Akane-banashi

Synopsis

From a young age, Akane Ousaki has always loved to watch her father, Tooru, practice and perform rakugo, a form of traditional Japanese comedic storytelling. Rakugo performers are split into three ranks, with the highest, shinuchi, only granted to the very best performers after they pass a difficult promotion test. When Tooru takes the exam, Akane experiences her father putting on a stellar performance in front of a big crowd and judges, but the strict main judge, Isshou Arakawa, still fails him, forcing him to quit rakugo. Ever since, Akane has been diligently practicing rakugo herself. Now a senior in high school, she coincidentally lands a spot to perform in front of a crowd with the help of Shiguma Arakawa, Tooru's former teacher. Her splendid performance surprises everyone and is just the beginning: Shiguma appoints her as his new apprentice, and with his help, Akane sets out to become a shinuchi in her father's place.