As a young girl, Akane always looked up to her father and dreamed of following in his footsteps to become a master of rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of storytelling. When her father fails the exam to become a master and is expelled from his school without explanation, Akane’s determination only grows. Can she conquer the male-dominated world of rakugo and avenge her father by using his style of storytelling to become a master?
Readers who aren’t already familiar with rakugo will find themselves learning quite a bit about the art by reading Akane-banashi, opens a new window, but an interest in storytelling traditions is by no means a prerequisite for enjoying this series. The characters, especially Akane, and the artwork are what make this book shine. It’s a feel-good story that has everything slice-of-life manga fans want: heart, humor, and an unshakeably determined protagonist readers can’t help but root for.
For more slice-of-life manga series about chasing big dreams, try:
Boys Run the Riot, opens a new window by Keito Gaku
Dinosaur Sanctuary, opens a new window by Itaru Kinoshita
Run on your New Legs, opens a new window by Wataru Midori
Silver Spoon, opens a new window by Hiromu Arakawa
