Akane-banashi Vol. 10

Chocho’s bright, inviting “sunshine” artistry gives Akane a clearer image of the rakugoka she wants to become. She eagerly requests his instruction, but Chocho treats the decision as a wager and refuses to make advancement straightforward. His attention then turns to Asagao, who is approaching promotion to futatsume.

For Asagao’s final test, Chocho demands that he attract enough patrons to fill a performance venue across several trial shows. Akane and Karashi join the effort, but conventional publicity fails to generate the necessary interest. Drawing on the trio’s contrasting personalities and strengths, Akane proposes an unconventional event built around tanuki stories, giving Asagao a new way to prove his ability to engage an audience.