1000https://i.ur.com/grfBEdm.png The art of Rakugo is about creating empathy Descending Stories. The hook is the promise of a homage to an obscure artform. The content is a devastating character drama inflicted on all sides throughout generations. Rakugo Shinjuu has always been fascinating. Theres no clear connotations you can attach it to no description or definition you can box it into. Its an everchanging sprawling tale about life and humanity. Encapsulating a fragment of emotional complexity and spiritual dexterity within the decaying art form of Rakugo. It presents a poignant case study of the burden of lovebe it for art family or friendship. 1000https://i.ur.com/dFktFUf.png Yotaru bring us back to where we left off revealing that it has been to his surprise an entire year of bowing his head down coinciding with the time it has been since I last watched Shinjuu Rakugo. The show is nice enough to present us a skilful recap in the form of a rakugo. But it expects us to be familiar with all the rakugo it introduced and the connections it had crafted beforehand. Every frame is purposeful evoking a distinct emotion or a recollection whether through the synchrony of Yotas imitation to that of Sukerokus or the distinct bond between a performer and the performance. Every iota of information is intentional and builds off of the introductions we were given in the previous season. 1000https://i.ur.com/unZreCn.png Take the opening. Its a quiet dreadful meditation on whats to come. The images subtly foreshadow an episodes content. Notice Sukerokus eyes in Episode 5s opening or the CD disc with Miyokichi in the cover in Episode 7s sequence and how they connect with the events pertaining to those episodes. Its a bold meticulous statement on how thoughtful intricate and deliciously realised all of its components are to the point were a single missed frame means an important piece of information lost. 1000https://i.ur.com/nfS5oOz.png This isnt to say Rakugo strives to confuse or overwhelm its viewers. In fact it does the opposite. The story takes a linear approach navigating a drama that is considerably less intense for the first few episodes at least than its predecessor. Which has confused many into thinking this is weaker or a less worthy sequel. But its here where the overarching narrative of Descending Stories truly reaches its thematic climax offering profound resolutions to its myriad threads. This is better and better as in notevenclose better. 1000https://i.ur.com/VvgYeSf.png Yotarus task this season is extremely daunting. Where the previous season was navigating the shifting landscape and decaying interest in Rakugo this one places the sole burden of revitalizing it on poor Yota the jovial protge of the cold and distant Yakumo who has nothing in mind but to wither away with the art he has devoted his life to. But why? Theres a great deal of emphasis on minor characters fleshing out and and influencing the mindset of both characters and audience alike. Higuchi is someone who is outwardly keen to preserving or rather evolving the trade of rakugo by writing new stories which Yakumo is unsurprisingly against. Matsuda is sweet and an almost kindred spirit that has been a companion to our cast since the very beginning. Someone who has seen these lives unfold and lives to tell the tale to others. An intimate witness like us. I love that immortal old man. 1000https://i.ur.com/RQgPx8R.png Rakugos minimalist presentation belies its complexity. It is necessary to note the difference between animation and cinematography because despite boasting almost static animation it is genuinely one of the most beautifully storyboarded shows out there. Tiniest of mannerisms are taken into consideration to craft holistically compelling performances. Which complements the core idea of rakugo of evoking emotions through presentation and voice. 383https://i.ur.com/aXQGsMF.png 383https://i.ur.com/Wyc4xZS.png 383https://i.ur.com/zWefZ2W.png 383https://i.ur.com/NVKpIph.png Miyokichis shinigami. The manifestation of Yakumos guilt The voices carry an immense burden. Not only because they have to sell the emotions of a story but because they have to sell the characters doing it too. And characters in this show are antonyms of static. Yotaru is perhaps the most striking example of voice acting being imperative to a character because the same voice actor has to vocally paint his journey from a loud coarse nave but ecstatic voice of rakugo to one that can transform into the colourful cast of the story he tells. Any semblance of progression absolutely hinges on the voice actors far more than it would in any other story and they are beautifully captured by the unseen talent. Its incredible how deliveries not just tone can be so varied and still contain the essence of the same story. Jugemus comedy is told as a poem by Konatsu whereas Yakumos approaches it with technical skill Sukeroku with personal biases and Yotaru with sincerity. Higuchi reveals that the stories themselves are products of modernity the original ending for Jugemu is in fact gloomier than the revised text. He is right in his argument that any artform should be willing to accept change if it wants to remain relevant in a modern society. 383https://i.ur.com/ggQGn1B.png 383https://i.ur.com/CyxxSaK.png The dynamic between an apprentice and a master as parallel paths I would love to dissect and present flaws from this show. But Ive been thinking about it for a while and nothing about this feels wrong. Even the controversial hinting towards Shins father makes sense because rakugo or storytelling is more than anything a deception. For a brief duration you are susceptible to the whims of a storyteller. Futatabihens shattering revelation was the unreliability of Yakumos narration. Whos to say this doesnt apply to Konatsu as well? 1000https://i.ur.com/VAPbh8C.png In the end the knowledge Shins father doesnt matter because his actual father is Yotaru. Where Konatsu was conceived by Miyokichi as a rebellious act Shin acts as a revitalization of Yakumos existence and by extension Rakugos. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabihen is a mouthful. But the title is apt. A tradition descending through generations is bound to change. Its the idea of change that makes Yakumo unwilling to let go his craft that has become almost unanimous with his existence. But it is also the difficulty of letting go a craft that has brought him so much despair hope lose tragedy and ultimately family. How can you trust something so deeply imbedded in your being to a world that is continually becoming disinterested? A world that considers it a relic? Each character has a different relationship with Rakugo that is amplified through the generational mindset. Yakumo is tragically bound to it Yotaru was given meaning through it Konatsu as suffered through it but ultimately accepts it and Shinnuske is the incarnation of the hope of its succession for the foreseeable future. 1000https://i.ur.com/wvD2XNd.png Death is not the end. Any spiritual thought will argue that death is but a bridge towards a destination. A beginning rather than an end. The death of Rakugo is not the death of memories of the love it brought when it touched others of the tragedy that was born of it. It is rather a rebirth. 383https://i.ur.com/wryxzkj.png 383https://i.ur.com/0fYetmd.png 383https://i.ur.com/G34JthO.png 383https://i.ur.com/qjSXHGd.png Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is Yakumos story more than anyone elses. He is the personification of his craft. A boy estranged from his dreams of being a dancer by his leg injury is given a chance with a lesser trade of verbal performance arts. Negotiating his talents and realising them all the same. His the idea of his loss is so monumental that is reverberates throughout the entire country. Eventually when he does pass away were not given a traditional ceremony but a reunion in a buddhist afterlife. Cementing the idea of death not being the end for Yakumo Sukeroku Miyokichi and even Rakugo itself. 1000https://i.ur.com/Zoo3qHc.jpeg I never worried for a second that wed ever lose rakugo. After all something this good could never go away Yotarus final benediction. The amount of painstaking details poured into this show is despite what I may have said earlier immensely overwhelming to the point where I feel like no matter how much I write Ill fail at properly addressing the sheer brilliance that this show operates with. It is a tremendous journey one that continually challenges you to keep up with its twists and turns its human contradiction and blossoming ideas. Every moment I have spent with this show has forever etched itself onto my being. I am eternally grateful to this show and to everyone who has worked on it. Thank you. 1000https://i.ur.com/CSURGQI.png