I have to give props to Akinari Asakura and Takeshi Obata. They easily could’ve gone with a fairy tale ending for Show-ha Shoten!, with One-Way Ticket to the Top’s future set in stone and everything being hunky-dory. And to be frank, that would’ve been fine. However, the comedy world isn’t an easy one to make or break in, and even if you make it to the top one day, you might not be able to stand on the top of that mountain forever. (Just ask Andrew Dice Clay!)

So with that in mind, the finale volume of Show-ha Shoten! instead leaves its readers with two things: hope and perseverance. After Passionate Sandbag’s performance, One-Way Ticket to the Top finds themselves feeling confident that they will overcome the odds and dethrone the champions. And when the final tally is revealed, a plethora of emotion fills the air. Although the returning champions put up a decent fight, that’s all it was: decent. Every other team — One-Way Ticket to the Top included — evolved their style and routines; Passionate Sandbag, on the other hand, did nothing to improve!

As for Shijima, it all comes down to his main goal: making his middle school crush laugh. He’s reunited with Mizuha, and while the meeting is a happy one, it doesn’t get the results that Everyday Shijimi was hoping for. While he holds his own in front of his crush, once she’s gone, he lets the waterworks loose in a fairly understandable way. Thankfully, he’s got Taiyo in his corner, as well as a plethora of new friends and friendly rivals to help regain his strength.

Soon after, we start to see the realities of being on the comedy circuit. One may be on top in one competition, but if your routine isn’t up to par in another, you might find yourself losing in the first round. That’s exactly what happens to One-Way Ticket to the Top when they attempt to go up against the seasoned veterans. Thankfully, with the right advice (and a nice radio spot), the duo find a way to pick themselves back up.

And that’s pretty much what happens to them and their comrades for the next few years. Sometimes, they find success, and other times they’re having to take a side gig being an Uber Eats delivery man. But with that passion roaring through their hearts, the thought of giving up in the manzai comedy circuit never crosses their minds. In fact, with just about every one of these duos earning the spotlight somewhere down the line, it aids in making the comedy world of Japan a far stronger place to find the biggest laughs.

Overall, Show-ha Shoten! is not just a solid story; it’s a fantastic guide to becoming a comedy great. Although the duo comedy realm isn’t as prevalent now as it was back in the Abbott & Costello/Laurel & Hardy era in the West, the tools on how to be a success on stage and make people laugh can all be found in these eleven volumes. All one has to do is find that gumption to take its advice and head towards the next Open Mic Night in their local area. And if you work hard, maybe one day, you’ll earn yourself that one-way ticket to the top!

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.