Does anyone remember Act-Age? Its editor was put in-charge of another acting manga after what happened with that writer.
Akane-Banashi
Story by Yuki Suenaga
Art by Takamasa Moue
Rakugo Advisor: Keiki Hayashiya
https://mangaplus.sh...p/titles/100185
"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!"
Rakugo is a one man performance of a story. Imagine putting on a play where one guy just sits on a pillow and does all the characters on his own. Changing his voice his expressions everything. It was apparently created in the edo period and most of the story are the day to day stories of the commoners of that time.
The ranking are Zenza the opening act. Futatsume the regulars. Shin'uchi the headliners.
Also rakugo performers take on a stage name with the last name being the school they belong to.
The story starts out with Tohru Osaki or his stage name Shinta of the Arakawa school taking his exam to become a Shin'uchi. He wants to become this rank so he can earn more money, honor his master, and most important to be a man his daughter Akane can be proud of. After having a fit of nerves he is reminded of why he is there after hearing his daughter sneeze. Afterwards, he gives a masterful performance. However, the head of the school decides to expel all 6 people that were taking the exam due to his performance. Having to give up his dream he becomes a broken man and a concrete salesman.
So it up to our protagonist Akane Osaki to take up her father's style and prove to the world the beauty of her father's act.
Akane Osaki/Arakawa (Zenza) is our protagonist, she has been in love with Rakugo ever since she was young watching her father practice. She is a natural at changing her expression and copying mannerism of other people, and most people that see her say she has a gift.
The Arakawa School:
Issho Arakawa (Shin'uchi) is the patriarch of the school and the one who expelled her father. He is concerned with keeping the tradition of Rakugo alive in the modern age, and wants to see how it can attract young people without losing its soul.
Kaisei Arakawa (Futatsume) is the sole apprentice of Issho he was promoted to Futatsume after only two years due to his incredible talent. His gimmick is that he is handsome as well as able to convincingly play female characters, and then make funny face to shock people into laughing. He has taken an interest in Akane due to her talent.
Shiguma Arakawa (Shin'uchi) was Tohru's master as well as the second of the school behind Issho, to make up for his failure with Tohru/Shinta, he has agreed to train Akane and has been for six years during the time skip. He has officially never taken a new student since the expulsion incident.
The Four Students of Shiguma are people he was already training before the expulsion. Which means all of them knew Shinta as he was their senpai, and they all have bitter feeling about his expulsion.
Maikeru Arakawa (Futatsume) is the eldest of Shiguma's students he is a flirt.
Koguma Arakawa (Futatsume) the oldest of Shiguma's students his gimmick is to give a lecture of the play he is doing. He the one with the clearest grudge against Issho due to Shinta's expulsion.
Kyoji Arakawa (Futatsume) is the mother hen of the group, his gimmick is he is so serious that its funny.
Guriko Arakawa (Futatsume) was the youngest and the first one we are introduced to, he often helps out Akane train.
Ikken Arakawa (Shin'uchi) is third in rank at the school he was a judge at the exam six years ago.
Hikaru Koragi (apprentice) is a young popular voice actress from the country side. She wants to show that she is more than a pretty face so she took up Rakugo. If people seen act-age she is very similar to 'the angel' from that story.
Other Schools:
Karashi Nerimaya/Sanmeitei (Zenza) a college student whose gimmick is to modernize the edo period stories.
Rest of Cast:
Masaki Osaka (beautician) was the bread winner in the first chapter but was fine with it because she supported her husbands dream. She also supports her daughter going the path of Rakugo.
Jumbo Ozaki (Judo) was a childhood bully to Akane since then he has become her closest friend and biggest supporter.
Machiko Iwashimizu (Sensei) she was originally opposed to Akane doing Rakugo due to one of her former students failing at becoming a stand up comedian, but after watching her act she become one of her supports and guardian if her mother is busy.
Mamoru runs a bar that Shiguma's students drink at, its also used to help Akane interact with customers by working there.
Kimihisa Kashio (reporter) he was at the incident six years ago and over hears the conversation between Issho and Akane.
The story been fine so far it a bit fast pace. The artist able to due the various emotions needed for this story to work. Overall, I hope it succeed.
Edited by Bail o' Lies, 05 November 2022 - 05:40 PM.
