Hankyu Sanbangai, the shopping complex in Umeda, Osaka, is holding its Christmas fair "FANTASTIC CIRCUS CHRISTMAS" from Sunday, November 1 to Friday, December 25, 2026.
This year's theme is the circus. From Friday, November 6, the stage at UMEDA FOOD HALL on North Building B2F features decorations of unique animals, including a juggling bear and a dog riding a bicycle. The decorations were made by Kenji Baba (馬場謙二), a sculptor based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. The handmade warmth and picture-book world of the space are part of the fun.
Also starting on November 6 is a Christmas tree light and music show. From Tuesday, December 1, a Christmas lottery will be open to visitors with receipts from purchases at Hankyu Sanbangai stores.
For more details, visit the Hankyu Sanbangai event page.
A Circus of Mysterious Animals From Santa's Dream
On Christmas night, after finishing his work, Santa closes his eyes. In his dream appears a "circus troupe of mysterious animals" full of personality.
The stage at UMEDA FOOD HALL on North Building B2F is filled with animals, including a juggling bear that loves playing with balls, a dog riding a bicycle, and a donkey whose body has partly turned into a bag. Look closely at each animal's expression and gestures. Some work hard at their acts, some slack off, some give up, and some only pretend to be performing.
The decorations are the work of Kenji Baba (馬場謙二), a sculptor based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. They are playful stage decorations full of handmade warmth and careful detail, creating a picture-book world that is delightful from every angle.
The animals are sculpted decorations. They are not a live performance.
Christmas Tree Light and Music Show
From November 6 to December 25, a light and music show with the Christmas tree is held on the stage at UMEDA FOOD HALL on North Building B2F.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Period | Friday, November 6 to Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Show Times | Between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM, at 5, 20, 35 and 50 minutes past every hour (about 2 minutes each) |
| Location | North Building B2F, UMEDA FOOD HALL stage |
About the Decoration Creator
Kenji Baba (馬場 謙二)
- Born in Osaka Prefecture and lives in Nishinomiya
Baba is a sculptor who creates unique animal sculptures for displays in commercial spaces.
Under the name 馬遊舎, he also creates sculptures called "ヤドリ木," on the theme of coexistence between plants and animals. He also runs places where children can learn the joy of making things and expressing themselves, and currently leads classes at kindergartens and at 絵画造形教室アートラボ in Osaka (Matsubara) and Hyogo (Takarazuka).
Christmas Lottery
During the Christmas fair, a lottery with prizes totaling 60,000 items is held for receipts from purchases at Hankyu Sanbangai stores.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Period | Tuesday, December 1 to Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Hours | 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (until 11:00 PM on the final day, December 25, only) |
| Location | South Building B1F, in front of ルージュ・ヴィフ・ラクレ |
| How to Enter | Present receipts from Hankyu Sanbangai stores dated December 1 to December 25. You get one draw for every ¥3,000 spent (tax included, receipts can be combined) |
| Prizes | 60,000 prizes in total |
Event Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | FANTASTIC CIRCUS CHRISTMAS |
| Period | Sunday, November 1 to Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Tree Lighting | From November 6 |
| Christmas Lottery | From December 1 |
Event details may change or be cancelled without notice. For the venue, dates and other details, please check the Hankyu Sanbangai official website.
Hankyu Sanbangai: https://www.h-sanbangai.com/
