Oticon Hearing Aids Introduces Auracast™ Experience to Rakugo Venue for the First Time: Promoting Understanding of Hearing Care at the 'Koshikyo Cup National Young Rakugoka Championship'
Oticon sponsored a Rakugo championship and introduced Auracast™ audio broadcasting at the venue. This allowed attendees with hearing aids to receive clear audio directly. They also showcased their new nearly invisible hearing aid, 'Oticon Zeal', and offered VR simulations of hearing loss to raise awareness.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 15:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 22:55 (7h 23m after Collected)
Oticon Hearing Aids (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Toru Saito, hereafter Oticon), with over 120 years of history as Demant's flagship brand, sponsored the 'Koshikyo Cup National Young Rakugoka Championship'. At the venues for Preliminary 1 (March 24) and Preliminary 2 (April 10) held at the Curian Small Hall (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo), Oticon deployed experiential content allowing attendees to deepen their understanding of 'hearing' and 'hearing care'.
Rakugo is a traditional performing art where 'hearing' factors like the speaker's voice, timing, and breathing are crucial. Driven by the desire to deliver 'hearing that can be enjoyed forever' to Rakugo lovers, Oticon is broadly conveying the importance of hearing care through this tournament. Similar initiatives are planned for Preliminary 3 (scheduled for April 28). Additionally, we plan to change some of the exhibition contents for the Consolation match and the Finals (scheduled for May 22).
[Main Initiatives Implemented]
■ Installation of Auracast™ transmitters in the venue
With the cooperation of AiA System Co., Ltd., which has over 30 years of experience handling information guarantee equipment for the hearing impaired, we installed transmitters for the next-generation wireless communication standard Auracast™ at the venue. We loaned receivers to attendees and provided connection support for Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
Connecting is as easy as selecting Wi-Fi on a smartphone, and the experience of delivering Rakugo audio directly to Auracast-compatible hearing aids and headphones was well received. Those who experienced it commented, 'Listening to Rakugo through Auracast made it sound much clearer.'
■ Auracast exhibition corner
We provided information about Auracast jointly with AiA System Co., Ltd. It served as a place for attendees to touch the latest audio transmission technology, including introductions to Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
■ VR corner for simulated hearing loss experience
We provided VR content that allows people to experience how things sound when hearing loss occurs. Many people experienced it. Participants shared comments such as:
'I didn't think ambient sounds would become so hard to hear.'
'I was able to understand my family member's hearing condition for the first time.'
This led to a better understanding of hearing.
■ Exhibition corner for the new product 'Oticon Zeal'
We exhibited the 'Oticon Zeal', an advanced hearing aid in a completely new style category launched on March 24. Developed over about 7 years by the established hearing aid manufacturer Oticon, this product overturns the image and concept of hearing aids. Desired functions are condensed into a small body, supporting not only Bluetooth® connection but also the next-generation wireless communication standard Auracast™.
Feedback from viewers included, 'It's so small but high performance, I'd like to use this,' and 'My image of hearing aids has changed, I want to recommend it to my parents.' When we showed a picture of someone wearing the 'Oticon Zeal' and asked if it stood out or not at first glance, about 95% of people answered, 'It does not stand out.'
■ Results of Preliminary 1 and Preliminary 2
The Rakugo performances by all participants in Preliminary 1 and Preliminary 2 were highly captivating, and the venue was wrapped in laughter from start to finish.
After all performances concluded, voting was conducted by the judges and attendees, and the results were announced based on strict tallying. In Preliminary 1, Mr. Shofukutei Chako advanced to the finals, and Mr. Shofukutei Shori advanced to the consolation match. In Preliminary 2, Mr. Yanagiya Kofune advanced to the finals, and Mr. Ryutei Shigaraki advanced to the consolation match.
■ Future Developments
Oticon Hearing Aids will continue to enliven Preliminary 3, the consolation match, and the finals together with the organizers and sponsors. At the venue, we will provide opportunities for attendees to deepen their understanding of 'hearing' by introducing trial listening experiences via Auracast™ and operating exhibition booths conveying the importance of hearing care. Furthermore, to further promote hearing care awareness in Japan, we will continue to sponsor events and conduct information dissemination activities.
■ Overview of Koshikyo Cup National Young Rakugoka Championship
Official Website: https://bunp.kyodonews.jp/wakaterakugoka/2025/
Organizer: Kyodo News, Koshikyo Cup Executive Committee
Cooperation: Tokyo Kawaraban
Sponsors: Oticon Hearing Aids, others
* Third Preliminary
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Performance starts 18:30 (Doors open 18:00)
Venue: Curian Small Hall (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo)
* Consolation Match
Date and Time: Friday, May 22, 2026, Performance starts 15:00 (Doors open 14:30)
Venue: Nakano ZERO Small Hall (Nakano-ku, Tokyo)
* Finals
Date and Time: Friday, May 22, 2026, Performance starts 19:00 (Doors open 18:00)
Rakugo is a traditional performing art where 'hearing' factors like the speaker's voice, timing, and breathing are crucial. Driven by the desire to deliver 'hearing that can be enjoyed forever' to Rakugo lovers, Oticon is broadly conveying the importance of hearing care through this tournament. Similar initiatives are planned for Preliminary 3 (scheduled for April 28). Additionally, we plan to change some of the exhibition contents for the Consolation match and the Finals (scheduled for May 22).
[Main Initiatives Implemented]
■ Installation of Auracast™ transmitters in the venue
With the cooperation of AiA System Co., Ltd., which has over 30 years of experience handling information guarantee equipment for the hearing impaired, we installed transmitters for the next-generation wireless communication standard Auracast™ at the venue. We loaned receivers to attendees and provided connection support for Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
Connecting is as easy as selecting Wi-Fi on a smartphone, and the experience of delivering Rakugo audio directly to Auracast-compatible hearing aids and headphones was well received. Those who experienced it commented, 'Listening to Rakugo through Auracast made it sound much clearer.'
■ Auracast exhibition corner
We provided information about Auracast jointly with AiA System Co., Ltd. It served as a place for attendees to touch the latest audio transmission technology, including introductions to Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
■ VR corner for simulated hearing loss experience
We provided VR content that allows people to experience how things sound when hearing loss occurs. Many people experienced it. Participants shared comments such as:
'I didn't think ambient sounds would become so hard to hear.'
'I was able to understand my family member's hearing condition for the first time.'
This led to a better understanding of hearing.
■ Exhibition corner for the new product 'Oticon Zeal'
We exhibited the 'Oticon Zeal', an advanced hearing aid in a completely new style category launched on March 24. Developed over about 7 years by the established hearing aid manufacturer Oticon, this product overturns the image and concept of hearing aids. Desired functions are condensed into a small body, supporting not only Bluetooth® connection but also the next-generation wireless communication standard Auracast™.
Feedback from viewers included, 'It's so small but high performance, I'd like to use this,' and 'My image of hearing aids has changed, I want to recommend it to my parents.' When we showed a picture of someone wearing the 'Oticon Zeal' and asked if it stood out or not at first glance, about 95% of people answered, 'It does not stand out.'
■ Results of Preliminary 1 and Preliminary 2
The Rakugo performances by all participants in Preliminary 1 and Preliminary 2 were highly captivating, and the venue was wrapped in laughter from start to finish.
After all performances concluded, voting was conducted by the judges and attendees, and the results were announced based on strict tallying. In Preliminary 1, Mr. Shofukutei Chako advanced to the finals, and Mr. Shofukutei Shori advanced to the consolation match. In Preliminary 2, Mr. Yanagiya Kofune advanced to the finals, and Mr. Ryutei Shigaraki advanced to the consolation match.
■ Future Developments
Oticon Hearing Aids will continue to enliven Preliminary 3, the consolation match, and the finals together with the organizers and sponsors. At the venue, we will provide opportunities for attendees to deepen their understanding of 'hearing' by introducing trial listening experiences via Auracast™ and operating exhibition booths conveying the importance of hearing care. Furthermore, to further promote hearing care awareness in Japan, we will continue to sponsor events and conduct information dissemination activities.
■ Overview of Koshikyo Cup National Young Rakugoka Championship
Official Website: https://bunp.kyodonews.jp/wakaterakugoka/2025/
Organizer: Kyodo News, Koshikyo Cup Executive Committee
Cooperation: Tokyo Kawaraban
Sponsors: Oticon Hearing Aids, others
* Third Preliminary
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Performance starts 18:30 (Doors open 18:00)
Venue: Curian Small Hall (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo)
* Consolation Match
Date and Time: Friday, May 22, 2026, Performance starts 15:00 (Doors open 14:30)
Venue: Nakano ZERO Small Hall (Nakano-ku, Tokyo)
* Finals
Date and Time: Friday, May 22, 2026, Performance starts 19:00 (Doors open 18:00)