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

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OSAKA COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026 Draws 73,658 Attendees, Cirque du Soleil’s First Clown Auditions in Japan

Mastek using its proprietary ADOPT-AI platform will help the council modernise finance, procurement, HR and payroll services, supporting future-ready public service delivery and local government reorganisation readiness

United States, 20th Oct 2026 –  Mastek (UK) Limited, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Mastek Limited (NSE: MASTEK; BSE: 523704), a trusted AI-first digital engineering and cloud transformation partner, today announced that it has been selected by Staffordshire County Council to deliver a significant Oracle Cloud transformation programme spanning Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and Payroll.

Under the engagement, Mastek will use its ADOPT AI platform to deliver Oracle Cloud as the Council’s single, integrated platform for Finance, Procurement, HR and Payroll. The new environment will enable the Council to consolidate legacy systems, strengthen data governance, enhance employee experience and establish a modern digital foundation to support ongoing transformation.

As one of England’s largest county councils, Staffordshire County Council serves more than 875,000 residents and delivers a broad range of essential public services across education, social care, highways and community services. Supporting these services requires efficient, resilient and future-ready corporate operations capable of adapting to evolving organisational and service delivery requirements.

The programme forms a key part of Staffordshire County Council’s wider ambition to modernise its corporate services and establish a more agile, digitally enabled operating model. The council is focused on simplifying and standardising back-office processes, improving operational visibility and governance, reducing manual effort, and creating a scalable foundation capable of supporting future organisational change.

Abhishek Singh, President UKI & Europe, Mastek, said, “We are delighted to partner with Staffordshire County Council on this important transformation programme. Local authorities are increasingly focused on modernising operations while preparing for future structural and service delivery changes. By combining Oracle Cloud technology with Mastek’s extensive public sector transformation expertise and AI native approach, we look forward to helping the council build a more efficient, resilient and future-ready operating model that delivers long-term value for employees, stakeholders and residents.”

Pete Shakespear, Director of Finance & Resources, Staffordshire County Council, said, “As we continue to evolve our operating model and prepare for future organisational change, it is important that our corporate systems are modern, efficient and capable of supporting long-term transformation. Mastek demonstrated a strong understanding of our objectives, and we look forward to partnering with them to deliver a platform that will help us build a more agile and future-ready organisation.”

The programme marks another important milestone in Mastek’s continued growth within UK Local Government and reinforces its position as a trusted transformation partner for large-scale public sector modernisation initiatives.

Following a competitive procurement process, Mastek was selected based on its Oracle Cloud expertise, extensive UK local government experience, collaborative delivery approach and strong understanding of Staffordshire County Council’s transformation objectives.

The engagement further strengthens Mastek’s position as a trusted transformation partner within UK Local Government and expands its Oracle Cloud footprint across finance, procurement and human capital management. The programme is particularly significant as councils across England prepare for local government reorganisation and seek modern, scalable technology platforms capable of supporting organisational change while improving service resilience. The win also enhances Mastek’s growing portfolio of Oracle Cloud transformation programmes and provides a strong reference point for other local authorities pursuing enterprise-wide modernisation initiatives.

About Mastek

Mastek (NSE: MASTEK; BSE: 523704) is a global provider of enterprise AI, digital, and cloud services, enabling clients to achieve measurable and sustainable returns on their technology investments. The company has a presence in over 40 countries and a skilled workforce of close to 5,000 employees. Through its “Lead with AI” approach, Mastek integrates intelligence across its solutions and operations, enabling organizations to accelerate transformation using ethical, scalable, and domain-driven AI adoption. Mastek partners with industry leaders such as Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft, AWS, Snowflake, and Databricks, serving key sectors such as Public Sector, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Higher Education, and Financial Services. Mastek is committed to driving innovation by developing a strong ecosystem of start-ups, academia, and IPs. With its core values of trust, value, and velocity, the company empowers 400+ active customers to transform their business in the evolving tech landscape. Mastek has always been a solutions-focused and relationship-centric company, valuing both employees and clients. With its humane approach, Mastek fosters growth through sustainable goals, high ethical standards, and responsible governance.

Media Contact

Organization: Mastek

Contact Person: David Marcelline

Website: https://mastek.com/us/industries/retail

Email: Send Email

Country: United States

Release id: 49938

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Mastek Selected by Staffordshire County Council to Drive AI Enabled – Oracle Cloud Transformation

A faith centered guide examines the mental, emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual gaps that can quietly separate people from purpose, wholeness, and meaningful growth.

Houston, Texas, United States, 20th Oct 2026 – Keach Publishing Agency announces the release of “Where’s the GAP?” by David P. Matthews, a reflective and practical new book, now available on Amazon, built around a deceptively simple question: What is standing between the life a person is living and the life he or she is meant to live?

Matthews approaches that question through what he calls the Five Sacred Trusts: mental alignment, emotional alignment, physical alignment, financial alignment, and spiritual alignment. His central argument is that these areas do not exist in isolation. A neglected gap in one can place pressure on the others, shaping decisions, relationships, health, finances, identity, and a person’s sense of purpose.

Rather than presenting personal growth as a matter of appearances or temporary behavior change, “Where’s the GAP?” asks readers to look beneath the visible symptoms of frustration, exhaustion, unresolved hurt, financial strain, or spiritual disconnection. Matthews writes from a distinctly Christian perspective, combining scripture, personal reflection, prayer, and direct questions intended to help readers identify root causes and move toward genuine alignment.

“A gap does not always announce itself loudly,” Matthews says. “Sometimes it hides behind success, busyness, relationships, money, ministry, or achievement. The real work begins when we are willing to identify what pressure is revealing and allow God to address the root, not simply the symptom.”

The book moves through each of the Five Sacred Trusts individually while showing how closely they influence one another. The mental section explores mindset, maturity, and the role of adversity. The emotional section examines forgiveness, unresolved pain, and self compassion. The physical section challenges readers to view care of the body as stewardship. The financial section considers money, responsibility, generosity, and purpose. The spiritual section brings the framework together by placing identity, obedience, and God given purpose at the center of a whole life.

That interconnected approach gives the book relevance beyond a single moment of motivation. A person dealing with financial pressure may also be carrying emotional wounds. Mental exhaustion can affect physical health. Spiritual disconnection can alter identity and direction. By helping readers recognize those relationships, Matthews offers a framework for asking better questions about why certain patterns persist and what meaningful change may require.

“This is not a book about pretending every part of life is perfect,” Matthews says. “It is about becoming honest enough to see where the gap exists, disciplined enough to address it, and faithful enough to believe that restoration and purpose are still possible.”

“Where’s the GAP?” is positioned for readers interested in Christian personal development, spiritual growth, whole person alignment, purpose, stewardship, and practical faith. Its message is especially timely for individuals who appear productive on the outside yet sense that something important remains unresolved within.

Keach Publishing Agency is supporting the title through a broader book marketing and publicity campaign designed to introduce Matthews and his Five Sacred Trusts framework to readers, faith communities, media outlets, podcast hosts, book reviewers, and organizations focused on personal and spiritual development.

“Where’s the GAP?” is available now and live on Amazon. Readers can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKYJ59YX

About David P. Matthews

David P. Matthews writes about faith, purpose, personal responsibility, and whole person growth. In “Where’s the GAP?” he draws on personal reflection, mentoring experience, and Christian teaching to help readers examine the areas of life that may be keeping them from greater alignment with God and their purpose. Author website: https://www.tcyblueprint.com/

About Keach Publishing Agency

Keach Publishing Agency supports authors through publishing, creative development, book marketing, publicity, and campaign strategy. The agency works to position books with clear messaging and professional presentation while helping authors build visibility around the ideas and stories behind their work.

Media Contact

Organization: Keach Publishing Agency

Contact Person: Mir Murtaza (Noah)

Website: https://www.keachpublishingagency.com

Email: Send Email

Contact Number: +13465477055

Address: 5906 Jessamine St, Houston

City: Houston

State: Texas

Country: United States

Release id: 50035

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New Book Where’s the GAP by David P. Matthews, Now Available on Amazon, Asks a Life Changing Question