AKANE-BANASHI
STATUS
RELEASING
VOLUMES
Not Available
RELEASE
Invalid Date
CHAPTERS
Not Available
DESCRIPTION
Rakugo--the ultimate form of storytelling, where everything in a story is expressed with just your body and words. Shinta and his daughter Akane have been seduced by this wonderful form of classical entertainment. Having observed her father strive to pass the shin'uchi rakugo test, Akane will take her own steps into this unique world!
(Source: MANGA Plus)
CAST
Akane Ousaki
Shinta Arakawa
Hikaru Koragi
Karashi Nerimaya
Koguma Arakawa
Kaisei Arakawa
Maikeru Arakawa
Masaki Ousaki
Shiguma Arakawa
Kyoji Arakawa
Guriko Arakawa
Machiko Iwashimizu
Isshou Arakawa
Ikken Arakawa
Jumbo Ozaki
Urara Ransaika
Kimihisa Kashio
Sae Komi
Ryujaku Sakaki
CHAPTERS
REVIEWS
Bokuchan
100/100"Akane-Banashi: A masterclass in storytelling and performance!"Continue on AniListIt would be really hard to believe that Fans of One Piece, Evangelion, and Re:Zero likely made a similar assumption when they found out that their favorite creators were fans of Akane-banashi, a Shonen Jump manga but the manga itself is actually as different from those works as they are from each other: Rather than an appeal that is unique to Eiichiro Oda, Hideaki Anno, and Tappei Nagatsuki
I learned about rakugo, the Japanese performance art of storytelling, from the series Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. One of the most intriguing plotlines for me was the one about women being banned from performing the traditional style. So when I heard about Akane-Banashi, the story of high schooler Akane and her quest to perform rakugo, I was intrigued. It’s written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue.
Since this series runs in Shonen Jump, it skews younger than Descending Stories. It also follows the traditional structure of a competition manga, with a talented young person working with mentors and learning how to better create art as they take part in various contests.
What’s a rakugoka, you say? Good question, I also didn’t know until I read this manga. In short, it’s a storytelling art that is kind of like stand-up comedy but only because they’re both performed solo with little to no props to help them. This video is a good explanation of what Rakugo is.
I love these types of manga because it lets me into a world that I never thought of before. Because of Bakuman, I got a sneak peek into what publishing manga is like. And now because of Rakugo, I know more than I ever thought I would know about a centuries old tradition of storytelling from Japan. I also felt the same for Haikyuu!!!Now lemme give you a short summary
Akane Osaki’s father spent 13 years striving to become a master rakugo storyteller. But he and his fellow aspirants have their dreams crushed when the head of the rakugo school expels them all without explanation. Akane, who is her father’s biggest fan, vows to avenge him— by becoming a rakugo artist herself. But even with innate talent and the help of her father’s former teacher, the path to becoming a master storyteller is a difficult one with no guarantees!
Akane has spent years since secretly studying with his former master. She’s skilled, but she’s also motivated by wanting to rehabilitate her father’s reputation. As she learns what makes a truly skilled rakugoka, so does the reader, making this easy to read even for someone who doesn’t understand the art or its history.
The series has clear, readable art, with expressive figures, often exaggerated in their looks to easily tell the characters apart. The events are dramatic, with the competition structure making for plenty of suspense. The way the stories are illustrated, with the storyteller’s actions repeated in the characters hovering around them, representing their tales, makes the stories come alive the way their performance would
Getting back to the characters, aside from the fact that Akane’s female, she fits the profile for a good protagonist. Akane is your typical shounen protagonist: Energetic, Passionate, and in a constant state of Learning. Her design is so cute and quirky she seems like a chill girl. However, unlike most shonen titles, our main character has no peers her age or level. As explained in the “Basics of Rakugo,” the art is taught one on one from seniors to juniors. Thus, 16-year-old Akane has a college age rival, and the other pupils mentored by her instructor are also college age or older. So everyone has more experience than her. As a result, the story thus far is her learning a different aspect of the rakugo craft from everyone she meets.
From an illustration standpoint, the manga is very strong. All the characters are distinct, and the artist skillfully manipulates expressions/shading/backdrops when they go into story telling mode. The various settings are wonderfully detailed. When the narrative shifts to a rakugo plot, he switches to a traditional art style to reflect it.
Akane Banashi is a captivating rollercoaster that will draw you in from the very first chapter, with its rich storytelling and unforgettable characters. The unique blend of traditional art and modern-day struggles keeps you hooked, making every page turn feel like a thrilling new discovery. As you follow Akane's journey, the emotions, humor, and challenges she faces will resonate deeply, keeping you coming back for more. With each twist, the manga leaves you craving the next chapter, eager to see how the story unfolds. If you're looking for a series that will captivate your heart and imagination, Akane Banashi is a must-read!
melamuna
90/100Redefining the Shounen Formula by Fully Embracing ItContinue on AniList
In 2024, many notable manga series are reaching their conclusions, including Shonen Jump juggernauts like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. While new series like Dandadan, Kagurabachi, and Sakamoto Days have attracted massive fan followings and are poised to take the spotlight, there's an undeniable sense of repetition. As a reader, it’s easy to feel like many of these newer titles echo familiar themes, which can lead to fatigue despite the impressive artwork and gripping stories.
Amidst this sea of familiarity, however, one manga stands out as a refreshingly unorthodox choice. Akane-Banashi might not seem like a typical Shonen Jump title. Against the odds, it has earned its place in the lineup and carved out its own niche, and it’s hard not to root for this beloved series. ***
__Part 1 The “Hype” Factor of Shounen__
Shounen is not a genre per se, but it is stories that appeal to a specific demographic of people, which introduces many stereotypes that may or may not break stories that come and go. One of the most obvious shounen tropes, namely a teenage protagonist planning to be the best on a very specific kind of artform/ability due to various kinds of reasons that mainly revolve around a direct or indirect redemption of their family line, friend, etc., having mentors/mentors that guide them to their desired dreams, encounters many obstacles characters that puts up a challenge with our main characters (for some reason, depending on their storyline given), struggles in a few chapters, while also showing their lighthearted fun side before they go back to the much anticipated shounen signature outwitting battles. From that baseline, you can immediately pinpoint which manga you can name, and they are mostly shounen—particularly shounen fantasy-action mangas, as it's the kind of genre that perfectly fits with the formula given above.
You can argue that this formula is not exclusive to Shounen, and that's valid enough, but there is one factor that's not always present in other types of demographics, but it's most prominent in the Shounen demographics, and that is the “hype” factor in its storytelling. Shounen manga are plagued with this, evident from many fantasy-action mangas, from the classics of Dragon Ball to the recent Juggernauts like Jujutsu Kaisen, with the frequency of fighting sequences—there is even an entire arc where it's centered around fighting. However, this formula is mainly prominent within the action fantasy genre, sports manga, and occasionally romance manga to an obvious degree.
However, it doesn't mean that having a perfect "hype" story in the shounen demographics doesn't always have to line with it's contemporaries—in which the shounen demographics recently are plagued not only with repetitive plotlines but repetitive world building and themes—resulting in a feeling of burning out when reading new and old shounen titles. The overabundance of inbreeding of themes in it's storytelling where the only way the story stands out is something minor that happens inside that story is something that Akane-Banashi tries to avoid, but embracing the essence of the shounen "hype" factor by offering a different angle of it's story—and that is the theme about Rakugo. ***
__Part 2 Shounen-fied Rakugo__
Rakugo is a unique form of verbal performance where the performer narrates a story while playing multiple characters while sitting down in a zabuton, along with its limited props to use in the story, namely a paper fan or a cloth, and only remains seated until they finish the story. With that in mind, you can immediately think that this belongs to a more dramatic storytelling—in addition, Rakugo is an unconventional plot, and Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju is the only rakugo-related story that can be easily cited other than Akane-Banashi. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, however, is mainly a dramatic series that appealed to more adult audiences seeking a more drama-oriented story. It doesn't mean to say that Akane-Banashi or all shounen demographic mangas have no drama in them; it's just that it's not as prominent or the "core" of the manga's existence, which is where Akane-Banashi shines by embracing the "hype" factor of shounen mangas.
Instead of portraying Rakugo as a "drama" like Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, Akane-Banashi takes a different approach, treating Rakugo as a sport by applying shounen sports tropes to its storytelling. This formula creates an addictive quality, as the series continuously delivers the essentials of Rakugo while showcasing its various storytelling styles, treating each as if it were a unique ability of an athlete. This approach makes the series highly engaging, even for readers unfamiliar with Rakugo. While you might not know much about Rakugo before reading, the series does an excellent job of breaking it down into its simplest elements, presenting the art form in a way that's easy to understand. This information is seamlessly woven into the narrative, striking a balance that ensures readers are informed without feeling overwhelmed. ***
__Part 3 The In-betweens __
Despite how much an author manages to check all of the boxes of what makes a shounen manga, and standing yourself up from the rest of the crowd by providing a unique take upon it by using a niche genre, you cannot grapple an audience if you haven't provided the seasoning and the marination of the in betweens of it's story, making the Beautifully-looking dish tastes amazing.
From the very first chapter, Akane Ousaki’s character immediately grabs your attention. Her unwavering determination to master Rakugo and fulfill her father’s abandoned dream sets the tone for a compelling journey. Akane’s wit and charisma shine through every panel, making it hard to put the manga down. The supporting characters and tournament arcs further enrich the story, giving readers even more reasons to stay invested and root for the cast. The series also masterfully portrays the theme of loss in a subtle yet impactful way, making the emotional payoffs at the end of each arc incredibly rewarding for the audience.
While the story may feel familiar, Akane-Banashi presents it in a unique way, like a dish served with an entirely new flavor that conditions your mind to view it differently. However, it’s important to note that the greatness of a story—much like the flavor of a dish—isn’t always tied to how appetizing its presentation is. That said, an excellent presentation can serve as a bonus to an already well-seasoned narrative, which is exactly what Akane-Banashi delivers—with the added bonus of showcasing some of the most stunning art designs seen in a while. ***
__Conclusion__
The series might seem intimidating at first, with its niche setting that could feel confusing or discouraging. However, Akane-Banashi quickly pulls you in by infusing the story with a shounen sports flavor, offering a narrative that's easy to follow. Its compelling plot keeps you engaged, and the character’s unwavering passion shines through, driving the well-crafted, motivational story that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. ***
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