This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review!

Noooo, not the cliffhanger! I was so invested in what the competition results was going to be that I didn't even know I had a few pages left. I cannot wait to see how the master will judge Akane's Rakugo! Great volume indeed.

Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow!

This series just keeps on rolling, never missing a beat. I LOVE how Akane has a goal and is working hard towards it. She's giving it her all, but isn't forgetting the rest of her life or her loved ones who have helped and supported her in getting this far.

She is SUCH a strong female character. Her drive is incredible. I love how she is high-school aged, but NO love interest, other than her rakugo! She has respect for her elders, both age-wise and those who are teaching her more about her art form. She LISTENS and studies hard. And her chosen field isn't easy. Yes, she's holding her own amongst the competition, but she DOES have competition, each with their own reasons for becoming the best at what they do.

5, I can't wait for the next volume I am in this for the long haul, stars!

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.

A Special Thanks Goes To Viz Media and Net Galley For The Opportunity To Review This Title.

Following our last review, the Karaku Cup is finally happening as Akane has her skills put to the test with her performance of Jugemu. But she quickly realizes that this competition will get fierce rather quickly as she goes up against Karashi Nerimaya, who aims to win the Kuraku Cup yet again with his approach to Rakugo with Tenshiki. Then there is Hiraku Koragi, a popular voice actress who uses Shibahama, one of the most famous of the Ninjobanashi (The Heart-Warming Tales of Rakugo). With Issho Arakawa watching and presiding as the Head Judge, will she be successful in avenging her father and showing how much she has grown as a Rakugoka?

It may not be like your typical Shonen manga, but Akane-banashi continues to find a way to grab the reader’s attention without any type of big battles that involve the fate of the world or incorporate some form of fan service to keep the reader interested, it uses Japanese culture and continued to make it more accessible for both a new generation, and for western audiences (something I have mentioned previously in the first two volume reviews.)

One of the things that is important in reading a book like this is to pay attention to every performance. Each story that is told holds a special meaning, whether it is comedic or perhaps, something serious in its message. The Rakugo performed in each chapter is handled perfectly, thanks to not only Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue but also the supervision from professional rakugoka Keiki Hayashiya.

Aside from the rakugo, we also get a deeper look into the characters in the competition. Take, for example, Karachi Nerimaya, he has won two Kuraku Cups and is considered to be a genius. He uses an approach described as Taking Old Traditions and remixing them for a modern audience, in this case, it was the old tale titled Tenshiki. Karachi may be talented, but he was blinded by his cocky attitude, which is a popular formula to use in comics or manga. Hiraku Koragi was a favorite of mine in this volume, she performed well with a theatrical feel to her rakugo entry, an interesting rival for Akane perhaps?

The third volume of Akane-banashi continues our hero's journey through the rakugo world. Akane performs the wonderful "Jugemu Jugemu..." story/tongue twister, something that would be better heard than read, but the storytelling and paneling get Jugemu's charm across well enough. We learn a little more about Akane's colleagues in the competition, and honestly? Akane-banashi is so strong that any of Akane's colleagues could have been the main character of this manga because they all have compelling attributes to make the reader want to cheer for them. Most importantly, we learn about how Akane's parents decided to give her that name, which ties in so wonderfully with Jugemu. I cannot wait to read the next volume.

In the third volume of Akane-banashi, we see some backstory given to multiple characters, including Akane herself. She is performing a very well-know rakugo piece for the competition, which many believe will turn the odds against her. The perfect amount of action and plot development, Akane-banashi vol.3 continues to grow the anticipation for Akane's blossoming rakugo career!

Picking up right where the second volume left off, Akane begins the tale challenged to her. One of the standout moments was the context of the way Akane told the the tale. Having a child with a long name back then usually meant they wished for a long life, and as Akane's mother points out most parents don't just choose a name without thinking about it. There is heart to this series along with the storytelling drama, and it's always nice to see it! More fun, and possible reoccurring characters are introduced, too!

Akane grew up watching her father perform Rakugo, a traditional Japanese art form, but when her father is expelled from his Rakugo studies suddenly, she vows to learn the art and get revenge by getting good. Akane-banashi is such a great start for a manga and gives me mega Hikaru No Go vibes. Volume three continues a competition arc and drops off on a cliffhanger, so I'm excited already for the next volume.

Thanks NetGalley and Viz Media for this arc

3.5/5 stars rounded up

This volume has been the most interesting so far for me. I enjoyed the competition, and seeing how cutthroat it was and how vicious some of the other competitors are.