MANGA REVIEW | "Akane-banashi" - Volume Twelve
Where Akane-banashi shines is in its storytelling. Rakugo has been around for hundreds of years, with just as many tales to spin in the profession. But our heroine has come up with a concept that many other rakugo performers haven’t ever pondered: the shared universe of the rakugo. It’s in this very idea where Akane-banashi glows gleefully in its twelfth volume.
Things have kicked off at Asagao’s futatsume promotion, with Akane telling the tale of “Tanuki Dice”. But her own promotion is on the line too, with Arakawa Arch Four member Taizen there to watch her do her thing. But with a certain Afro-haired member already telling Taizen not to promote her, it seems like fate has already made its roll. Fortunately for Akane, the loaded dice is in her favor.
Akane-banashi has always been about the seriousness of the rakugo profession, but it’s also been about the enjoyment of the tales. And perhaps the one who enjoys them the most is the storyteller themselves. After all, why would they want such a job if they grew tired of telling such stories? It’s having this thought process in the back of Akane’s mind where we see her not just get creative, but also find a way to gain the attention of every attendee at the theater.
How, you may ask? It’s thanks to some outside-the-box thinking that makes Akane’s performance one that even forces a smile on Taizen’s face. Threading other rakugo stories through the tanuki’s transformation screw-ups results in some callbacks that leave the audience roaring with laughter. Perhaps most impressed is Akane’s father Tohru, who realizes just how much his daughter has evolved as a performer.
However, it’s Taizen that surprisingly takes a cue from Akane’s performance, as he hits the stage stoically. But as soon as he begins his story about a landlord collecting rent, he also gets into the swing of things with his own fun take on the tale. In that moment, not only does Taizen acknowledge Akane’s skills, he also already makes his decision on whether or not to promote her. (How the Afro-haired member reacts to the news is both unhinged and funny as hell!)
Where this volume of Akane-banashi shows its real strength is with a little father/daughter time. Normally, it’s here where the eldest passes the baton to the youngest, but that’s not what happens. Tohru doesn’t need to, as he left rakugo behind years ago when he was expelled. Instead, he praises Akane not for just being a great performer, but for already surpassing him. While this is not the be-all-to-end-all moment we’ve been waiting for, it’s certainly a series highlight that will shape what’s to come in the future.
And that future may arrive sooner than later, but whether or not becoming shin’uchi is still a long way away. Instead, this volume of Akane-banashi embraces the growth our heroine and her comrades have experienced on their path to rakugo greatness. It delivers fun stories, career highlights, and even an unexpected form of praise. On top of that, it reminds readers to have fun with these classic tales, and when something rewarding comes around, it’s never inappropriate to celebrate a little, even if you’re more known to be the stoic type.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
