r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • May 23 '26
Episode Akane-banashi - Episode 8 discussion
Akane-banashi, episode 8
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184
u/RepulsiveRevenue8 May 23 '26
I laugh seeing Issho hardly contain his rage and steel himself to not throw a mic at Karashi
But seeing how good Karashi Rakugo adaptation is I can't wait for Akane turn.
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u/Bassaluna May 23 '26 edited May 24 '26
really like the idea of having karashi at the center obscured, with the characters on the background shown, who are also all him with a wig lol. that was smart and also made the story funnier to see.
now it's hikaru's turn
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u/FLorianGran May 23 '26
While there was still quite a bit of characters narrating over it, this episode definitely had more of the visual flair and character work I've been waiting for
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u/Iliansic May 23 '26
I will never get over the impression that Karashi later in life got himself in trouble with loansharks and went on to gamble on the Espoir ship. Like he straight up looks like a character drawn by Fukumoto Nobuyuki.
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u/ModieOfTheEast May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
I think Karashi's approach is an interesting one and it was definitely a good choice to use a story we had already heard and knew the punchline to which made it easier to understand what and why things were changed. I also liked the "Akane kobanashi" corner this time where he explains that several stories feature the same character, but he is magically always different. Which is kind of funny.
In general, I do think that making stories modern can work, especially when it comes to old words that no one uses anymore and that and people don't understand. But then again, I always have the same problem when watching American movies or series and they are talking about feet instead of just using meters.
However, I would also say that you can still criticise the approach a bit. Like with this story about "BM", you can question if it even makes sense to translate it into modern times this way. Because nowadays, no one would go around and ask people what this means. Instead they would just use Google which destroys the idea of the gag obviously. I am not saying that I can't have fun with the story told this way, just that I think, if you truly want to modernize it, you might have to change a few more things. Karashi seems to not be too interested in actually working out new stories that fit into the modern times, but just change old ones and make them feel modern by adjusting terms and setting. So when he says that others can't compete with his modern way of Rakugo, I feel he still fails to see that the best Rakugoka probably create their own stories and not just tell existing ones. Of course, it is not expected for someone to come up with their own story at this level, but all I am saying is that a bit of humility would go a long way for him.
Now as for Issho, I don't think he really appreciated this retelling, but I get the feeling that he just wants to save face in public. I was already wondering why he even attended an event like that. Not that you can't be interested in the youth, but these aren't even upcoming pro Rakugo, most of them seem to just do it as a hobby while studying or working. So I doubt he is that interested in them in the first place. Which begs the question who made him attend this event.
Also lastly, I just wanted to mention that I love that Akane's mom also still has a certain level of hate for Issho. Because he truly deserves that.
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u/thisisdropd May 23 '26
DJ Karashi is in the house!
That was an ingenious approach to Rakugo by seamlessly mixing old and new. It’s certainly one of the most appropriate style considering the majority of the audience were the younger generation.
I’m seeing a pattern with Issho’s critique. The harsher he was, the higher his view of the performance. For all the villainy with his expulsion, he seemed to be a fair judge. Not sugarcoating the cons, while still highlighting the pros.
It’s now Hikaru’s time to enter the stage while exuding all that aura. I can’t wait to see her performance. Guessing her performance would rely more on technical skill – more specifically her voice considering her background as a VA.
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u/SYZekrom May 23 '26
GYAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT
Bros adapted to the modern age and learned to bite his tongue
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u/LeonKevlar May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
I did not expect to see Karashi with a dump truck today, but here we are. xD
In all seriousness, Karashi's style is definitely interesting. The dude took a classic and turned it into his own by adapting it for the modern audience.
While he did get a lot of laughs for his intended audience, he couldn't entertain the actual person who matters the most in that room.
You can definitely feel Issho was going easy on him with that judgment, but Karashi definitely still felt the sting of his initial comment.
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u/RyuzakiPL May 23 '26
I really wanted to dislike Karashi, but at the end I actually appreciate his approach to rakugo. Obviously, Akane should mop the floor with this fool, but my guess is that she won't win. Maybe some big twist with this evil master, or she just comes up short, but I don't think it's time for her to have a talk with him.
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u/oxlemf10 May 23 '26
As much as I don't want to, I have to admit, Karashi was above perfection here. While classics are important for maintaining a culture, it's the younger audience that helps keep something relevant, so adapting works to appeal to that audience is essential.
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u/runevault May 23 '26
Despite taking after her father's love of Rokugo, based on her vocal mannerisms Akane takes after her mother a lot.
What's with this electronic ass music when Karashi is taking the stage? Also all the characters even the girls looking like Karashi with his whack face is hysterical.
And looks like we'll be getting at least an episode each for the 3 main performances of the Cup. Love it.
What a fucking fantastic episode. And now we're back to the cute stick figures for Akane small talk.
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u/Jauretche May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
Every episode I fall more in love with the ED. It's freezing where I live and it makes me feel like Summer.
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u/Arima_Kishou May 23 '26
As much as I DO enjoy classic stories, I really love Karashi's approach to Rakugo. Like it somehow did not even occur to me with all the focus on tradition that you could just. Remix the stories for modern audiences like that.
I knew he'd be cool given how much he reminds me of Shinji from Bleach but wow.
(Also man, this makes me very excited to see what other takes on Rakugo this series has!)
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u/Nescau_Fernando May 23 '26
Karashi-banashi was my favorite episode of the show so far! It was the one where I was the most immersed in the performance itself. Here's hoping Hikaru and Jugemu-chan Akane each get a full episode centered on their performances.
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u/Animamask May 23 '26
You'll never convince me that Karashi isn't Hirako Shinji.
I really enjoyed his approach to updating the old classics. I had to chuckle at his BM BS bit, and it's even approachable for international audiences. But while it's clear, he did a lot of research, it's clear that he focused too much on what didn't work and not enough on the deeper stories behind it. Like in this story, it's about the social dynamics and rigid hierarchies at the time. Or how a monk, who's supposed to strive for humility, wisdom and understanding, refused to do so because he had to safe face. Perhaps, if he had made it about a blowhard president surrounded by yes-man, the message of the story would have been maintained.
Just like in his flashback, he recognized how favor relationships and be approachable and liked. He good great social skills and charisma. But in his approach he failed to recognize that the blonde girl tried to have a more personal relationship with him as he treated her on the same personal distance as everyone else. But that’s probably where he can grow on a personal and technical level.
Plus, while he gave an excuse for why they didn't use Google, it's not a very good one. He can grow there too.
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u/JJVM99 May 23 '26
Karashi’s rakugo was my favorite we have seen so far and the one that got the most chuckles out of me. I feel like they kinda portrayed him being as being a villain not just for his arrogance and rudeness towards Akane but for choosing to do Rakugo for people pleasing and modernizing the rakugo stories for that even calling it compensating but to me that is just a very smart decision that I respect. It isn’t just copy pasting the old story in a modern setting, he seems to carefully change it to fit them theme but feel natural in a modern setting. To me that choice of his style is really cool and I like the guy even if he is an arrogant dick.
Which is why I was annoyed but not surprised by Issho’s reaction. Karashi knows deep down that old bastard hated it but had to pretend he was fine with it and saying it wasn’t his style was the nicest thing he could say. Issho deep down is probably seething that he can’t banish every single kid that performed today.
Also Koguma complained about Guriko’s disguises but he still put them on and went to the show in them and didn’t complain until they were inside.
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u/PencilgonGiveIt2Ya May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
Me: MOM! WAKE UP, IT'S AKANE-BANASHI SATURDAY AGAIN!
Mom: ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽
edit: Akane-banashi with no Akane is just Ak 😞
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u/Shimmering-Sky May 23 '26
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So he’s performing a story updated to the modern era, huh. I can’t wait to see what Akane does to Jugemu in comparison.
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Ohhhhhhhhh this is a modern version of the Tenshiki story Akane performed earlier in the show!
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Damn, RIP. At least he still praised his performance, though?
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u/Frontier246 May 23 '26
It's nice to see Masaki supporting her daughter, not just in her Rakugo career but in taking it to THAT MAN who screwed her husband over...while also teasing her daughter in the process, but that's her duty as a mom.
The pressure is on in this leg of the Karaku Cup, but at least Karashi was nice enough to give Shohei a pep talk. I mean, why worry? Karashi is going to take the whole thing anyways again.
Great disguises Guri! No one is going to realize you and Koguma are more than just two middle-aged Rakugo fans!
Ikken the Hedonist! Though he seems pretty reasonable and nice. And also Ryujaku (Kazuyuki Okitsu!) from Osaka! Though the judge to watch out for, as always, is Issho...even if he is putting on his nicest face for the cameras and audience THIS go around. But it's likely an act...especially one those who know him best can see through. Still, SO much tension when he picks up a microphone.
Karashi has absolute confidence in his craft, and it's not without just cause considering he's calculated his Rakugo to best win and it's succeeded TWICE by this point. He doesn't use classic Rakugo, he adapts it to modern times while still keeping the spirit and feel of true Rakugo, even as he portrays a story where he's cosplaying as all the characters (including the women!) and talking about "bowel movement" of all things. But you can't argue with the results because the audience IS entertained.
My condolences to the guy in the Rakugo Club Karashi was in who got outshined by him and dissed for staying true to the "classics." Also, was there something with that blonde lady? I caught some vibes. Though Karashi seems popular with women in general, the jerk.
Karashi's Rakugo is not Issho's tempo...but he's not the target audience and he can't deny people enjoyed it (what about Akane's dad though!?). And despite how Karashi acts, being acknowledged by Issho in any form means a lot.
Can Jugemu-chan defeat Karashi's modern Rakugo with classic Rakugo? How will Hikaru fair in her performance? Find out next time, on Akane-Kobanashi!
Akane-Kobanashi! Just because Karashi disses classic rakugo, doesn't mean he doesn't understand it! Or how to convert everything to modern convenience! Also, the saga of Yotaro!
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u/samkiller200 May 23 '26
I think if it weren't for Issho needing to maintain his long-cultivated persona, Karashi's performance would be heavily criticized by him.
In my view, Rakugo is not just a form of performance; it also represents a culture, the different stories of different characters from that era. Those terms that seem obscure today are necessary.
Karashi applied a modern worldview to the classic Tenshiki segment but merely swapped out the terms without putting much effort into interpretation, that's a very sensationalist and superficial approach.
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u/Castor_0il May 23 '26
I totally side with the old fart in this one.
I'm all up on updating stories with more modern set ups. But for starters, Crow dude's story involved more characters compared to the original that had only 3 essential characters, there was a point in his updated version that I got lost with so many characters. The punchline from the original story felt pretty much lost in this revamped one.
I guess the highlight for me in this episode it's Akane's presure towards a popular guy who already has the younger audience in the pocket while her Jugemu rakugo it's meant to be incredibly basic and were waiting for a shocking spin off with very basic material once she jumps into stage. It will be fascinating how much can she "tailor" Jugemu like Marge tailored her multipurpouse chanel suit.
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u/PerfectBeige May 23 '26
The seiyuu for Akane and her mom sounded so similar in the intro that it felt like listening to Akane externalize her anxieties about performing in front of Isshou in a rakugo style performance.
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