Yuki Suenaga

Illustrated by: Takamasa Moue

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.

The student rakugo competition known as the Karaku Cup is about to begin. Akane immediately draws the attention of the crowd with her connection Kaisei Arakawa, rising star of the Arakawa School and apprentice to Issho Arakawa. With her ani-san Koguma’s advice in her back pocket and her own amazing rakugo skills, she figures out the key to winning the competition with “Jugemu,” a rakugo story famous for its long, repetitive tongue twister. But she’ll have to deal with impressive rivals with unique styles of their own… Will she be able to overcome this battle of wills, wits, and dreams?