Speak the Will of the Muscles! Baki Rakugo Event Announced
A unique crossover event, 'Speak the Will of the Muscles! Baki Rakugo-kai,' will be held on April 17, 2026. Planned by Musket LLC, the event will feature completely original Rakugo stories with characters from the martial arts manga 'Baki,' performed in front of a folding screen recreating the iconic 'Demon Back.' This marks a significant and unusual collaboration between pop culture and traditional art.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 22:00
An unusual collaboration event between the martial arts manga masterpiece 'Baki' and Rakugo, 'Speak the Will of the Muscles! Baki Rakugo-kai,' will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Kataoka Byobu Store (Sumida-ku, Tokyo).
The 'Baki' series depicts finely trained bodies, extreme psyches, and stories that pass down the meaning of strength. Rakugo is also a traditional performing art where a single person confronts the audience with only their body and words. This event was planned in conjunction with the 'Baki Byobu,' an official 'Baki' series product planned and sold by Musket LLC. The production of the grand gold folding screen, standing 2340mm tall and 1760mm wide and based on one of the most famous scenes in the series, Yujiro Hanma's 'Demon Back,' was handled by Kataoka Byobu Store, a specialty folding screen shop established in 1946.
On the day of the event, in front of the screen recreating the 'Demon Back,' completely original creative Rakugo featuring characters from 'Baki' will be performed. A talk session discussing the commonalities between the work and Rakugo is also planned. The event will be streamed at a later date.
### ■ Performers
**Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi**
He became an apprentice to Fukumaru Yanagiya in 2012 and was promoted to 'futatsume' (the second-highest rank) in 2016. He challenges a wide range of subjects, focusing on classic Rakugo, and has gained popularity for his powerful storytelling and physical performance style. He has a deep knowledge of Japanese culture such as Kabuki and Sumo, as well as martial arts and combat sports. He looks up to Masaaki Hatsumi, said to be the model for Izo Motobe, as his martial arts master and has the experience of having greeted Keisuke Itagaki when he visited the dojo for an interview. He is a unique storyteller who has a point of contact connecting the world of 'Baki' and reality. He is active in 'yose' theaters and events across the country.
**Shunputei Shosuke**
He became an apprentice to Richo Takigawa in 2015 and was promoted to 'futatsume' in 2019. He ambitiously works on both classic and creative Rakugo, gaining popularity for his unique perspective and witty storytelling. He enjoys Western films, soccer, and heavy metal, and has a deep interest in subcultures. He is also a huge fan of the 'Baki' series. He excels at creative Rakugo, and for this project, he will take on the challenge of creative Rakugo featuring 'Baki' characters.
### ■ From the Planner
The Baki Byobu is a collaboration between Baki and Japanese tradition, born from the 'Keisuke Itagaki Baki Series Original Art Exhibition' held at the Kyoto International Manga Museum in September 2025. I planned it together with Takato Kataoka, the third-generation owner of Kataoka Byobu Store and an avid Baki lover. However, looking back, I now feel that rather than 'creating' it, there was never any option from the beginning other than to make it.
It is, after all, a one-million-yen gold folding screen. It was quite a bold commercialization, but by the time I realized it, 'Baki Original Rakugo' being an extension of that had also become a self-evident conclusion. I can feel the tingling on the back of my neck, an atmosphere that can no longer be stopped by anyone's will.
And now that we have come this far, it is inevitable that the only path left for us is to continue to speak the will of the muscles. From now on, we have no choice but to further expand this endeavor both domestically and internationally.
Ken Kikuchi, Musket LLC
### ■ Event Overview
Name: Speak the Will of the Muscles! Baki Rakugo-kai
Date & Time: April 17, 2026 (Friday) 19:00-21:30 *Doors open at 18:45
Venue: Kataoka Byobu Store (Court K2, 1-31-6 Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: 2,500 JPY (tax incl.)
Seats: 20 people, first-come, first-served
Ticket Purchase Site: https://bakirakugo.peatix.com
Schedule:
19:00-19:05 Greetings & Baki Byobu Introduction
19:05-19:15 About Mr. Itagaki and Classic Rakugo
- Yuki Yokoi, Advertising Dept., Akita Shoten Co., Ltd. / Ken Kikuchi, Musket LLC
19:15-19:45 Rakugo (Classic): Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi
19:45-20:15 Creative Rakugo 'Baki Rakugo': Shunputei Shosuke
20:15-20:30 Talk Session 'Baki and Rakugo': Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi × Shunputei Shosuke
*Please be aware that the event may run slightly longer depending on the day's progress.
### ■ 'Baki Byobu' Details
Sales Price (excl. tax & shipping)
- Large Gold Demon Back Screen (2340mm×1760mm) 1,000,000 JPY
- Gold Demon Back Screen (278mm×210mm) 15,000 JPY
- Silver Demon Back Screen (278mm×210mm) 15,000 JPY
How to Purchase
From the Baki Byobu official site: https://baki-byobu.tokyo
Screen Production: Kataoka Byobu Store Co., Ltd.
Seller: Musket LLC
© Keisuke Itagaki (Akita Shoten) 1992
### ■ Organizer
Kataoka Byobu Store Co., Ltd.
Location: 1-31-6 Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takato Kataoka
Website: http://byoubu.co.jp
### ■ About Musket LLC
Location: Tokyo
Representative: Ken Kikuchi
note: https://note.com/lovebeer73
The 'Baki' series depicts finely trained bodies, extreme psyches, and stories that pass down the meaning of strength. Rakugo is also a traditional performing art where a single person confronts the audience with only their body and words. This event was planned in conjunction with the 'Baki Byobu,' an official 'Baki' series product planned and sold by Musket LLC. The production of the grand gold folding screen, standing 2340mm tall and 1760mm wide and based on one of the most famous scenes in the series, Yujiro Hanma's 'Demon Back,' was handled by Kataoka Byobu Store, a specialty folding screen shop established in 1946.
On the day of the event, in front of the screen recreating the 'Demon Back,' completely original creative Rakugo featuring characters from 'Baki' will be performed. A talk session discussing the commonalities between the work and Rakugo is also planned. The event will be streamed at a later date.
### ■ Performers
**Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi**
He became an apprentice to Fukumaru Yanagiya in 2012 and was promoted to 'futatsume' (the second-highest rank) in 2016. He challenges a wide range of subjects, focusing on classic Rakugo, and has gained popularity for his powerful storytelling and physical performance style. He has a deep knowledge of Japanese culture such as Kabuki and Sumo, as well as martial arts and combat sports. He looks up to Masaaki Hatsumi, said to be the model for Izo Motobe, as his martial arts master and has the experience of having greeted Keisuke Itagaki when he visited the dojo for an interview. He is a unique storyteller who has a point of contact connecting the world of 'Baki' and reality. He is active in 'yose' theaters and events across the country.
**Shunputei Shosuke**
He became an apprentice to Richo Takigawa in 2015 and was promoted to 'futatsume' in 2019. He ambitiously works on both classic and creative Rakugo, gaining popularity for his unique perspective and witty storytelling. He enjoys Western films, soccer, and heavy metal, and has a deep interest in subcultures. He is also a huge fan of the 'Baki' series. He excels at creative Rakugo, and for this project, he will take on the challenge of creative Rakugo featuring 'Baki' characters.
### ■ From the Planner
The Baki Byobu is a collaboration between Baki and Japanese tradition, born from the 'Keisuke Itagaki Baki Series Original Art Exhibition' held at the Kyoto International Manga Museum in September 2025. I planned it together with Takato Kataoka, the third-generation owner of Kataoka Byobu Store and an avid Baki lover. However, looking back, I now feel that rather than 'creating' it, there was never any option from the beginning other than to make it.
It is, after all, a one-million-yen gold folding screen. It was quite a bold commercialization, but by the time I realized it, 'Baki Original Rakugo' being an extension of that had also become a self-evident conclusion. I can feel the tingling on the back of my neck, an atmosphere that can no longer be stopped by anyone's will.
And now that we have come this far, it is inevitable that the only path left for us is to continue to speak the will of the muscles. From now on, we have no choice but to further expand this endeavor both domestically and internationally.
Ken Kikuchi, Musket LLC
### ■ Event Overview
Name: Speak the Will of the Muscles! Baki Rakugo-kai
Date & Time: April 17, 2026 (Friday) 19:00-21:30 *Doors open at 18:45
Venue: Kataoka Byobu Store (Court K2, 1-31-6 Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: 2,500 JPY (tax incl.)
Seats: 20 people, first-come, first-served
Ticket Purchase Site: https://bakirakugo.peatix.com
Schedule:
19:00-19:05 Greetings & Baki Byobu Introduction
19:05-19:15 About Mr. Itagaki and Classic Rakugo
- Yuki Yokoi, Advertising Dept., Akita Shoten Co., Ltd. / Ken Kikuchi, Musket LLC
19:15-19:45 Rakugo (Classic): Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi
19:45-20:15 Creative Rakugo 'Baki Rakugo': Shunputei Shosuke
20:15-20:30 Talk Session 'Baki and Rakugo': Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi × Shunputei Shosuke
*Please be aware that the event may run slightly longer depending on the day's progress.
### ■ 'Baki Byobu' Details
Sales Price (excl. tax & shipping)
- Large Gold Demon Back Screen (2340mm×1760mm) 1,000,000 JPY
- Gold Demon Back Screen (278mm×210mm) 15,000 JPY
- Silver Demon Back Screen (278mm×210mm) 15,000 JPY
How to Purchase
From the Baki Byobu official site: https://baki-byobu.tokyo
Screen Production: Kataoka Byobu Store Co., Ltd.
Seller: Musket LLC
© Keisuke Itagaki (Akita Shoten) 1992
### ■ Organizer
Kataoka Byobu Store Co., Ltd.
Location: 1-31-6 Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Takato Kataoka
Website: http://byoubu.co.jp
### ■ About Musket LLC
Location: Tokyo
Representative: Ken Kikuchi
note: https://note.com/lovebeer73
FAQ
What is the 'Baki Rakugo-kai'?
It's an event that fuses the world of the martial arts manga 'Baki' with the traditional Japanese storytelling art of 'Rakugo'. Original stories are performed in front of a folding screen depicting the 'Demon Back'.
Who are the performers?
The performers are Rakugo storyteller Yoshiyanagi Fukuyoshi, who is knowledgeable about martial arts, and Shunputei Shosuke, an avid fan of 'Baki'.
What is the 'Baki Byobu'?
It's official merchandise that reproduces the 'Demon Back' of the character Yujiro Hanma on a traditional folding screen. The large version is sold for 1 million JPY.