Month: August 2025

“Akane-banashi” THE Rakugo Manga is Getting a TV Anime in 2026!

On By Kanariya EishiIn Anime, Book Review, Manga, RandomLeave a comment

🎉 Super exciting news for rakugo and anime lovers! The acclaimed rakugo manga Akane-banashi is officially getting an anime adaptation in 2026!

If you’ve already read the manga, you know how brilliantly it captures the dynamic spirit and deep traditions of rakugo- bringing this storytelling art to audiences who may be discovering it for the first time.

What makes Akane-banashi even more special is its amazing protagonist: Akane Osaki. In a genre (shonen manga) often dominated by male leads, this Shonen Jump series stands out with a strong, determined young woman at its heart- and this alone is worth celebrating!

Created by writer Yuki Suenaga and illustrator Takamasa Moue, the story follows Akane, a girl mesmerised by her father’s rakugo performances. She spends countless hours imitating his stories, secretly watching his training sessions. But when her father is abruptly expelled from the rakugo association and forced to stop performing, Akane sets out to uncover the truth behind his dismissal. Guided by her father’s former master, she begins her own journey to become a rakugo performer.

While Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju helped introduce rakugo to international audiences through its poignant (and sometimes super depressing…) storytelling, I believe Akane-banashi has the potential to reach even further.

Since its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2022, Akane-banashi has been a standout hit, earning nominations for both the 16th Manga Taisho Award and the 47th Kodansha Manga Award.

This is one anime adaptation you won’t want to miss!

[Book Review] From Girdle Maker to Water Commissioner – THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE: The Pioneering Spin-off Program That Made Broadcast History!

On By Kanariya EishiIn Book Review, literatureLeave a comment

For enthusiasts of history and the golden age of radio, a remarkable new title has arrived: Kristine Ohkubo’s From Girdle Maker to Water Commissioner – THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE: The Pioneering Spin-off Program That Made Broadcast History! A finalist in the 19th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, this book transports readers to the enchanting and hilarious world of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, one of radio’s most beloved characters.

I had the privilege of being introduced to Gildersleeve’s eccentric stories by the author herself before the book’s publication, and I quickly became a devoted fan. Informative and engaging, the book traces the series’ evolution over the years. I particularly enjoyed delving into the actors’ detailed biographies and backstories.

You may know Ohkubo for her authoritative works on rakugo: Talking About Rakugo (Volumes 1 and 2) and Fallen Words. I can clearly see how her fascination with old-time radio drew her to the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Both evoke a nostalgic world where family and traditional values take centre stage.

In the appendix, you’ll find complete episode logs—a treasure trove for fans, collectors, and researchers alike. These logs provide a roadmap back to the nostalgic world many of us long to revisit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thoroughly recommended for aficionados of old-time radio, comedy lovers, and rakugo enthusiasts alike!!!

‘An Ordinary Life’ at Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art

On By Kanariya EishiIn Japanese History, Life, Notice, UpdatesLeave a comment

As we mark the 80th year since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, An Ordinary Life— a video installation created by Fiona Amundsen and me for Christchurch Art Gallery—is currently on display at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.

The work reflects real and imagined conversations with my late grandfather, an eyewitness of the destruction of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. We used rakugo as our medium of storytelling, incorporating zanshin, a concept from aikido, which Fiona practices (2nd dan black belt).

The exhibition runs until 15 September. If you happen to be in the area, please visit and take a moment to reflect on the importance of peace.

The world we live in, I believe, is not the kind of world those who departed in WWII envisioned. It feels overwhelming to try to change the entire world—but I can change myself, and perhaps a few people around me.

Am I walking a path of peace?

I want to become a more peaceful person, so I won’t disappoint my grandpa when I see him again in the next world—if such a place exists.

* Photos were kindly provided by my rakugo master, Kanariya Eiraku, who visited the museum during his recent trip to Hiroshima.