Akane-banashi

As a young girl, Akane believed her father's style of performance was among the best. He was destined to become one of the greats in Rakugo Theater, a type of one-man show in Japan with a long history. Instead, he's inexplicably expelled from his school, along with his entire class of apprentices. Despite his failure, Akane is determined to follow in his footsteps and prove his delivery and techniques will resonate with audiences. As a high-school senior, she proves herself and is accepted by a reputable shin'uchi, a master rakugoka. But, Akane quickly discovers that she has much to learn about this difficult and deeply traditional and personal storytelling. This manga is beautifully illustrated with expressively drawn characters that are reminiscent of Naoki Urasawa's style. Rakugo requires the use of facial expressions and upper body, and Moue is very creative in illustrating how characters tell their rakugo stories. The traditional Japanese clothing present in Rakugo theater is also wonderfully detailed. The overall pacing of the story is spot on, as Suenaga devotes a decent amount of time developing every character into someone interesting. This is a great read for its characters but also for anyone interested in learning more about this Japanese art form.

Gr 7 Up--As a youngster, Akane loved two things: watching her rakugo-performing father Shinta ply his trade, and telling off anyone who had the gall to ridicule him. But when the scorn gets to be too much for Shinta to grin and bear any longer, Akane decides to take up her father's mantle to prove to everyone just how magical the art form of rakugo can be. Akane-banashi gets off to an exceptionally strong start with this opening volume. Akane is a wonderful leading lady, full of energy, whose devotion to her father and his beloved craft will have any reader excited for her next move. This title does a great job explaining rakugo and all of its ranks to readers, ensuring that the verbal entertainment form is never confusing or ambiguous at any point of the story. Rakugo relies on the performer's movements, as well as the emotions they're conveying while on stage, and the manga's art adeptly displays everything the performers want their audience to witness through their presentations. Paced well and navigating Akane's early experiences with rakugo through her undertakings without skipping a beat, the plot will keep readers engrossed in her character progression as she sets out to make a name for herself in the (shockingly!) cutthroat world of rakugo. VERDICT With its lovable protagonist, strong artwork, and unique exploits at its heart, Akane-banashi is not only a must for any budding manga collection, but for any reader simply looking for a magnificent reading experience.--Joe Pascullo