Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

Synopsis

"Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu" (Descending Stories) is a TV anime produced by Studio Deen and broadcast in 2016, based on the manga by Haruko Kumota. Set in the world of rakugo, Japanese comic storytelling, it begins when a young man freshly released from prison asks a celebrated rakugo master to take him on as an apprentice. The master then recounts his own turbulent life and that of another storyteller. Through the friendship and struggles of two men who lived for their art, and their passion for rakugo, the series evokes the atmosphere of the Showa era. A mature drama set among yose theaters and the storyteller's stage.

Why visit the real-life locations

The series unfolds in the world of rakugo, centered on Tokyo's yose theaters and storyteller stages. To savor the story's mood, nothing beats visiting a real yose. Shinjuku Suehirotei, set in the heart of Shinjuku yet preserving old Edo charm, lets you feel the show's atmosphere in its handsome wooden hall. Ueno's Suzumoto Engeijo is one of the city's most historic venues and a rare place to hear live rakugo. Asakusa Engei Hall offers yose culture amid the lively downtown bustle of Asakusa. Visit all three to feel the storytellers' world alongside the city of Tokyo.