Anime Spotlight - Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (Showa and Genroku era lover's suicide through Rakugo)
by Anthony Foronda,
Key Staff
- Director: Mamoru Hatakeyama
- (Rozen Maiden – Zurückspulen)
- Series Composition: Jun Kumagai
- (Hamatora)
- Character Design: Mieko Hosoi
- (Aiura, Psychic School Wars (movie))
Introduction
Based on the world of Rakugo storytelling in the Showa era, the much talked about serious Rakugo manga that draws out the storytellers' loving true guise and work is finally turning into a TV anime series.
Story
Unable to forget the grand master Yakumo's "Reaper" that he witnessed during the Rakugo visitation performance in prison, Yotaro headed immediately to the storyteller's theater after being released. Yotaro manages to become a live-in apprentice to Yakumo after much begging, but a woman named Konatsu was living under Yakumo's care. Yakumo and Konatsu apparently have some grudge that others cannot easily dabble into... Created by Haruko Kumota, who is acclaimed for detailed character portrayal, this much anticipated series is based on the Rakugo industry in the Showa era and draws out the storytellers' loving true guise and work.
Characters
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Yotaro
VA:Tomokazu Seki Former thug. Touched by the Rakugo performed by Yakumo the 8th while he was serving his prison sentence, he immediately heads to see Yakumo after being released from prison and begged to become an apprentice. A naïve person with a side of him that doesn't know the world and is idiotic, Yakumo names him "Yotaro". |
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Yurakutei Yakumo / Kikuhiko
VA:Akira Ishida Called "the last master of Showa", a Rakugo storyteller who has led a half-life full of suffering and now keeps to himself. Inherited the name Yurakutei Yakumo and is the eighth man to wield the name. Had not taken any apprentices until now, but accepts Yotaro who suddenly appeared before him. He went by the name Kikuhiko back during the opening act and secondary days.
Sukeroku
VA:Kōichi Yamadera Konatsu's father. Led the post-WW2 Edo Rakugo industry together with Yakumo, and was a Rakugo storyteller dubbed "the extraordinary genius". His passion for Rakugo was stronger than anyone else, and was a hearty fellow in stark comparison to Yakumo. But, due to a certain incident, he passes away at a young age.
Konatsu
VA:Yū Kobayashi A woman who is under Yakumo's roof due to a certain incident. Sukeroku's daughter. Strong-willed and short-tempered, but actually is very honest and straightforward. Loves her late father Sukeroku and his Rakugo from the bottom of her heart. Seems to have some sort of grudge against Yakumo..?
Miyokichi
VA:Megumi Hayashibara A mysterious woman who suddenly appeared before Yakumo and Sukeroku in their youth. Previously a geisha.
Matsuda
VA:Shigeru Ushiyama Attendant serving Yakumo from the 7th wielder of the name. Gentle and mild-mannered, he is kind even to Yotaro who jumped into the world of Rakugo with no knowledge or experience. |
Cast
- Yotaro
- Tomokazu Seki
- Yurakutei Yakumo/Kikuhiko
- Akira Ishida
- Sukeroku
- Kōichi Yamadera
- Miyokichi
- Megumi Hayashibara
- Matsuda
- Shigeru Ushiyama
- Mafia guy
- Yasuyuki Kase
- Bansai
- Chafūrin
- Master Nekosuke
- Shinpei Hayashiya
- Konatsu
- Yū Kobayashi
- Yurakutei Yakumo the 7th
- Hiroshi Ienaka
- Amaken
- Kappei Yamaguchi
- Big Bro
- Sho Sudo
- Mangetsu
- Kōji Yusa
- And others
Staff
- Original Story
- Haruko Kumota "Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū" (serialized in "ITAN", Kodansha)
- Director
- Mamoru Hatakeyama
- Series Composition
- Jun Kumagai
- Character Design
- Mieko Hosoi
- Rakugo Supervision
- Shinpei Hayashiya
- Color Coordination
- Hitomi Sano
- Director of Photography
- Shigemitsu Hamao
- Music
- Kana Shibue
- Music Production
- Starchild Record
- Sound Director
- Koji Tsujitani
- Sound Production
- Dax Production
- Animation Production
- Studio DEEN
- Pruduced by
- Rakugo Shinju Committee
©Haruko Kumota, KODANSHA/Rakugo Shinju Committee
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