Many traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki, Kyogen, and Rakugo choose the theater Kitano Bungei-za to host their performances. One such Rakugo performance, where the performer sits in the middle of the stage and tells a story, is about Zenkoji, and it goes like this:
There once was a rumor that Zenkoji sold a special good luck charm. It was said that the person who possessed that charm would immediately be sent to the Pure Land no matter who they were. That rumor brought swarms of people to Zenkoji, all in hopes of finding that good luck charm for themselves.
While the rumor spread excitement throughout this world, the Lord of Hell, Enma, was rather displeased. The population of Hell was at a steady increase and he was not going to let that change. Was he expected to sell his iron staff for firewood and keep the flames of hell burning hot on his own?
The thought of this troubled Enma the Great to no end. He decided to summon a great thief named Ishikawa Goemon to go and steal the charm from Zenkoji.
Goemon was delighted to be put up to the task and he quickly stole the charm without a hitch. When returning to Enma the Great he pranced and danced along the way with such delight in his skills that he pressed the charm against his forehead when striking his final pose, basking in the imaginary audience's applause.
Just as the rumors depicted, Goemon disappeared into the Pure Land that instant.