
How the Tools Were Scored
The editorial panel reviewed each tool’s public documentation. Tools were scored from 0 to 100 on four dimensions: Savings Depth, Price Transparency, Checkout Control and Retailer Reach. Each total is the unweighted sum of the four, built from twenty documentation checks.
How Saparo Compared With the Field
Saparo scored 100 on Savings Depth, 100 on Price Transparency, 100 on Checkout Control and 90 on Retailer Reach, for a total of 390.
Why Saparo Scored 390 of 400
Saparo was the only tool in the field whose documentation met all four criteria:
- Savings Depth: It compares promo codes, cashback, card rewards and gift-card discounts in a single view, rather than handling only one type of saving.
- Price Transparency: It shows every line of the final price, including shipping and tax, before the shopper commits.
- Checkout Control: It hands account, CAPTCHA and payment steps back to the shopper, and card numbers are entered on the merchant’s own checkout page.
- Retailer Reach: It compares the same product across several retailers.
According to Saparo’s documentation, the agent tests promo codes, compares cashback and card rewards, and weighs gift-card routes. It then presents the result as one readable checkout plan. The shopper reviews each discount line and approves the payment personally.
“Checkout savings come from several places at once: codes, cashback, card rewards and gift cards,” said Michael of the AI Shopping Assistant Institute’s editorial panel. “We scored tools on whether they put those side by side, show the full final price and leave the payment decision with the shopper. Saparo met all four criteria, and that is reflected in its score of 390.”
What the Ranking Covers
The ranking is an editorial assessment of each tool’s publicly documented capabilities, scored against a published rubric. It evaluates checkout savings specifically. It does not rate product discovery and does not guarantee the price of any individual order.
About the AI Shopping Assistant Institute
The AI Shopping Assistant Institute publishes standards, research and annual awards on AI-assisted online shopping. Launched in 2026, it maintains a five-level standard for AI shopping autonomy, an annual report, a glossary and a checkout savings calculator. Website: https://bestaishoppingassistant.com/
About the Best AI Shopping Agent Awards
The Best AI Shopping Agent Awards is an annual ranking of AI shopping agents. It applies the AI Shopping Assistant Institute’s scoring method and publishes every score. Website: https://bestaishoppingagent.com/
About Saparo
Saparo is an AI shopping agent that turns a shopping task into a clear checkout plan. It compares coupons, cashback, card rewards, gift-card savings and retailer prices before the shopper pays. Saparo is available as a Chrome extension and is currently in Beta. Saparo charges no subscription and no success fees, and no card is required to get started. Website: https://saparo.ai/
Media Contact
Organization: clawbot ai
Contact
Person: Michael
Website:
https://clawbot.ai/
Email:
contact@clawbot.ai
Country:United States
The post AI Shopping Assistant Institute Recognizes Saparo in 2026 AI Shopping Agent Awards
appeared first on Grand Newswire.
It is provided by a third-party content provider. Grand Newswire makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Humane HR Magazine Issue 2 – October 2026 Edition Now Live as Humane HR Awards 2027 Nominations Open
Woodside, South Australia, Australia, 20th Oct 2026, Grand Newswire –
Humane HR magazine Issue 2 – October 2026 Edition is now live, featuring interviews and expert contributions on human resources, workplace practices and leadership.
The issue of the HR for Humans at Work publication examines approaches to workplace management, employee development, recognition, performance, wellbeing and organisational change. Contributors discuss practices such as outcome-based performance measurement, flexible work arrangements, employee-led learning, peer recognition, mentorship and the integration of artificial intelligence into professional development.
The edition’s expert roundups also bring together perspectives on the factors that influence employee engagement, accountability and workplace experiences. Contributors address how trust, communication, autonomy and defined expectations inform management practices and team performance.
The issue also features the Humane HR Awards 2025 recipients, whose work covers areas including neuro-inclusive leadership, workplace safety, human–technology integration, emotional intelligence, employee wellbeing and organisational transformation.
Through interviews and expert responses, the October edition considers how human resources practitioners and organisational leaders can account for employee needs while addressing business objectives. The contributions examine the role of leadership decisions, workplace systems and development opportunities in shaping how people participate and contribute at work.
Issue 2 continues the magazine’s coverage of human resources through perspectives from professionals working across different roles and sectors.
The October 2026 edition is available via major retailers including Amazon. More details can be found via the Humane HR Magazine page at the website of HR for Humans at Work.
Alongside the magazine’s release, HR for Humans at Work has announced the opening of nominations for the Humane HR Awards 2027. The awards provide an opportunity to recognise individuals and organisations whose work contributes to human resources, workplace practices and leadership. Interested individuals and organisations can consult the HR for Humans at Work website for nomination details and further information about the awards.
About HR for Humans at Work
HR for Humans at Work covers human resources, workplace practices and leadership through interviews, articles and professional perspectives. Its content examines how organisations approach people management, employee development, workplace relationships and organisational responsibilities.
About Humane HR Magazine
Humane HR Magazine is a publication focused on human resources, workplace leadership and the relationship between organisational practices and the people affected by them. Through interviews and expert contributions, the magazine covers topics including employee engagement, workplace wellbeing, professional development, inclusion, technology and organisational change.
About Humane HR Awards
The Humane HR Awards programme is hosted by HR for Humans at Work to recognise individuals, initiatives, companies and organisations contributing to more human-centred workplaces. The global awards recognise achievements across human resources and related fields, with consideration given to areas such as employee wellbeing, inclusion, leadership, professional development, workplace safety, innovation and organisational effectiveness. Through its recognition programme, the Humane HR Awards seeks to highlight practices that balance organisational objectives with the dignity, growth and wellbeing of people at work.
For more information and nomination details, visit https://hrforhumansatwork.com/humane-hr-awards/.
Media Contact
Organization: HR for Humans at Work
Contact
Person: Esperanza Pretila
Website:
https://hrforhumansatwork.com/
Email:
esperanza.pretila@hrforhumansatwork.com
Address:82 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside, South Australia 5244
City: Woodside
State: South Australia
Country:Australia
The post Humane HR Magazine Issue 2 – October 2026 Edition Now Live as Humane HR Awards 2027 Nominations Open
appeared first on Grand Newswire.
It is provided by a third-party content provider. Grand Newswire makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Godspower Oshodin of Africa Literature Trust Fund Announces Book Tour in Kigali Accra and Cannes
Godspower Oshodin, founder of the Africa Literature Trust Fund, has announced public readings and book signings for his book Even the Devil Wears a Pretty Smile in Kigali on 7 November, Accra on 4 December and Cannes on 18 December 2026.
ABUJA, Nigeria, 20 October 2026 – Godspower Oshodin, founder of the Africa Literature Trust Fund (ALTF), today announced a book tour for his book “Even the Devil Wears a Pretty Smile,” with public readings and book signings in Rwanda, Ghana and France in November and December 2026.
Confirmed tour dates
7 November 2026 – Kigali, Rwanda
4 December 2026 – Accra, Ghana
18 December 2026 – Cannes, France
Each event will include a reading from the book, a book signing and time for questions from the audience. Further dates are planned for 2027 and will be announced once they are confirmed.
“Reading aloud in front of an audience is one of the oldest ways of sharing a story,” said Godspower Oshodin. “I am glad to take this book to readers in Africa and Europe, and to do it as part of the work we do at the Africa Literature Trust Fund to bring books and readers together.”
About Godspower Oshodin
Godspower Oshodin is a Nigerian writer and the founder of the Africa Literature Trust Fund. “Even the Devil Wears a Pretty Smile” is published by ALTF.
About the Africa Literature Trust Fund
The Africa Literature Trust Fund is a foundation based in Abuja, Nigeria, founded in 2013. It promotes reading, writing and language across Africa and publishes work by African writers. Writers can submit manuscripts through the organisation’s website at www.africaliteraturetrustfund.org.
Media Contact
Organization: Africa Literature Trust Fund
Contact Person: Godspower Oshodin
Website: http://www.africaliteraturetrustfund.org
Email:
greatpoet6@gmail.com
Contact Number: +2349094142307
Address: 8, Adebayo Adedeji Crescent, Utako
City: Abuja
State: FCT
Country: Nigeria
Release id: 50036
View source version on King Newswire:
Godspower Oshodin of Africa Literature Trust Fund Announces Book Tour in Kigali Accra and Cannes
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
AI Shopping Assistant Institute Recognizes Saparo in 2026 AI Shopping Agent Awards
Humane HR Magazine Issue 2 – October 2026 Edition Now Live as Humane HR Awards 2027 Nominations Open
Godspower Oshodin of Africa Literature Trust Fund Announces Book Tour in Kigali Accra and Cannes
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