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あかね噺 [Akane-banashi] #7
あかね噺 7 [Akane-banashi 7]
阿良川一門の次世代を担う二ツ目で行われる四人会の出演権を手にするため前座錬成会に臨んだ朱音。四人会出演には錬成会で1位になることが絶対条件。1位候補の呼び声高い朱音だったが、予期せぬダークホース出現と、敗北を糧に技術を伸ばした彼女の再登場に出演権争いは苛烈を極め──!?
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 28, 2026
A Cursory Glance at the Roster
This time, the story hinges around a highly publicized rakugo contest organized by shin'uchi Ikken. Akane faces determined rivals among whom there is one... Hikaru Koragi, now a student of Ikken Arakawa's, determined to defeat Akane. There is also a certain Kaichi Arakawa, a former salesman turned rakugoka, and trained by Issho Arakawa.
The plot explores the raw components of hanashi stories and the rakugoka profiles obtained from the predominance of some of these components in the storytellers. Maikeru offers Akane a choice between three hanashi: a crowd-pleaser, a story he finds well-suited to Akane's personality as a rakugoka, and another story told successfully by her father in the past. To Maikeru's surprise, she picks 'Kawarime' (The Passage of Time), the last one, as it is the one closest to her roots as a rakugo artist.
The tournament begins.
This time, the story hinges around a highly publicized rakugo contest organized by shin'uchi Ikken. Akane faces determined rivals among whom there is one... Hikaru Koragi, now a student of Ikken Arakawa's, determined to defeat Akane. There is also a certain Kaichi Arakawa, a former salesman turned rakugoka, and trained by Issho Arakawa.
The plot explores the raw components of hanashi stories and the rakugoka profiles obtained from the predominance of some of these components in the storytellers. Maikeru offers Akane a choice between three hanashi: a crowd-pleaser, a story he finds well-suited to Akane's personality as a rakugoka, and another story told successfully by her father in the past. To Maikeru's surprise, she picks 'Kawarime' (The Passage of Time), the last one, as it is the one closest to her roots as a rakugo artist.
The tournament begins.
September 9, 2024
This is a Shonen Jump title, so it's time for another competition! It's manipulative, but it does give this volume an energetic goose over the last.
Akane faces off against old rivals and a couple newcomers who show her that she cannot be complacent. Also, her practice for the competition forges a new connection between her and her father, which is the root of the series and nice to see revisited.
A good outing! And the competition is only half over, so there's some momentum going into the next volume. Hope to see it soon!
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Story 26. Where You Belong -- Story 27. Conversation -- Story 28. I'm Glad -- Story 29. A Wonderful World -- Story 30. Before Being a Rakugoka -- Story 31. Zenza Training Begins -- Story 32. Yasaka-Tei -- Story 33. A Place of Learning -- Story 34. Background Listening
Akane faces off against old rivals and a couple newcomers who show her that she cannot be complacent. Also, her practice for the competition forges a new connection between her and her father, which is the root of the series and nice to see revisited.
A good outing! And the competition is only half over, so there's some momentum going into the next volume. Hope to see it soon!
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Story 26. Where You Belong -- Story 27. Conversation -- Story 28. I'm Glad -- Story 29. A Wonderful World -- Story 30. Before Being a Rakugoka -- Story 31. Zenza Training Begins -- Story 32. Yasaka-Tei -- Story 33. A Place of Learning -- Story 34. Background Listening
January 31, 2024
5/5 ✨ stars
I love that all master Shiguma Arakawa's pupils are weirds. Love them to pieces.
I love that all master Shiguma Arakawa's pupils are weirds. Love them to pieces.
August 20, 2024
As life continues for Akane, another rakugo competition looms on the horizon. While her goal is to take on Kaisei, she’s not the only promising new talent and that includes faces both old and new.
There’s always something exciting going on in the pages of this series, even if it is largely down to, yes, a series of battles. But it’s fought with words and a whole other skill set than trading blows. That’s what makes it far more interesting to my own tastes.
And while I feel it’s appropriate to operate on the base level that Akane will succeed, and rooting for her is so dang easy because of how likeable and determined she is, the way the manga stacks the odds against her is very well done.
A long-simmering threat from a couple volumes back finally returns and she, like another longstanding character, won’t consider herself a winner until she can beat Akane. There’s a lot to process here and some great fleshing out of somebody who was already a good foil.
The little touches really make this and Akane’s use of rakugo to connect with her dad, but not really, is an especially poignant moment because it says many different things all at once. This has layers and I really admire it putting in the effort.
Even the ways of trying to adapt an ancient art and keep it alive for a modern audience, which ties into our returning rival, are smartly done. Not least of which because they present new challenges to be overcome and give way to some fun scheming.
Genuinely, there is an art to stakes and an art to powerful heroes who are going to win, but maybe not. This knows how to deliver on both of these and make it interesting. Partly it’s the real world grounding - there’s no secret attack here, it has to come from the performer’s skill.
Everything here, from the competition that sets up the next to Akane’s very loaded choice of story to tackle, is interesting. And it has enough payoff that it doesn’t have that awkward mid-arc feel either.
5 stars - if you’re not here for the next challenging battle of rakugo, then this will still not be for you. For me, this is utterly addictive and continues to be a very fun ride.
There’s always something exciting going on in the pages of this series, even if it is largely down to, yes, a series of battles. But it’s fought with words and a whole other skill set than trading blows. That’s what makes it far more interesting to my own tastes.
And while I feel it’s appropriate to operate on the base level that Akane will succeed, and rooting for her is so dang easy because of how likeable and determined she is, the way the manga stacks the odds against her is very well done.
A long-simmering threat from a couple volumes back finally returns and she, like another longstanding character, won’t consider herself a winner until she can beat Akane. There’s a lot to process here and some great fleshing out of somebody who was already a good foil.
The little touches really make this and Akane’s use of rakugo to connect with her dad, but not really, is an especially poignant moment because it says many different things all at once. This has layers and I really admire it putting in the effort.
Even the ways of trying to adapt an ancient art and keep it alive for a modern audience, which ties into our returning rival, are smartly done. Not least of which because they present new challenges to be overcome and give way to some fun scheming.
Genuinely, there is an art to stakes and an art to powerful heroes who are going to win, but maybe not. This knows how to deliver on both of these and make it interesting. Partly it’s the real world grounding - there’s no secret attack here, it has to come from the performer’s skill.
Everything here, from the competition that sets up the next to Akane’s very loaded choice of story to tackle, is interesting. And it has enough payoff that it doesn’t have that awkward mid-arc feel either.
5 stars - if you’re not here for the next challenging battle of rakugo, then this will still not be for you. For me, this is utterly addictive and continues to be a very fun ride.
August 1, 2026
this volume went by wayyy too fast for me :OO
i thought the zenza competition was cool! but not a lot of super interesting stuff happened heh
looking forward to the next volume tho :P
i thought the zenza competition was cool! but not a lot of super interesting stuff happened heh
looking forward to the next volume tho :P
August 11, 2026
I have read more than 50 chapters of this manga in the last 24 hours.
Help.
I really did not expect to like Akane-Banashi as much as I do, partly because I knew nothing of the art form of Rakugo before giving Chapter 1 a chance, and also because this kind of slice of life genre is not one that I usually seek out. But I have learned a lot from what I have read so far, I think expanding my horizons more often like this will make me a better writer in the future. Also, the art style is enthralling, I especially enjoy how the art style changes depending on the “main events” of the story versus the events of the Rakugo stories told during a performance on stage.
This manga is extremely different to what I am used to, especially for an American like me with no prior exposure to Rakugo, but how the story has progressed so far, and the vibrant and tough character that is Akane, has me locked in. I’ve learned that I can benefit from a “shock to the system” every now and again.
Help.
I really did not expect to like Akane-Banashi as much as I do, partly because I knew nothing of the art form of Rakugo before giving Chapter 1 a chance, and also because this kind of slice of life genre is not one that I usually seek out. But I have learned a lot from what I have read so far, I think expanding my horizons more often like this will make me a better writer in the future. Also, the art style is enthralling, I especially enjoy how the art style changes depending on the “main events” of the story versus the events of the Rakugo stories told during a performance on stage.
This manga is extremely different to what I am used to, especially for an American like me with no prior exposure to Rakugo, but how the story has progressed so far, and the vibrant and tough character that is Akane, has me locked in. I’ve learned that I can benefit from a “shock to the system” every now and again.
November 25, 2024
This series continues to be a rare gem in Shonen manga. Like Haikyuu, I don’t understand the hierarchy of competition and why there’s always senpai talking about the next show to move up in ranking, but I’m enjoying Akane’s journey.
Her mentors are varied and have different teaching styles. I’m enjoying her learning more about her father. I’m wondering if we’ll ever get more of her spending time with her mother. She’s just a supportive character that’s very, very in the background.
I liked seeing her learning from a mentor that worked closely with her father. This series continues to be an enjoyable read for me.
Her mentors are varied and have different teaching styles. I’m enjoying her learning more about her father. I’m wondering if we’ll ever get more of her spending time with her mother. She’s just a supportive character that’s very, very in the background.
I liked seeing her learning from a mentor that worked closely with her father. This series continues to be an enjoyable read for me.
February 25, 2026
Suenaga's pacing and attention to detail when it comes to characterization is nothing short of impressive. Keeping readers invested in our protagonist's competitors is how you keep a story like this interesting, and Suenaga is managing it with so many different characters. Moue's incredible flair for distinctive character designs obviously helps out a ton in that regard. Loved having Akane kind of take a back seat in this one as we get to explore the motivations and ambitions of our other rakugoka.
February 26, 2024
4.25/5
Another excellent volume. I appreciate seeing Akane prepare for the next competition and see if she can win a place with the top three who will be competing later. We get more about her motivation in this volume. The start of the competition introduced a new rakugoka as well as what it will take to win.
Another excellent volume. I appreciate seeing Akane prepare for the next competition and see if she can win a place with the top three who will be competing later. We get more about her motivation in this volume. The start of the competition introduced a new rakugoka as well as what it will take to win.
August 8, 2026
Akane learns a new story, this one with a personal connection, and surrounding this is a new tournament with additional characters coming into play. Thinking back on this volume makes me wonder how big of a role tournaments might play in the lives of up-and-coming rakugoka as opposed to being something dramatic that can move the story? I’m not sure, but I’m enjoying the ride either way.
September 26, 2024
So excited to see how things turn out
October 21, 2024
È finito troppo presto.
October 25, 2024
The beginning of the next big story arc! I like the new characters and Akane is as determined as always!
December 8, 2024
Rating: 4.5 stars
February 12, 2026
Still feels fresh. The cast is super strong, which helps a lot. Devastated that my boy Tama didn’t make it though, I’ll be waiting for his comeback.
May 23, 2025
4.5 stars
December 17, 2024
This volume includes conversations more serious than the other volumes, in my opinion. I mean, it's nothing dark or morbid, but there are some moments where characters have discussions with great depth to them. I like it.
October 4, 2024
Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2024/...
Extrait :
Un peu de nouveauté cette semaine, avec la réception et lecture du dernier tome d’Akane Banashi. Une vraie pépite à laquelle je ne m’attendais pas du tout, et dont je suis amoureuse désormais. J’aimerais beaucoup une adaptation en anime, mais également en drama, les deux pouvant rendre très bien, mais avec des aspects différents.
Akane se prépare à relever un nouveau défi, un concours pour les élèves, les zenza, de son école. Le but étant de sélectionner les plus prometteurs dans le lot pour un spectacle. Bien sûr, ce n’est pas le seul intérêt de cette compétition, puisque cela peut aussi servir de tremplin aux zenza pour devenir Futatsume, soit monté en grade. Kaisei est d’ailleurs l’un des personnages qui motive le plus les autres, puisque son ascension a été fulgurante. Akane est évidemment grandement favorite, car elle a déjà gagné un concours, même s’il n’était qu’amateur. Mais les autres participants ne sont pas sans reste, plusieurs sont également étonnants, notamment Hikari qui avait aussi participé au concours et dont la prestation d’Akane lui a donnée envie de se lancer plus sérieusement dans le Rakugo. C’est bien qu’Akane est un peu de challenge et des rivaux, que ce soit au sein même de sa propre école ou ailleurs. La compétition peut être un bon moyen de progresser, mais ça dépend surtout des caractères, pour certains, ça pourrait, au contraire, être un frein ou une pression supplémentaire.
Ce qui est intéressant également, c’est que l’événement qui sert à évaluer les élèves, évolue également. On peut dire du Rakugo qu’il est un peu vieux jeu, pourtant, depuis le début de la série on voit qu’il y a déjà plusieurs idées pour remettre cette discipline aux goûts du jour. La nouveauté ici, est de faire participer à la sélection plusieurs éléments, le premier est évidemment le jury, des maîtres de l’école Arakawa, vient ensuite le vote du public sur place, mais aussi celui en ligne ! C’est là que ça devient intéressant, puisqu’il y a donc trois types de votants et aucun n’est à négliger. Le jury est professionnel, sur place, il pourra donc juger des prestations avec rigueur. J’avais peur que le côté personnel prenne le dessus, mais une fois de plus, le jury a été impartial et c’est une très bonne chose, en plus d’indiquer que Kaisei n’a sans doute pas été favorisé non plus. Pour le public sur place, je pense qu’il n’y a pas grand-chose à dire, ils voteront pour leur préférence, avec peut-être une légère influence, puisque Hikari est une star. Pour le public en ligne, il peut être composé de tout et n’importe quoi (comme des maîtres d’autres écoles, d’autres pratiquants ou experts par exemple), mais aussi d’autres fans ou publics lambda. Le hic, c’est que le public voit au travers d’une caméra, ils n’ont donc pas l’ambiance de la salle pour les influencer. Arriver à plaire à ses trois catégories demande un sacré niveau ! Le premier à passer en fait d’ailleurs les frais. Pour les votes, le public ne votera que lors de la finale, qui verra s’affronter 4 personnes.
[...]
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2024/...
Extrait :
Un peu de nouveauté cette semaine, avec la réception et lecture du dernier tome d’Akane Banashi. Une vraie pépite à laquelle je ne m’attendais pas du tout, et dont je suis amoureuse désormais. J’aimerais beaucoup une adaptation en anime, mais également en drama, les deux pouvant rendre très bien, mais avec des aspects différents.
Akane se prépare à relever un nouveau défi, un concours pour les élèves, les zenza, de son école. Le but étant de sélectionner les plus prometteurs dans le lot pour un spectacle. Bien sûr, ce n’est pas le seul intérêt de cette compétition, puisque cela peut aussi servir de tremplin aux zenza pour devenir Futatsume, soit monté en grade. Kaisei est d’ailleurs l’un des personnages qui motive le plus les autres, puisque son ascension a été fulgurante. Akane est évidemment grandement favorite, car elle a déjà gagné un concours, même s’il n’était qu’amateur. Mais les autres participants ne sont pas sans reste, plusieurs sont également étonnants, notamment Hikari qui avait aussi participé au concours et dont la prestation d’Akane lui a donnée envie de se lancer plus sérieusement dans le Rakugo. C’est bien qu’Akane est un peu de challenge et des rivaux, que ce soit au sein même de sa propre école ou ailleurs. La compétition peut être un bon moyen de progresser, mais ça dépend surtout des caractères, pour certains, ça pourrait, au contraire, être un frein ou une pression supplémentaire.
Ce qui est intéressant également, c’est que l’événement qui sert à évaluer les élèves, évolue également. On peut dire du Rakugo qu’il est un peu vieux jeu, pourtant, depuis le début de la série on voit qu’il y a déjà plusieurs idées pour remettre cette discipline aux goûts du jour. La nouveauté ici, est de faire participer à la sélection plusieurs éléments, le premier est évidemment le jury, des maîtres de l’école Arakawa, vient ensuite le vote du public sur place, mais aussi celui en ligne ! C’est là que ça devient intéressant, puisqu’il y a donc trois types de votants et aucun n’est à négliger. Le jury est professionnel, sur place, il pourra donc juger des prestations avec rigueur. J’avais peur que le côté personnel prenne le dessus, mais une fois de plus, le jury a été impartial et c’est une très bonne chose, en plus d’indiquer que Kaisei n’a sans doute pas été favorisé non plus. Pour le public sur place, je pense qu’il n’y a pas grand-chose à dire, ils voteront pour leur préférence, avec peut-être une légère influence, puisque Hikari est une star. Pour le public en ligne, il peut être composé de tout et n’importe quoi (comme des maîtres d’autres écoles, d’autres pratiquants ou experts par exemple), mais aussi d’autres fans ou publics lambda. Le hic, c’est que le public voit au travers d’une caméra, ils n’ont donc pas l’ambiance de la salle pour les influencer. Arriver à plaire à ses trois catégories demande un sacré niveau ! Le premier à passer en fait d’ailleurs les frais. Pour les votes, le public ne votera que lors de la finale, qui verra s’affronter 4 personnes.
[...]
October 5, 2024
Akane akan mengikuti Rinseikai, di sini adalah pertunjukan yg akan menjadi gerbang awal utk naik rangking ke Futatsume. Akane gak akan menyangka kalo dia akan berkompetisi dengan Kaichi, murid kedua master Issho dan juga Hikaru, voice actor yang ditemuinya waktu karaku cup dan ternyata dia juga diajari oleh master Urara dan sudah resmi menjadi muridnya Ikken Arakawa.
Tbh aku sama sekali gak suka dgn karakter Hikaru ini. Dia sudah jadi voice actor tapi bukan di tingkat dimana dia sudah veteran, jadi dia masih harus mencari2 pekerjaan dubbing dgn audisi tapi dia pny kepopuleran yg bagus. Dia pgn jadi rakugoka spy terkenal di berbagai bidang, gak cuma terkenal karena dia voice actor, walaupun skill akting dia memang bagus. Karena itu di Rinseikai ini, kondisi Hikaru cukup beruntung karena penilaian gak cuma dari juri tapi juga dari vote audience. Dia cukup berkembang pesat karena dilatih oleh master Urara, yang cocok membawakan cerita percintaan.
Akane pun akhirnya dilatih oleh murid master Shiguma yang paling tinggi levelnya, yaitu Maikeru. Dia cukup dekat dgn ayah Akane dan juga memberikan pertanyaan yang mirip dengan apa yg dibilang oleh Kaisei, "Rakugoka seperti apa yang ingin kamu tunjukkan?"
Kalo dilihat dari ceritanya, aku paham kenapa Maikeru dibilang sbg murid Shiguma dgn level paling tinggi. Karena dia bisa mengcopy performance seseorang sama persis, termasuk performance bapaknya Akane.
Tbh aku sama sekali gak suka dgn karakter Hikaru ini. Dia sudah jadi voice actor tapi bukan di tingkat dimana dia sudah veteran, jadi dia masih harus mencari2 pekerjaan dubbing dgn audisi tapi dia pny kepopuleran yg bagus. Dia pgn jadi rakugoka spy terkenal di berbagai bidang, gak cuma terkenal karena dia voice actor, walaupun skill akting dia memang bagus. Karena itu di Rinseikai ini, kondisi Hikaru cukup beruntung karena penilaian gak cuma dari juri tapi juga dari vote audience. Dia cukup berkembang pesat karena dilatih oleh master Urara, yang cocok membawakan cerita percintaan.
Akane pun akhirnya dilatih oleh murid master Shiguma yang paling tinggi levelnya, yaitu Maikeru. Dia cukup dekat dgn ayah Akane dan juga memberikan pertanyaan yang mirip dengan apa yg dibilang oleh Kaisei, "Rakugoka seperti apa yang ingin kamu tunjukkan?"
Kalo dilihat dari ceritanya, aku paham kenapa Maikeru dibilang sbg murid Shiguma dgn level paling tinggi. Karena dia bisa mengcopy performance seseorang sama persis, termasuk performance bapaknya Akane.
February 5, 2025
I'm always surprised at the ages of Akane's fellow apprentices - they do not seem old enough that they studied with her father.
Another competition, and more random geniuses popping up. I'm not fond of Hikaru and her unrelenting conviction that Akane is the rival she needs to defeat. Who cares if you have low self esteem, that's your own problem to suck up, not to be chasing after a young woman just because she beat you in a competition. The nature of a competition is that there is a winner and mostly losers. In this type of very subjective field, it doesn't even mean the winner was better than you. It's asinine to constantly compare yourself instead of just figuring out what can make you better.
Competition manga tend to exhaust me because there's always some new amazing competitor appearing. You're always told that so-and-so is amazing because they are so young, or started competing so early, or whatever, then another few people come along that are doing the same thing. Like this new salesman guy - he just became an apprentice a year ago, so how does he know enough stories and such to be able to compete already? Same with Hikaru, who has kept her apprenticeship a secret. Akane can be a bit annoying because after all these years she doesn't seem to have really done much self reflection or thought deeply about rakugo.
Another competition, and more random geniuses popping up. I'm not fond of Hikaru and her unrelenting conviction that Akane is the rival she needs to defeat. Who cares if you have low self esteem, that's your own problem to suck up, not to be chasing after a young woman just because she beat you in a competition. The nature of a competition is that there is a winner and mostly losers. In this type of very subjective field, it doesn't even mean the winner was better than you. It's asinine to constantly compare yourself instead of just figuring out what can make you better.
Competition manga tend to exhaust me because there's always some new amazing competitor appearing. You're always told that so-and-so is amazing because they are so young, or started competing so early, or whatever, then another few people come along that are doing the same thing. Like this new salesman guy - he just became an apprentice a year ago, so how does he know enough stories and such to be able to compete already? Same with Hikaru, who has kept her apprenticeship a secret. Akane can be a bit annoying because after all these years she doesn't seem to have really done much self reflection or thought deeply about rakugo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2024
Akane is set to compete in the Arakawa School's Zenza Renseikai, a competition for the lower ranked rakugo performers. The first round is over the course of two days and the top four win a shot at a "rising star" event and a recommendation needed for promotion to the next rank of rakugo.
But the best part is seeing the layers of community around these characters, especially Akane after we get some more time with Maikeru (he's shaping up to be a favorite character). But be on the lookout for old rivals because while Akane is aiming to beat Kaisei, someone else is aiming to beat her.
But the best part is seeing the layers of community around these characters, especially Akane after we get some more time with Maikeru (he's shaping up to be a favorite character). But be on the lookout for old rivals because while Akane is aiming to beat Kaisei, someone else is aiming to beat her.
October 19, 2024
Akane learns from Maikeru, who’s kept his distance, and while this hasn’t been a secret, we get an acknowledgment from Akane that she doesn’t talk to her father about anything Rakugo, ever since that incident. Ugh, I can’t can’t wait until we get that moment!!
May 28, 2025
i just think akane's determination is neat. also i love how motivated she is. like instead of cowering before the talent other rakugokas display, she is inspired by how good they are and strives to be even better no matter how big the challenge is
June 18, 2024
Read in chapters on Shonen Jump app
September 6, 2024
Just keeps getting better
October 10, 2024
Truly engrossing and deft storytelling
March 19, 2025
Je commence à m’ennuyer un peu :/
A voir le prochain comment je le sens !
A voir le prochain comment je le sens !
April 16, 2026
Build up, slow and steady . I like Akane’s development. And her onichans
June 13, 2026
It's not the typical story but it's good. Not as strong as I thought, but I still like it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews