Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This manga sounded so interesting! It was a bit confusing to follow for a while and it uses a lot of Japanese vocabulary but if you already have that knowledge, or you would like to learn more and persevere, it gets more interesting towards the end!

Time to try another manga series! This time I'm going to give My Master Has No Tail, Vol. 1. I've been feeling like I need something more humorous, and I'm really hoping My Master Has No Tail hits the spot.

Mameda is a tanuki, which basically means she's a little raccoon dog that enjoys playing tricks on people. Unfortunately, she was born a few centuries too late, and humans have caught onto the usual tanuki tricks by this point.

Not that this stopped Mameda from trying. All this did was get her in trouble – and bring her to the feet of Bunko, a rakugo master whom Mameda is determined to learn from. Perhaps this is how she'll find a new way to mess with people.

It's very easy to get into the story of My Master Has No Tail, Vol. 1. It's light, funny, and more than a little bit quirky. Mameda is not what I would call the brightest bulb in the bunch, but you've got to give her points for determination.

Overall, I would have to say that this was an interesting and entertaining read, though not one that I think I would pursue. I'm happy to have read the first volume, but I don't feel like I need to keep reading to guess how the story continues.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. This is my honest review.

I didn't like this one as much as the other one.

This manga follows a tanuki named Mameda who comes to the city from her small village and wants to trick humans - but finds it much e complicated than she expected! She soon gets swept up in the art of Rakugo, a form a storytelling, and wants to learn all she can about it.

This was a cute manga, and I really enjoyed the aspect of Rakugo - I definitely want to learn more about this type of storytelling in the future! I think this would be a little bit better if it delved into the characters a little more, but I had a fun time reading this and I think as the series continues there will be even more fun!

I liked that there were notes explaining the stories that got told, and I wanted to know even more about them.

rating: 3.5/5

This manga throws you in at the deep end, and I do feel it could have benefited from a bit more explanation at the beginning about Rakugo. I was already aware of it which helped, but I think if you were completely new then it would have been bewildering, and it's only really in the latter part of the book where it begins to make more sense by which point you might have lost readers. That said, I did really enjoy this one - the art was lovely, and there was an overall cuteness to this book that had me smiling.

This delightful manga follows a spunky tanuki who comes to the big city to trick humans-- only to find out the days of tanuki mischief are over, and she's left unable to fulfill her dreams until she discovers the art of rakugo. Hilarity ensues when she tries to convince Bunko, a master of rakugo, to take her on so she can learn to trick humans with words instead of tanuki illusions.

I absolutely adored this! The art style was fresh and cute, and I loved the relationship between Bunko and Mameda. This felt like a wonderful, funny homage to traditional Japanese storytelling and I'm really looking forward to seeing where this series is going! It was well-paced and I enjoyed the hijinks and themes. Can't wait to read volume 2!

Mameda leaves her tanuki village for the big city - Osaka - where she plans to trick humans as tanukis always have. However, she soon finds that the people of Osaka have wised up to the trickery of tanukis and do not fall for any of her attempts. It is amid her disappointment that she chances upon a Rakugo master named Bunko who enraptures her with her ability to transform on stage and "trick" her audience as she embodies each character she performs, with just her voice. Mameda decides then and there that she wants to perform Rakugo herself with Bunko as her master. But how will Bunko, who has never taken an apprentice, accept her?!

I found this a fun read! I became familiar with Rakugo in Kumota Haruko's Descending Stories series but TNSK's approach is more humorous and pleasantly woman-centered (while the former instead portrayed the difficulties for women entering this field). I enjoyed Mameda a lot, she's devious yet kind-hearted and this volume points to how out of place she has always felt among humans AND tanukis. Bunko remains a bit of an enigma but it's interesting seeing her open up bit by bit. There are also some fun side characters including a Yakuza heir who wants to follow her own dreams, rather than what her family expects of her. Each chapter is interwoven with an actual Rakugo piece that echoes the chapter's plot and themes. They are also followed by editorial notes explaining the context of these stories.

I'll definitely keep following this series. Excited to order this in to my store closer to the anime air date!

My Master Has No Tail is a peculiar story that combines mythology and fantasy elements to rakugo. Mameda is a tanuki, who wants to trick people, but times have changed and it doesn't work anymore. She meets a rakugo master Bunko and is soon obsessed with rakugo and the magic of words instead of illusions. Mameda wants to become Bunko's apprentice and this is how their relationship stars to grow. I really liked how rakugo is explained and the info dumps too, since it's such an alien art form. Gladly there's humor and philosophical pondering, which gives character to the series. In a way you can interpret what is happening the way you want it. Perhaps at the same time this approach makes this series unattainable in a sense as we are just bystanders to it.

The art looks cute and wonky at times, which fits really well. Since the content is oddly heavy, this roundness and cuteness softens the story. My Master Has No Tail could actually work as an anime, since perhaps the power of words is hard to convey on paper alone. Hard to say where this series is going, but I'm happy it's about rakugo!

Artwork: 5/5 (Love the art style)
Story: 3/5

I'm impressed with this story. It's so different and wholesome. We follow the path of a girl Tanuki, an animal creature from the forest that loves to tricker the humans. Mameda, the Tanuki, spots someday a Bunko, the storyteller performer of the Rakuda, and fell in love with her art. Now, Bunko and Mameda are attached by the family bond of Master and Apprentice.

Love the art, the story is pure cuteness and I want to read more about them.

Well, I can certainly say I learned a LOT reading this manga. It depicts one of the main characters practicing the Japanese art of Rakugo, which is a type of storytelling with some simple props. Not being familiar with Rakugo or the traditional stories being told, I felt lost reading this A LOT. At the end of each chapter there are helpful little notes and explanations about the various Rakugo elements of the story that just happened. I feel like reading further volumes in the series will be a lot easier now that I've learned the basics of Rakugo, but this first volume carried a very heavy burden for those not familiar with the art and stories.

Still, the art style is cute and I loved reading about the adventures of Mameda, a young tanuki who comes from her tanuki village to find that humans have advanced a lot as a civilization and are much harder to trick than in the past! I think Bunko is a gumiho? but I don't believe it's really stated, just that she's obviously not human and also doesn't appear to be a tanuki. Once you get past the weighty bulk of learning all about Rakugo, this is a fun story about a fish out of water struggling to learn a human art.

How does one describe Rakugo? The Japanese performance art is a mixture of many things. It has elements of stand-up comedy and storytelling, all with a keen sense of showmanship. You don’t just listen to the performer; you’re dragged into their world. Their narrative spins you in many directions, until it reaches that final punchline that comes out of nowhere! TNSK’s My Master Has No Tail — which will be getting an anime adaptation later this year — showcases this art form in the best way possible.

The story follows Mameda, a troublesome tanuki who can’t help but pull tricks on humans. However, her ways of tomfoolery aren’t the keenest, with almost everyone seeing through her schitck. One of those folks is Bunko, a local Rakugo performer who warns Mameda to go back home. But when Mameda watches her performance, the tanuki becomes enchanted by the art form.

Soon Mameda finds out about Bunko’s true identity, one of that of a ghost. After a stern talking to and some heartfelt botherment, Bunko reluctantly allows Mameda to bear her Rakugo apprentice. While being her at-home maid, Mameda is taught tiny tidbits about the performance, as well as becomes acquainted with some of the other performers. The more Mameda learns, the better she understands what goes into a single Rakugo performance.

A great thing that My Master Has No Tail does is show how Rakugo is done. With Mameda representing the reader, Bunko demonstrates what to do in order to craft a good performance. It’s not just telling a story; it’s how it’s presented. The way you tap on the wooden kobyoshi, how one pounds their fan, and even certain words must be presented with a flow that makes for a good rhythm. A story isn’t the only thing with beats; the one spinning the tale must also have them!

There’s also the relationship between Mameda and the other performers. It’s clear that Bunko will be very hard on the tanuki, both in her teachings and the chores she throws her way. But even when she’s folding kimonos and cleaning the house, Mameda is unwittingly learning the importance of presentation and moving to a certain beat. Even before she learns how to speak a tale, she’s already diving deep into how one must be presented.

Readers also are given a taste of what Mameda’s Rakugo performance will be like in the future. A chapter involving performer Shirara being taken by the Kurokoma Clan has the tanuki diving in to save her without a plan. That’s when she beings her take on Rakugo, using a tanuki’s knack for drumming to deliver a very unique performance. It results in even the toughest of Clan members to not just be enthralled by the tale, but literally start dancing to it!

The world of My Master Has No Tail is showcased with a great mixture of beauty and cartoonish elements. The old townscapes have a tremendous amount of detail placed into it, while the characters are presented with strongly cute features. Mameda’s tanuki form is also adorable, as her look mixes both cuteness and cunningness into her fuzzy facial features. But it’s when the Rakugo performances are on display when the art tilts towards a gorgeous presentation.

That gorgeousness is aided by the way TNSK has their characters tell their stories. It brings a lively introduction that’ll easily grab hold of a reader’s attention. But as the performance goes on, it takes the reader by the hand and pulls them even further into the narrative. And just as the punchline is given, it plops you back into the safety of your chair, delivering a hearty laugh and a satisfying sigh.

My Master Has No Tail is a masterful story filled with rich history, humor, and beauty. Rakugo may be something unknown in the West, but TNSK’s tale will make it easy to both understand and appreciate its art form. Whether or not Mameda succeeds in becoming a Rakugo performer remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: My Master Has No Tail will surely make her journey both entertaining and enthralling!

This story follows a Tanuki named Mameda, whose job is to trick humans; however, she isn't very good at it. She meets a Bunko who is a Rakugo. Soon, Mameda wants to become a Rakugo, which is where the main plot starts.
Overall, this was average. I like the art style and the character designs, but the actual plot is pretty basic and lack-luster. There's nothing wrong with it, but I will not be continuing in the series.

This was an entertaining read but I don’t think I will continue it. Mameda, the main character, is a tanuki who, once she gets the chance to get out of her village, goes on to try and trick humans. I did really like her, she is not very funny to me though she is sometimes a bit cute. Bunko, the rakugo master, is nice but again, I didn’t get attached to her or anything.
I think the story is promising but it didn’t work for me. However, I enjoyed the explanation of the art of Rakugo as well as the drawings.
I recommend to people who enjoy Japanese folklore.
2.5/5

This was a fun little comedy full of Japanese storytelling and folklore. It can be a little dense for newcomers who know nothing about either Tanuki lore or the art of rakugo, but there are helpful notes at the end of each chapter. I'm glad this series is getting a chance to find an audience!

What a fun story about a mischievous tanuki who discovers a pro at Rakugo and is persistent with them about wanting to be their apprentice and learn to be like them.

I love how much of a troublemaker the main character is. She’s also hilarious and had me laughing out loud a few times! Definitely interested in reading more of her story as she really puts her all into becoming an expert at Rakugo.

The relationship between her and her new master was a joy. Her master is so grumpy that it’s always funny when she’d get on her nerves. I’m excited to read more about the two of them! And the mafia plotline that was introduced later on!

3/5⭐️

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

My Master Has No Tail, Volume 1 by TNSK was a lighthearted manga about a tanuki who wants to learn the art of rakugo, a type of Japanese storytelling. It was okay, but a little confusing if you're not familiar with traditional Japanese stories. It would probably work better for me in an anime form where I could appreciate the sounds of rakugo as well as the words.

This story follows the tale of a tanuki who wants to be a rakugo after being inspired by the master Bunko. Hesitantly, Bunko agrees to let the tanuki be her apprentice. and thus the story truly begins. Most of the manga can be pretty slow and I didn't really start getting invested until the second half. They're a lot of Japanese culture expressed here, but some it can go over your head if you're not familiar with the subjects. Osaka-speak can also get a bit lost in translation. I like the style this manga is going for, and I do think it ended on a good note so I'll give it a generous rating and hope to see it improve even more the next volume.

Sadly, this one didn't quite work for me. I felt like the humor was trying a bit too hard in my opinion, and it made the rest of the story, that could have been really interesting, fall flat. I was really hopeful with this one, as it looked like it may go the direction of a sapphic title. It just wasn't meant to be I guess.

This is a cute manga with a unique style. Translating rakugo must have been quite the chore, and I'm impressed by the effort put into localizing this volume. While the concepts might not resonate with my school library patrons, I think this is a good title for adult patrons looking to learn more about Japanese folk lore.