Winter 2017 Anime: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju – Sukeroku Futatabi-hen

Synopsis

The second season resumes the journey of Yotaro, the young and aspiring rakugo performer. The ex-prisoner had graduated from his apprenticeship and is taking the name of Sukeroku. It finally has come for his inaguration into shin’uichi, a professional rakugo performer. Could the young performer prevail his rakugo in the face of modernizing Japan?

Comments

One of three prequel anime series so far that executed its opening scene extremely well (the other two being Gintama and The Blue Exorcist). When people seem to say “Show, Don’t Tell” like some spell to criticize exposition in a show, the Sukeroku-hen showed so many meaningful things in its telling the recap of the first season. Began from the character development of Sukeroku, his teacher’s, Yuurakutei, as well as what’s at stake in the whole season. All were done with just Sukeroku sat in a stage, faced us in a break-the-fourth-wall manner. In about three minutes. That literally made me stood from my chair.

The details paid to the characters’ sketch made even the sub-characters stood out. Hints of their emotions and personality could be seen through the meticulous details of their slightest movement the artists put in the series. Even down to the subtle possible tragic foreshadow in the end of the episode, especially if one have watched its opening theme song. I could ramble all days about its story structure. Just know that this is a craft of finesse rare to be seen in anime.  Sadly this anime went under the radar last year. Witness it, and you might be thanking me later, dear readers.

Facts and Figures

Screenshot and Trailer