「日本講談協会フェス」開催！〜伯山が10代の頃感動した映画「リリイ・シュシュのすべて」を語る
Kanda Hakuzan recounts the drama behind the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes, held on September 21 even as a typhoon bore down on Tokyo. Late-night and early-morning phone calls with fellow storyteller Aizan-sensei, a backup plan worked out with his apprentice Umenojo, and the spectacular flop-turned-sellout of the debut merchandise for mascot characters Shakudai-kun and Shakumaru-kun all come up, before Hakuzan turns to his appearance at the 48th PIA Film Festival, where he revisited the film that floored him as a teenager, All About Lily Chou-Chou.
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What this episode answers
With a typhoon bearing down, how was the decision made on whether to hold the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes?
Despite other rakugo and kodan shows canceling the day before due to the incoming typhoon, the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes proceeded because it covers most of the association's annual operating costs and canceling without insurance would cause a serious deficit; Hakuzan settled on the standard of holding it as long as the trains were running, which the directly subway-connected Otemachi Hall made feasible.
What happened during the phone calls with Aizan-sensei?
Hakuzan called the anxious Aizan-sensei, who lives along the Odakyu Line, at 8 p.m. and told him to come if the trains were running, but the call ended without a clear answer; the next morning, with rain intensifying, Hakuzan called again and unexpectedly got "I'm going, aren't I going?", and Aizan-sensei ended up coming after all.
What was discussed about a backup performance with Umenojo?
After the inconclusive first call with Aizan-sensei, Hakuzan called his apprentice Umenojo to arrange a backup in case Aizan-sensei couldn't make it, settling on splitting Umenojo's 35-minute piece "Boro Chaya" into a first half and second half; since Aizan-sensei ultimately came, this backup arrangement turned out to be unnecessary.
How well did the official mascot merchandise for Shakudai-kun and Shakumaru-kun sell?
It sold poorly at first, with only 14 of the 200 prepared ticket folders sold by showtime, but after Hakuzan worked the flop into his stage act by telling the audience he wanted them to feel some responsibility, sales picked up and the goods eventually sold out completely.
How did Hakuzan's impression of All About Lily Chou-Chou change when he rewatched it at the PIA Film Festival?
Rewatching it for the first time in over 20 years, Hakuzan found it "boring enough to knock me off my feet," a much cooler reaction than the shock the bullying and isolation depiction had given him as a teenager, and he maintained that impression throughout the talk, contrasting with the warmer takes of directors Araki and Tatsushima.
Typhoon Bears Down: To Hold or Not to Hold
On September 21, the day of the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes, a typhoon was forecast to hit directly. The day before, other rakugo and kodan shows across town were canceling one after another, but the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes alone kept moving toward holding it as planned. The reason: the event covers most of the association's annual operating costs, and canceling with no insurance would mean a serious deficit. The venue, Otemachi Hall, connects directly to the subway, making it relatively easy for audiences to reach as long as trains were running, and that tipped Hakuzan toward a simple standard: "as long as the trains are moving, we do it."
Late-Night and Early-Morning Calls with Aizan-sensei
At 8 p.m., a call came in from Masami-sensei, chairman of the Nihon Kodan Kyokai, asking Hakuzan to speak directly with Aizan-sensei, known for being anxious by nature. Aizan-sensei lives along the Odakyu Line and was worried about whether trains would run in the typhoon. Hakuzan told him, "If the trains are running, please come," but the call ended without a clear answer. Hakuzan immediately called his apprentice Umenojo to arrange a backup in case Aizan-sensei couldn't make it, settling on a plan to split Umenojo's 35-minute repertoire piece "Boro Chaya" into a first half and second half. The next morning, with the rain intensifying, Hakuzan called Aizan-sensei again — and unexpectedly got, "I'm going, aren't I going?" In the end, Aizan-sensei came after all, and the backup arrangement with Umenojo turned out to be unnecessary.
Tanabe Ikka's "Wasteful" Assignment
On the day, Aizan-sensei contacted Tanabe Ikka, a kodan performer currently riding a wave of popularity, and had him post real-time updates on the Odakyu Line's operating status on social media. One post read, "Looks like he made it safely to Otemachi Hall." Looking back, Hakuzan laughed about "using someone as red-hot as Tanabe Ikka for something like that."
Merchandise Disaster and the Warmth of the Audience
When the doors opened, attendance came in at around 80%. The association had prepared 200 ticket folders as debut merchandise for its official mascot characters, Shakudai-kun and Shakumaru-kun, but by showtime only 14 had sold — a spectacular flop. Hakuzan worked the disaster into his stage act, telling the audience, "I want you all to feel some responsibility," and sales picked up afterward until the goods eventually sold out completely. His teacher, an 84-year-old Living National Treasure, performed for travel expenses only, leaving the show running at a loss; Hakuzan even paid travel money out of his own pocket to Horiguchi, a part-timer hired for pickup and drop-off duties. Despite the typhoon, regulars and listeners still showed up, and Hakuzan summed up the event as a "great success."
All About Lily Chou-Chou, Revisited at the PIA Film Festival
Hakuzan appeared at the 48th PIA Film Festival 2026 as part of a program called "Films to Watch as a Teenager, Films That Changed Me," choosing Iwai Shunji's All About Lily Chou-Chou (146 minutes). Starring Ichihara Hayato among others, the film's depiction of bullying and isolation had been a shock to Hakuzan as a teenager. Rewatching it for the first time in over 20 years, though, he admitted candidly that it was "boring enough to knock me off my feet." He stuck to that impression throughout the talk event, creating a marked contrast with the warmer takes of director Araki and director Tatsushima; a talk slated for 30 minutes stretched to 60. After the event, a young staff member who turned out to be a devoted listener approached him, and Hakuzan obliged with an autograph and photos.
Takeaways
- Despite a direct typhoon hit, Hakuzan pushed ahead with the Nihon Kodan Kyokai Fes, using train service as the deciding factor and coordinating with Aizan-sensei by phone the night before and again the next morning.
- The official mascot merchandise sold only 14 of 200 units by showtime, but after Hakuzan turned the flop into a bit onstage, it sold out completely.
- Rewatching All About Lily Chou-Chou, the film that had stunned him as a teenager, for the first time in over 20 years, Hakuzan found it 'boring enough to knock me off my feet.'
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.