Descending Stories

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, 昭和元禄落語心中

By Haruko Kumota Published by Kodansha

This multi-generational epic dives deep into rakugo, a rich form of Japanese storytelling theater. Small-time crook Yotaro has never forgotten the rakugo tale “The God of Death,” which the master Yurakutei Yakumo performed for Yotaro during his time in prison. After his release, he goes to Yakumo’s theater and pleads to be made his apprentice. Yakumo reluctantly accepts, but Yotaro quickly finds the world of rakugo is complex and grapples with a growing bond with Yakumo’s ward, Konatsu. Meanwhile, the two young people bring reminders of Yakumo’s own inescapable past. Descending Stories received an anime adaption by Studio DEEN that streamed on Crunchyroll in winter 2016. A surprise fan and critical favorite, it has been renewed for a second season airing in January 2017. The manga ran in Kodansha’s ITAN magazine from 2010-2016 and completed at 10 volumes in June. Localization of Descending Stories is supervised by the Rakugo Kyokai Association, the official guardian of the classic art form.

Credits

Descending Storeis vol. 1 Translation: Matt Alt Lettering: Hiroko Mizuno & Lauren Scanlan Editing: Lauren Scanlan Descending Storeis vol. 2 Translation: Matt Alt Lettering: Andrew Copeland Editing: Lauren Scanlan Descending Storeis vol. 3-6 Translation: AltJapan Co., Ltd. Lettering: Andrew Copeland Editing: Lauren Scanlan Descending Storeis vol. 7 Translation: AltJapan Co., Ltd. Lettering: Andrew Copeland Editing: Tomoko Nagano Descending Storeis vol. 8 Translation: AltJapan Co., Ltd. Lettering: Andrew Copeland Editing: Tomoko Nagano and Megan McPherson

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Chapters

Volumes Beta

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 4

Volume 5

Volume 6

Volume 7

Volume 8

Volume 9

Volume 10

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Credits