Kawachinagano to stage musical about local toothpick industry

The Kawachinagano City Cultural Promotion Foundation has announced a new community-based musical production titled ‘Okukawachi Otoemaki 2026 vol. 12: Don’t Fight! Toothpick’ (戦うな！つまようじ). Scheduled for September 13, 2026, at Lovely Hall, the play features the city’s traditional toothpick industry as its unlikely protagonist.

This project serves as a ‘Expo legacy,’ bringing back the creative energy and international networks established during the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The production aims to revitalize the local toothpick industry, which has faced challenges from foreign competition. The performance will involve approximately 180 participants, including professional artists and local citizens, blending music, dance, and visual arts.