Yuki Suenaga

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. As youngsters, Issho and Shiguma are trapped in poverty, doing odd jobs, getting in fights, and behaving utterly unlike the professional rakugoka they will one day become. When the previous Shiguma, Kiroku Kashiwaya, charms them with his art, they join his rakugo school, and he influences them to work hard and better themselves. But one day, everything changes… In recounting this story to Akane, Urara reveals the secret behind the birth of the Arakawa School. Will it change Akane’s perception on becoming Issho’s apprentice? This volume also includes the one-shot “Tatarashido,” a story about stand-up comedy from fun-loving high schoolers!

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.Akane successfully performs the opening act for Master Shiguma’s solo show, but whispers of the story known as “Shiguma''s Art” leave her yearning to learn more. Suddenly, things take a turn for the worse when Master Shiguma collapses and the Shiguma School is forcefully disbanded! Akane’s new master is none other than the man who crushed her father’s dreams, Issho Arakawa. Finally, the story of what happened between Issho and Shiguma is brought to light—and an unexpected secret about Shiguma’s past is revealed!

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!Akane is busy preparing for her promotion to futatsume, and the process is taking a lot longer than she expected. For Akane’s final performance as a zenza, Shiguma entrusts her to be the opening act for his solo performance. Will Akane be able to prove she’s grown enough to ascend to the next level? Especially with the extra pressure of knowing that Shiguma is one of the Arakawa Arch Four?Akane is busy preparing for her promotion to futatsume, and the process is taking a lot longer than she expected. For Akane’s final performance as a zenza, Shiguma entrusts her to be the opening act for his solo performance. Will Akane be able to prove she’s grown enough to ascend to the next level? Especially with the extra pressure

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!Maikeru Arakawa is gearing up to be the first futatsume in the Arakawa school to take the shin’uchi exam since the big expulsion scandal that forced Akane’s father out of the rakugo world. That incident weighs heavily on all of Master Shiguma’s apprentices, but it hit Maikeru especially hard due to his close relationship with Shinta Arakawa. And worse, one of the Arakawa Arch Four, Zensho Arakawa, has it out for Maikeru due to their similar performance styles. Will Maikeru be able to gain the approval of the Arakawa Arch Four and overcome the hurdle that no one in the Arakawa school has even attempted since the scandal all those years ago, or will he face the same fate as Akane’s father?Maikeru Arakawa is gearing up to be the first futatsume in the Arakawa school to take the shin’uchi exam since the big expulsion scandal that forced Akane’s father out of the rakugo world. That incident weighs heavily on all of Master Shiguma’s apprentices, but it hit Maikeru especially hard due to his close relationship with Shinta Arakawa. And wo

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!Even though it’s Asagao''s futatsume promotion, Akane’s own promotion recommendation is on the line with this performance as the zenza opening act. The one judging her is not only a friend of Chocho’s and Taizen, one of the Arakawa Arch Four, but also a longtime friend of her own father. Taizen recognizes Akane’s talent but is threatened to not recommend or promote any of Shiguma’s students by Zensho, another one of the Arch Four. Will Taizen make the right decision, or will he succumb to his peer? Meanwhile, Maikeru Arakawa is gearing up to be the first person in the Arakawa school to take the shin’uchi test since the expulsion scandal.Even though it’s Asagao''s futatsume promotion, Akane’s own promotion recommendation is on the line with this performance as the zenza opening act. The one judging her is not only a friend of Chocho’s and Taizen, one of the Arakawa Arch Four, but also a longtime friend of her own father. Taizen recognizes Akane’s talent

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!After the success of the trial performances, Asagao picks Akane to be the zenza for his futatsume promotion performance. She plans to perform one of the stories that Chocho taught her in order to court a recommendation to become a futatsume herself. But something unexpected happens when Taizen Arakawa, the shin’uchi Akane is hoping will recommend her, is threatened by his master to not go through with what he promised. The truth behind the Arakawa school expulsion scandal begins to unravel, and at the crux of it all is none other than Akane’s own master, Shiguma Arakawa.After the success of the trial performances, Asagao picks Akane to be the zenza for his futatsume promotion performance. She plans to perform one of the stories that Chocho taught her in order to court a recommendation to become a futatsume herself. But something unexpected happens when Taizen Arakawa, the shin’uchi Akane is hoping will recommend h

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!After watching Chocho perform, Akane starts to see a path to becoming the kind of rakugoka she wants to be. She eagerly asks him to take her under his wing, but with Chocho everything is a gamble. Meanwhile, one of Chocho’s apprentices, Akane’s friend Asagao, is ready to be promoted to futatsume. Chocho tasks him with a final test—filling a performance venue with a series of trial performances. Asagao asks Akane and Karashi to help him, and the three of them struggle to find a way to meet Chocho’s demands. But then Akane comes up with an idea that may just be crazy enough to work…After watching Chocho perform, Akane starts to see a path to becoming the kind of rakugoka she wants to be. She eagerly asks him to take her under his wing, but with Chocho everything is a gamble. Meanwhile, one of Chocho’s apprentices, Akane’s friend Asagao, is ready to be promoted to futatsume. Chocho tasks him with a final test—filling a perform

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!Akane is finally able to show off her father’s rakugo to the world, but in doing so, she discovers there was something lacking…which means there’s a chance for his style and for herself to grow. After the four-person selection event, Kaisei has some harsh words for Akane, but they don’t deter her from continuing on her path alongside Shiguma’s other apprentices toward greater heights. Then, Akane is presented with the chance of a lifetime when a certain master who can help get her promoted to the rank of futatsume comes into the picture.Akane is finally able to show off her father’s rakugo to the world, but in doing so, she discovers there was something lacking…which means there’s a chance for his style and for herself to grow. After the four-person selection event, Kaisei has some harsh words for Akane, but they don’t deter her from continuing on her path alongside Shiguma’s othe