Welcome to This Week in Shonen Jump, our weekly check in on Viz’s various Shonen Jump series. Viz has recently changed their release format, but our format will mostly remain the same. We will still review the newest chapters of one title a week, now with even more options at our disposal. The big change for our readers is that, even without a Shonen Jump subscription, you can read these most recent chapters for free at Viz.com or using their app.
This week, Zach checks in with “Akane-banashi.” If you have thoughts on this or any other current Shonen Jump titles, please let us know in the comments!
Akane-banashi – Chapter 1: On That Day
Written by Yuki Suenaga
Illustrated by Takamasa Moue
Translated by Stephen Paul
Lettered by Snir Aharon
Reviewed by Zach Wilkerson
Rakugo is a form of entertainment that most western readers will find strange and unfamiliar. Some manga and anime fans may know the technique from the well regarded manga and anime series “Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju,” written and illustrated by Haruko Kumota. The latest title to join the Shonen Jump line-up hopes to bring the tradition of Rakugo to a wider audience through this story of family and legacy.
“Akane-banashi” focuses on a family; the titular Akane, her father and aspiring Rakugo performing, Tohru, and her long-suffering mother. Under the stage name of Shinta Arakawa, Tohru hopes to advance to the highest level of Rakugo, known as shin’uchi. His goal is not unlike most shonen protagonists, to be the very best in his field. His motivations, however, are more relatable and down to earth; to better provide for his family and to receive their pride and admiration in return.
When we meet the family, we get the impression that Tohru has great potential, but that he sometimes squanders it. Because of this, he has gained a reputation as somewhat of a dead beat. Akane, who idolizes Tohru, takes both an active and passive role in Rakugo, encouraging him while also watching and learning from afar. Akane’s mother is patient and supportive, but seems somewhat weary of her husband’s chosen path.
While introducing us to this family, “Akane-banashi” also introduces us to the art of Rakugo and the art of Takamasa Moue. One cannot overstate how impressive and how pleasing Takamasa-san’s artwork is in this chapter. When we first see Tohru perform, it’s somewhat underwhelming. Tohru comes off rather awkwardly as he stumbles through a performance for only a handful of people. Later, as Akane watches her father practice, we see the artform come alive through the artistry of Takamasa-san.
Akane says that she can see the different characters as her father performs them and at the same time we the readers see the characters represented with Takamasa’s art. Takamasa’s style takes on a more classical, ink brush style in this sequence, a contrast to their otherwise clean and detailed art style. Later, in the Rakugo competition, Takamasa takes this even further, depicting both Tohru’s display of dynamic expressions and movements alongside the story that he is conveying through Rakugo. It’s a striking and action packed segment, fitting of the Shonen Jump title.
The engaging characters and pleasing artwork are more than enough to engage the audience in this first chapter. However, the final pages of the chapter come with an abrupt surprise, shifting the tone of the book on its head and creating a sense of mystery and intrigue that will surely hook the reader to follow the story into the next chapter.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – An immensely charming and well crafted first chapter that feels both unique and well at home in the pages of Shonen Jump.
