Akane-banashi

What it’s about

Akane Ousaki grew up watching her father, Shinta Arakawa, perform rakugo, the traditional Japanese art of comic storytelling. When she was a child, his attempt to pass the exam for the shin'uchi rank, the art's highest, ended in failure: he was expelled from the school and took an ordinary job. Six years later, Akane is in high school and determines to achieve what he could not. She aims to enter the rakugo world and earn the rank herself, though the path is difficult and the reason for her father's expulsion remains unclear.

What hooks you

Anna Nagase voices Akane Ousaki, with Yohei Azakami as Kyoji Arakawa and Rie Takahashi as Hikaru Koragi. The series is based on a manga and is directed by Yuu Harima, Miwa Sasaki, and Ayumu Watanabe.

Who it’s for

It suits viewers who enjoy stories about traditional performing arts, family bonds, and a young person's determined pursuit of a difficult goal. It will appeal to those who like character-driven drama with a cultural backdrop and a touch of comedy.