Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Falclone
This is a story about storytelling through the lens of our storyteller. Through him we see one who struggles to fit in wherever he goes, he went with the flow wherever he goes, and got swept along by the cruelty of life. His encounters with kindred spirits along his journey shaped him, whether he liked it or not. This journey of his is filled with fleeting happiness, sorrow, longing, jealousy, and anger. Our storyteller isn't a perfect human, nor good nor bad simply not perfect as we all are. Our storyteller reminds us how humans whether it be us or those arounds us affects us from small to big in our lives, sometime these people we sorround ourselves with aren't "good" sometimes aren't "bad" but who are we to decide who is good nor bad? Our storyteller tells stories but does not judge, th…
Read at the sourcejjjawesome
I really enjoyed watching Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju's 25 episodes, because it is an intricate story with impressive characterization told well. It follows a group of people whose lives are intertwined, starting around the beginning of the Showa era (1926) and ending around its conclusion (1989).
Rakugo, an oral tradition of retelling one of many stock stories in one's unique style and with one's own interpretation, is important to all of the characters, several of whom are professional storytellers.
Characters are richly dimensional, with complex feelings and attitudes, real personalities, and deep emotional lives. When rakugo isn't on the stage, almost all the rest of the series' runtime develops these characters and their relationships.
Its themes are treated with depth and subtly:…
Read at the sourceSakura131
Every art form faces the same question eventually: what survives after the masters are gone?
That question sits at the heart of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, a series ostensibly about rakugo - the traditional Japanese art of solo storytelling - but in reality, about legacy, mortality, reinvention, and the uneasy relationship between the past and future. Across decades of Japanese history, the anime examines how traditions endure, how they change, and whether preserving an art form requires protecting it from change or embracing change. What makes the anime remarkable is that it never treats these questions as philosophical. It's instead embodied by its characters, their rivalries, their ambitions, their failures, and all the stories they tell on stage.
One of the anime's most compelling…
Read at the sourcejlzap
This story is truly unique, revolving around rakugo, and I love what they do with it. Throughout the series we are presented with long bits of rakugo stories. If you're not one to enjoy the arts this may be a bit annoying, but I personally loved it and thought it added so much to the storytelling that this series presents. The rakugo stories that our characters perform tend to align with how they are feeling/things going on in their real life. The storytelling is truly phenomenal. Assuming the anime did a good job at portraying rakugo, it definitely has me interested in the art, and if I understood Japanese I would absolutely go see a live show. Also, the music in this anime is incredible.
For the show itself, the first few episodes are kind of strange and don't really need to be there. Y…
Read at the sourcedont404
An amazing show, but not without its problems.
I felt compelled, after seeing some of the reviews, to give some pushback and highlight not just the positives that lie in this show but also some of the negatives and weaknesses within it.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is the first josei anime I have watched, but I’m not a stranger to shows similar to this (in terms of demographic) in live action. To show respect to this series, I’d like to first begin with its strengths.
Out of all the anime I’ve watched, this one easily has the best voice acting. Rakugo, the storytelling style at the heart of the series, relies on subtlety and nuance in every performance, and the voice actors bring it to life flawlessly. Some of the rakugo performances had me laughing more than most comedic anime I’ve se…
Read at the sourceSupersonic_Pain
Tbh if the present-day sections weren't here, this could be a 10 and I wouldn't argue
It starts with a double-length episode setting up a present-day scenario where a prisoner gets out and is allowed to be the apprentice of the relatively reclusive rakugo master Yakumo the 8th because he's a near-perfect copy of the ghost of Yakumo's past. And that was pretty engaging, I was excited to see how he advanced through the rakugo world, dealt with his own past as well as the past traumas of Yakumo as he fought to earn his keep.
And that just... never happens? S2 is presumably where this content is going but between the first episode and last episode, there is a (relatively, given the entire series is like 25 episodes) very long flashback arc and by the time we get back to present day in the l…
Read at the sourcevpnburneraccount
This story is not the gold standard in manga/anime, it is the platinum standard. Masterful story telling, both in rakugo and the actual story itself.
There are not many stories that can get in your feels, but there are certain points in this show that you catch yourself thinking, "Damn, this is really good". (S2-Ep10 - IYKYK)
I understand what there are some that were a bit hesitant in watching it, but I think if you are one of those people that are hesitant, watch a few episodes and power through and you will be rewarded.
I am glad I took the time to re-watch this after almost 10 years since I first had the honor of doing so.
Read at the sourceSgtRohn
Passion -- it is something that drives up human ambition. Since time immemorial, passion is what has allowed humans to pursue dreams in hopes of finding themselves a place in this world. It has allowed human creativity to flourish and evolve over time, changing what would've been a very monotonous world into something that been colored with countless artists of the past.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is a very touching, realistic drama on the nature of passion. It attempts to twist, question, and deliver how such a small thing can change the lives of people forever. When you are bound by your passion, can you make room for others to enter in your life and set it aside?
This anime is a masterpiece that delves deep into the intricate complexities of passion and its profound impact on the…
Read at the sourcePursueth
What happens when you create a story about storytellers?
Rakugo is a dying art form in the face of modern entertainment. This is a story about how it struggles through the ages. Most of the series takes place in the past as a backstory. In a drama that plays out like a novel, you watch the absolute worst and best come out of the characters. You cheer for them, you reject them, but ultimately there's a feeling of bitterness and despair that always follows them around, despite never being a "dark" show. Yota, Konatsu, Bon/Kikuhiko (later known as Yakumo), Hatsutaro (later known as Sukeroku), Miyokichi all of these are different people, maybe even living in different times. Yet they all have one constant in their lives, Rakugo. It's either passion, hate, or bitterness, but they are connected…
Read at the sourceCyanCheetah
I went into this anime with high hopes.
This is the first ever anime I went with high hopes as I always, ALWAYS keep zero expectations.
The difference this time is not because of its score, rank, or who directed it. It is because of Rakugo. Believe it or not, I knew Rakugo through this Canadian guy who has done English rakugo and he killed it!
So I went into this with somewhat expectations, and I am happy to say it absolutely delivered!!
First off, Rakugo is not a topic that people can make many episodes on. For most, it is quite boring and depending on the Rakugo story even for me it is a little boring.
I found the essence of this to be super similar to Your Lie in April, in that Arima quit the Piano and so did the older apprentice in this as well. And the other apprentice was trying…
Read at the sourcewhiteflame55
Initial Review: This series is one I enjoyed quite a bit for its characters rather than the narrative as a whole, and maybe that's part of the point. Rakugo is all about a single person portraying many different personalities, so the characters they bring to it are really everything. Character studies are usually among my favorites in anime, and this would probably rank higher for me if one of the bigger turning points of the series didn't feel so needlessly contrived. This series is best in its quieter moments and its stories are just as engrossing for us as they are for the audiences of the characters themselves. I might rate this higher after I finish S2, but for now, it sits here.
After finishing S2: I bumped this up a bit. The moment in question that irked me at least got some fleshi…
Read at the sourceMurasameKills
I really don't understand why this anime get's such good reviews, it's average at best hence my rating of 5. There are some nice elements that make it watchable, but ultimately the anime is boring.
SOUND: About what you would expect. It's average, good enough, but not good enough to overlook the drastically detracting qualities of this anime.
CHARACTERS: The characters and character development is good. Their back stories and origins are good. It's nothing special, new, or particularly enthralling, but definitely better than your average Shounen character development by a longshot. In fact, this is the best part of the anime. If you like slice of life, or anime's that focus on characters, their interaction, their development, and their relationships, then you may really enjoy this anime.…
Read at the sourcekyo_04
"Dumplings over flowers"
Shouwa Genroku is a tale about two men who pursue the career of storyteller, 'rakugo'. Throughout 13 episodes you'll go through so much emotions, grief, joy, wrath... As life enrolls, our values are constantly being tested, it's like a contest on who's going to give them up first. And our protagonist Sukeroku, would be the worst contender.
Sukeroku and Kikuhito are two young men who since childhood decided to practice arts, mostly for life. But as they grow older they face more and more challenges.
Art is an art itself, and to perform, create and make your audience enjoy your work, the best way is to move them, shake them to their core. To summon someone's emotion is also summoning your own. But how do you get to such a level? And what do you have to keep or t…
Read at the sourcegrannimeG
Although initially the poster and the anime itself gives a feeling that it is going to be historical it was not completely what you expect it to be on a good note. "Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinijuu" is definitively one of the best I have come across which in my opinion leaves you with anticipation as to what will come next, guessing and expecting for twists and turns.
Story 10/10 : The story itself revolves around Rakugo; a Japanese comedic storytelling and the closest instance I would say to it in the present would be Stand up; although Rakugo in my opinion seems much more reserved, much more serious and something needs constant practice and involvement. The start of the anime seemed to be an ordinary anime through after a few minutes into it the story starts becoming complex and interesti…
Read at the sourceShellshock123
The First Episode (Director's Cut) is Spoiled. And Some Light Spoilers for the purpose of this review.
Rakugo is a series about an ex-Yakuza that tries to become a famous Rakugo's student (I'mma call this guy MMC2). So MMC Tries super hard to become MMC2's apprentice. And surprisingly he's like "Fo shizzle. Get in the limo my man". And now he has an apprentice. He meets his adopted daughter (?) and basically its these 3 living in this house practicing Rakugo. Well that's I presumed what it was going to be but that changed very fast when the daughter screams in agony that MMC2 killed her father and she wants revenge. Because an alive parent is an alien concept to the Japanese. With this revelation they now do a flashback revealing the past for the entire fucking season.
Season 1 is basic…
Read at the sourceduskyboris
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is an epic, magical realism series that starts in Shouwa Japan after the second World War and ends in the more or less present day. It follows the lives and times of several rakugo performers and the people with whom they are close, and that's about it. This is a josei character/romantic drama to the core, so expect lots of melodrama. At the same time, it's just damn compelling storytelling, with intrigue, concealed histories, and lots of shady characters with golden hearts. It's not a realistic story, nor is it really meant to be, but it feels believable, because every character has a cool familiarity that puts you in mind of someone you know. It's also steeped in rakugo itself, and other elements of Japanese culture that many in the weebspace don't seem to c…
Read at the sourceSidsAnime86
I am sooo glad i found this anime! Being a sucker for historical, cultural and edo style anime, this show was a perfect match!
I cant get enough of the historical Japan. The amazing old style homes/inns, traditional clothing and food, the customs and lifestyles of old era are my weakness🥺somehow life felt so much simpler and easier in that era.
I must admit, the firs two episodes were kind of boring and had me like "what is this? Am I going to waste my time on this" But as soon as the story went back in time, it quickly picked up my interest.
This is a very powerful, emotional, realistic and even tragic show. It shows us the harsh reality of life, the ups and down, how we as humans cope with the obstacles in life and adapt ourselves to new situations and environments.
The show is ab…
Read at the sourcePlaybahnosh
[TL;DR: A sublime and heartwarming story about the art of storytelling and the remarkable people involved. Two polar opposites united in the struggle to save a dying artform from obscurity. Even if you don't like (or know) rakugo, this heartfelt look behind the scenes of this performing art - and into the souls of those who practice it - could enrich your life in unexpected ways. It's short (13 eps) and great, a big recommendation from me!]
Here we are again. The Japanese and their incessant propensity to turn absolutely EVERYTHING under the sun into a form of art. Not just the usual stuff, like painting, music, the myriad of martial arts or even cooking. I mean, most people already know some of the odd ones, like flower arranging (ikebana), paper folding (origami) or short poetry (haiku…
Read at the sourceUneducated_Revs
Before watching Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu I wasn’t aware of the beautiful art form that Rakugo is, for those unaware, Rakugo is a one-man show where a performer tells classic stories (of comedy, horror, romance, you name it) where they portray several characters with the only help of their skills and maybe a hand fan.
SGRS tells the life story of Kikuhiko an aspiring Rakugo performer who doesn’t really want to do Rakugo because he prefers to dance but he couldn’t dance anymore as he had an accident. In his misadventure, he becomes the apprentice of a renowned Rakugo performer along with another student called Shin. Both Kiku and Shin are like oil and water but they get along pretty well and the story will revolve mostly around their developments as Rakugo performers and their relation…
Read at the sourceWazEvergarden
[spoiler free kinda]
showa genroku rakugo shinju, ive been having heaps of reccomendations for this anime and it did not dissapoint. there is a certain charm to it in the way it tells a story. unique and interesting characters, great voice actors. the scenes of them doing rakugo is where the VAs truly shine and the unique parallels between the two main characters, the progression of their friendship and rivalry as well as the bittersweet traumatic conclusion.
but what is rakugo?
A 400 year old tradition of comic monologue storytelling in Japan. A minimalistic performing art, rakugo features a lone storyteller dressed in a kimono. i guess this was how the japanese people find entertainment when there was no such thing as animes or tv shows, i actually found the rakugo quite interesting a…
Read at the source
