In a flash, everything can change. Akane Osaki learned this at a very early age, as her father was expelled from the rakugo world. However, her pathway towards shin’uchi in Akane-banashi has been mostly on the up and up. But one needs to be careful, as the gods like to throw in some chaos whenever there are too many good things happening in a person’s life. And in the fifteenth volume, chaos comes knocking on Akane’s door.

The road to shin’uchi appears to be coming close to the finish line for Akane, as she’s now earned the title of futatsume. An opportunity to open for her master, Shiguma, gives Akane the chance to prove herself in front of the very man who expelled her father: Issho Arakawa. To really impress him, Akane is tasked to perform a mysterious story known as “Shiguma’s Art”, a tale originally mastered by the previous Shiguma. Knowing her tenacity, Akane is ready for the challenge.

That’s when the gods throw a monkey wrench into everything. Shiguma has a heart attack, which leads to the discovery of him having Stage 2 throat cancer. Although treatable, it could lead to the rakugo master losing his voice. As a result, Issho intervenes and immediately closes down Shiguma’s rakugo school. The worst part: Issho has decided to become Akane’s new master.

Having the “villain” watch over the “hero” feels like a true Shonen Jump move. Akane-banashi may not be your average story in those pages, but it does have its own forms of the most iconic of fighting skills, albeit in storytelling form. If Akane is Goku, then Issho is Frieza. Both are powerful, but Akane’s still got a lot of training to do before she can face off against a man who has destroyed many lives with his commands. Basically, Akane needs to have her Super Saiyan moment.

But that will have to wait. Instead, Akane-banashi takes readers on a trip to 1960s Japan. Both Issho and Shiguma are youths without a clue as to where they want to go with their lives. However, when they take down some yakuza thugs, who then take them down as revenge, it’s a spry rakugo performer that gives them a second chance at life. Once Issho witnesses the storyteller in action, something in his spirit lights up.

Is there a good reason for us to see this flashback? Will we have sympathy for Issho and his strict mannerisms with the rakugo art form? What about Akane, who is being told this story? Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear: things are about to be shaken up violently in the rakugo world, and readers of Akane-banashi will have a front-row seat to watch it unfold in the oncoming story arc.

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media. Click here to read past reviews of Akane-banashi!