Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

This is a historical manga that is a must-read for anyone interested in traditional Japanese art forms as well as those looking for a beautifully crafted drama. The art in question is rakugo, a traditional Japanese form of comedic storytelling. Great practitioners of this art form are masters of oration, tone, pace, and timing. Kyoji, the protagonist, is a young man who has recently been released from prison and has no prospects, no money, and no hope for the future. Kyoji does have a dream: to study under the great rakugo master Yakumo Yurakutei VIII, who is notorious for refusing apprentices.

However, something within the protagonist causes him to reconsider, and he hires Kyoji as his apprentice, naming him Yotaro (the fool). In true drama fashion, people frequently flash back to the protagonists' previous lives and what brought them to this point, while also gradually progressing from apprenticeship to success story. Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju is a historical manga that celebrates the art of storytelling while telling its own intimate story of drama and tradition; old vs new.

Author: Haruko Kumota
Original run: 25 March 2010 – 7 June 2016
Volumes: 10
Status: Completed
Buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Descending-Stories-Genroku-Rakugo-Shinju/dp/1632364697