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Even with the little information I had about the series beforehand, I have been excited to finally sit down and watch Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju for the first time. When I found out what Rakugo even was, I was intrigued and, from that point on, always kept the show in the back of my mind. Now, having seen it, I can most certainly confirm its quality.

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju is the story of an ex-convict, now released from jail, who is looking to restart his life. After hearing a Rakugo performance from Yakumo, one of the most famous Rakugo performers, in prison, he decides that he is going to dedicate his life to the art, and seeks him out. Yakumo, having never taken an apprentice before, decides to take on the ex-con, who he now calls Yotaro.

Seeing as how the first episode is actually forty-plus minutes long, the first episode has a lot going on, but it never actually feels like that while watching it, which is a good characteristic. Instead of doing a huge information dump for its first epiosde, the show ops to tell its story a bit more naturally, giving more of an understand of both Yotaro, but also Konatsu, who’s struggle of being a female in the exclusively male world of Rakugo looks to be a central part of the story.

Yakumo, and his history with Konatsu’s father, also seem like an interesting part of the story which I am happy is going to be explored in the next episode, especially considering that it is heavily implied that Konatsu believes Yakumo killed her father out of jealously.

I am also just a big fan of the idea of Rakugo itself, which has a comedy style much more focused on narrative payoff and delivery rather than over the top and random humor. In this way, Rakugo actually feels a lot like today’s modern standup, which relies on a lot of short stories, usually told from the perspective of the comedian.

Raguko’s first episode was welcomed experience that definitely leaves me wanting to finish the series, which I a probably going to do right after I finish writing this post.

Have you all seen Showa Genroku Raguko Shinju? How do you guys feel about it? Let me know in the comments below. Also, if you would like to support The Aniwriter or are just feeling generous, consider donating on ko-fi or using on of the affiliate links down below:

If you can’t, or just don’t feel like it, no worries. Thank you all for reading, and goodbye, for now, friends!

Welcome, weebs and authors alike, to The Aniwriter.

I think its safe to say that most anime fans who are really involved in the medium have a list of shows they’ve been wanting to watch for so long but just can’t because of their lack of time. As for me, well, I’m not really any different. So, here is a list of the top 5 shows I can’t wait to watch.

5. The Great Passage

Okay, so here me out. I know when it comes to certain Slice of Life shows it can often seem like they’re going to be super boring, and when I first heard about the series that was my initial reaction too. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is actually a fantastic story set-up. Just based off of the trailers I’ve seen, it seems like a story about relaying the power of words, and as a writer myself, I think that message is very important.

Being completely honest, though, I’ve kind of seen mixed reviews on this one, which is why its only number five, but still, I’m optimistic.

4. Honey and Clover

I think I can say with a large degree of confidence that March Comes in Like a Lion is not only one of my favorite anime, but has also affected me on a personal level that not many other shows have, which is why I am so excited to watch the other anime inspired by Chika Umino: Honey and Clover. Even just at first glance, the show seems like something I would love. A Slice of Life show about three guys in college and meeting new friends. I definitely want to watch this as soon as possible.

3. Re:Creators

Despite not having actually seen it, I’ve talked about this show a few times just because of how much its piqued my interest. The idea of characters from different fictional media coming to life and fighting it out already sounds like a fun set-up for a story. What has most recently revived my interest in the show is its soundtrack, which has a lot of standout pieces, including one I’ll put in below called Layers

The show’s music just has this hype factor that makes me more and more interested the more I listen to it. Shout-out to Hiroyuki Sawano for making such awesome music.

2. Neon Genesis Evangelion

There is a lot of older series that I’ve yet to seriously dig my heel into, including shows like Trigun and most of Bebop, but one that I’ve been extremely curious about is Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show is over 20 years old at this point and has always been seen as one of the popularizers of the mech genre. I have seen portions of the reboot movies, and those are definitely well made, but it seems like it would be a lot cooler to see the original.

1. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Rakugo is a show that leaves me with a lot of questions the more I try to explore it without actually watching it. Rakugo, for those who don’t know, is a form of Japanese storytelling that involves a lone performer on stage playing multiple characters. The story in most cases ends with a comedic punchline, so much of the success of the performance is dependent on body language and how certain lines are delivered.

When I first read about it, I was like “of all the obscure things you could make an anime about, this definitely seems like the most obscure.” But still, considering the amount of praise I have heard from fans of the show, I am excited to watch it nonetheless.

What series have you guys been waiting to watch? Let me know in the comments below. Also, if you want to support The Aniwriter through donations or are just feeling generous, consider buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi. Otherwise, thanks for reading and bye for now, Friendos!

Exploring Anime and Entertainment