Akane-banashi, Vol. 18

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!

Shinta Arakawa wants nothing more than to pass his shin’uchi exam—the test that would make him a top-rank headliner and master storyteller in the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Akane Osaki, his daughter and biggest fan, spies on him while he practices and learns his routines for herself. When rakugo master Issho Arakawa expels everyone after the exam with no explanation, a fire is lit inside Akane. From that day forth, she has had one goal—to avenge her father and prove his art was worthy of the title of shin’uchi.

Three years have passed since the dissolution of the Shiguma School. Shomei Tsubakiya rejects Akane’s pleas to train her in the story “God of Death,” as something about her performance techniques goes against what he calls his principles. Determined to earn his recognition and prove she is worthy, Akane enters a rakugo competition that he is judging. But her new master, Issho Arakawa, places a restriction on her performance—she must win the competition without making anyone laugh.