Akane-banashi, Vol. 4

Akane takes on the world of rakugo to avenge her father!

Shinta Arakawa wants nothing more than to pass his shin’uchi exam—the test that would make him a top-rank headliner and master storyteller in the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Akane Osaki, his daughter and biggest fan, spies on him while he practices and learns his routines for herself. When rakugo master Issho Arakawa expels everyone after the exam with no explanation, a fire is lit inside Akane. From that day forth, she has had one goal—to avenge her father and prove his art was worthy of the title of shin’uchi.

During the final round of the Karaku Cup, Akane delivers a performance that spellbinds the audience. As the crowd is gripped with emotion, Akane receives a shocking review from her most hated foe, Issho Arakawa. Who will emerge victorious at the competition andnget to have a one-on-one talk with the man who ruined the life of Akane’s father? As the thrilling Karaku Cup comes to its conclusion, a new chapter unfolds… What awaits Akane on the next stage of her journey to become a professional rakugoka?

About the Author

Yuki Suenaga previously published the one-shot "Tatarashido" in 2021 in Weekly Shonen Jump. Akane-banashi is their first serialized title. It began its run in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2022 and won third place in the print manga category at the eighth Next Manga Awards in 2022.

About the Illustrator

Takamasa Moue started his manga career in 2015 by participating in Shonen Jump's Golden Future Cup contest with the one-shot "Galaxy Gangs." His first serialization, Ole Golazo, ran in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016. In 2017, he published a short serialization in Jump GIGA called K.K. in the City of Fog, which ran for three chapters. In 2021, he teamed up with Yuki Suenaga to create the one-shot "Tatarashido." In February 2022, the two worked together to publish what would be his second serialization, Akane-banashi.