A Special Thanks Goes To Viz Media and Net Galley For The Opportunity To Review This Title.
Following our last review, the Karaku Cup is finally happening as Akane has her skills put to the test with her performance of Jugemu. But she quickly realizes that this competition will get fierce rather quickly as she goes up against Karashi Nerimaya, who aims to win the Kuraku Cup yet again with his approach to Rakugo with Tenshiki. Then there is Hiraku Koragi, a popular voice actress who uses Shibahama, one of the most famous of the Ninjobanashi (The Heart-Warming Tales of Rakugo). With Issho Arakawa watching and presiding as the Head Judge, will she be successful in avenging her father and showing how much she has grown as a Rakugoka?
It may not be like your typical Shonen manga, but Akane-banashi continues to find a way to grab the reader’s attention without any type of big battles that involve the fate of the world or incorporate some form of fan service to keep the reader interested, it uses Japanese culture and continued to make it more accessible for both a new generation, and for western audiences (something I have mentioned previously in the first two volume reviews.)
One of the things that is important in reading a book like this is to pay attention to every performance. Each story that is told holds a special meaning, whether it is comedic or perhaps, something serious in its message. The Rakugo performed in each chapter is handled perfectly, thanks to not only Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue but also the supervision from professional rakugoka Keiki Hayashiya.
Aside from the rakugo, we also get a deeper look into the characters in the competition. Take, for example, Karachi Nerimaya, he has won two Kuraku Cups and is considered to be a genius. He uses an approach described as Taking Old Traditions and remixing them for a modern audience, in this case, it was the old tale titled Tenshiki. Karachi may be talented, but he was blinded by his cocky attitude, which is a popular formula to use in comics or manga. Hiraku Koragi was a favorite of mine in this volume, she performed well with a theatrical feel to her rakugo entry, an interesting rival for Akane perhaps?
Akane-banashi volume three is available now digitally and in bookstores. You can read the series on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump and Shueisha’s Manga Plus app. (It is part of the ‘First Read Free’ Campaign! The Campaign is only available on the mobile app.)
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Whatever purchase through the affiliate links helps the site.
Final Grade:
Thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions, news tips, or questions, email them to: webmaster@bigrednerd.com.
Red's Nerd Den 