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昭和元禄落語心中 [Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū] #4
Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, Vol. 4
A multi-generational human drama set in the world of rakugo, a traditional form of Japanese comedic storytelling, Descending Stories follows an ex-convict whose life is changed by his apprenticeship to a famed storyteller, and Konatsu, who yearns to perform rakugo but cannot because women are not permitted in the craft.
LONELY AT THE TOP
After Sukeroku's expulsion, Kikuhiko's path to stardom seems clear, but the idea of inheriting the Yakumo name is a cold comfort. Sukeroku, disgraced, makes the heartbreaking decision to put his art aside and take responsibility for his new relationship with Miyokichi. As years pass and distance grows, Kikuhiko decides it's up to him to bring his friend back to the theater. His determination takes him to the country, where Sukeroku now lives with his spirited young daughter. Kikuhiko is ready to stay as long as he needs to convince Sukeroku, but old wounds may come back to haunt them both.
The tragic story of Kikuhiko's past reaches a climax!
LONELY AT THE TOP
After Sukeroku's expulsion, Kikuhiko's path to stardom seems clear, but the idea of inheriting the Yakumo name is a cold comfort. Sukeroku, disgraced, makes the heartbreaking decision to put his art aside and take responsibility for his new relationship with Miyokichi. As years pass and distance grows, Kikuhiko decides it's up to him to bring his friend back to the theater. His determination takes him to the country, where Sukeroku now lives with his spirited young daughter. Kikuhiko is ready to stay as long as he needs to convince Sukeroku, but old wounds may come back to haunt them both.
The tragic story of Kikuhiko's past reaches a climax!
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2013
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Haruko Kumota
37 books27 followersAssociated names : 雲田晴子
Name (in native language) : 雲田はるこ
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 4, 2025
This volume is beautiful. I love Kikuhiko and Sukeroku, plus Konatsu! The bond that they have in this volume can never be replaced by anything else.
May 25, 2023
The tragedy is near. I love the character work in this story.
June 21, 2024
For whatever reason it's only in this volume that I realized that the reason Kikuhiko wants to "kill" rakugo with his death is because he specifically stands for the older version of rakugo - not the kind Sukeroku practices, but the traditional one that sticks to rules and hierarchy no matter what, demanding obedience for the pride of old men, and it's specifically this world that outcast Sukeroku, particularly for the pride of old men. So Kiku wants to kill it for that. For destroying his boyfriend and ultimately killing him (kind of). If the world of rakugo that the Yakumo name represents can take away what Sukeroku loved the most, and hurt him, then Kiku will murder it, because Kiku loves Sukeroku.
You see this parallel in Miyokichi. I'm not sure if Kiku learned it from her or if it just came up unrelatedly. Miyokichi curses Kiku when he dumps her, that she'll punish him. So what does she do? She notices how much he loves Sukeroku, and helps destroy him.
There is so much cruelty in this volume - not just those themes of people poisoning wells out of jealousy or obsession - but also in this obsession with hierarchy and filial piety (with a bit of sexism thrown in the mix). Yakumo rejects Kiku's attempts to bring back Sukeroku, and criticizes Kiku for talking back on behalf of his brother in the arts, his best friend, his peer. Yakumo himself says how terrible the title is, and how he doesn't want to give it to Kiku, in part because of that burden, but he's shoving it onto Kiku's shoulders anyway, at least in part because he refuses to ever let a Sukeroku take it. The other part is of course Yakumo's own obsession - he wants the title to himself, forever. And it's neat because you kind of further see Kiku's harshness: rather than letting the title die with Yakumo, of course he first tries to get Sukeroku to take it, as his right. And then he keeps it himself, because he's not letting the old man who banished Sukeroku for pride and arrogance die with the title. He won't be the last. Kiku will.
The threads of sexism are as ever, frustrating. Kiku's short speech to Konatsu about how it upsets him to see her practicing rakugo because women are meant to be inspiring beauties, not active in the "male" arts, is as uncomfortable as ever and incredibly patronizing. It's interesting in that this bit is seldom ever replicated by any other character. Sukeroku has a moment where he's slightly sexist to Miyokichi, and his opinion of women at least once prior to this isn't stellar, but in general it's mostly only Kiku shown being overtly sexist and patronizing to women. It doesn't seem to be because he's particularly more sexist than other male characters - though I think he's more sexist than Yotaro - but possibly because he's one of the few who regularly interacts with women. Most of the rest of the male cast only ever interact with men. We don't even see Yakumo interacting with Miyokichi on the page except in one brief panel where she's pouring him a drink in the corner of the shot. Yakumo interacts with his wife, briefly, and only on one occasion, outside a hug. I'm not sure what I'm getting at with this, but I guess it says something that although the story might not as overtly call out Kiku's behavior, it doesn't really support it either, and not just because Konatsu does later get support to be a rakugo artist, but also because Kiku's particular breed of sexism is... seemingly isolated for whatever reason. Or maybe it's just a general message about patriarchy, I don't know.
The polycule of Miyokichi, Kiku, and Sukeroku is also fascinating in this volume because there's the suggestion that Miyokichi is also bisexual or pansexual, or at least prefers femme appearances. She notes that Kiku has lips like a woman, and this is something that gets her going. So basically you have a very bisexual or pansexual polycule of these three, and it's lovely. This volume contains some of the cutest family moments of Kiku and Sukeroku as parents of Konatsu, making a house together, working together, being close as fathers. It's incredibly sweet. Kiku's support of Konatsu (outside the sexism) is also quite wonderful. This is really the last time he's very soft in a way that isn't tinged with bitterness.
Overall, a great volume. Wonderful story. Love this series.
You see this parallel in Miyokichi. I'm not sure if Kiku learned it from her or if it just came up unrelatedly. Miyokichi curses Kiku when he dumps her, that she'll punish him. So what does she do? She notices how much he loves Sukeroku, and helps destroy him.
There is so much cruelty in this volume - not just those themes of people poisoning wells out of jealousy or obsession - but also in this obsession with hierarchy and filial piety (with a bit of sexism thrown in the mix). Yakumo rejects Kiku's attempts to bring back Sukeroku, and criticizes Kiku for talking back on behalf of his brother in the arts, his best friend, his peer. Yakumo himself says how terrible the title is, and how he doesn't want to give it to Kiku, in part because of that burden, but he's shoving it onto Kiku's shoulders anyway, at least in part because he refuses to ever let a Sukeroku take it. The other part is of course Yakumo's own obsession - he wants the title to himself, forever. And it's neat because you kind of further see Kiku's harshness: rather than letting the title die with Yakumo, of course he first tries to get Sukeroku to take it, as his right. And then he keeps it himself, because he's not letting the old man who banished Sukeroku for pride and arrogance die with the title. He won't be the last. Kiku will.
The threads of sexism are as ever, frustrating. Kiku's short speech to Konatsu about how it upsets him to see her practicing rakugo because women are meant to be inspiring beauties, not active in the "male" arts, is as uncomfortable as ever and incredibly patronizing. It's interesting in that this bit is seldom ever replicated by any other character. Sukeroku has a moment where he's slightly sexist to Miyokichi, and his opinion of women at least once prior to this isn't stellar, but in general it's mostly only Kiku shown being overtly sexist and patronizing to women. It doesn't seem to be because he's particularly more sexist than other male characters - though I think he's more sexist than Yotaro - but possibly because he's one of the few who regularly interacts with women. Most of the rest of the male cast only ever interact with men. We don't even see Yakumo interacting with Miyokichi on the page except in one brief panel where she's pouring him a drink in the corner of the shot. Yakumo interacts with his wife, briefly, and only on one occasion, outside a hug. I'm not sure what I'm getting at with this, but I guess it says something that although the story might not as overtly call out Kiku's behavior, it doesn't really support it either, and not just because Konatsu does later get support to be a rakugo artist, but also because Kiku's particular breed of sexism is... seemingly isolated for whatever reason. Or maybe it's just a general message about patriarchy, I don't know.
The polycule of Miyokichi, Kiku, and Sukeroku is also fascinating in this volume because there's the suggestion that Miyokichi is also bisexual or pansexual, or at least prefers femme appearances. She notes that Kiku has lips like a woman, and this is something that gets her going. So basically you have a very bisexual or pansexual polycule of these three, and it's lovely. This volume contains some of the cutest family moments of Kiku and Sukeroku as parents of Konatsu, making a house together, working together, being close as fathers. It's incredibly sweet. Kiku's support of Konatsu (outside the sexism) is also quite wonderful. This is really the last time he's very soft in a way that isn't tinged with bitterness.
Overall, a great volume. Wonderful story. Love this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2020
Tras roces con su maestro y con algunos de los más importantes miembros de la asociación de rakugo, Sukeroku cae en desgracia, se aleja de ese mundo y se va a vivir a un pequeño pueblo con Miyokichi. Años despúes Kikuhiko ya convertido en la principal estrella del rakugo trata de hacerle volver para que herede el nombre de Yakumo.
Aunque sea algo que está ahí desde el principio de la serie y es una cosa en la que normalmente no me fijo demasiado, me gustaría comentar que la rotulación de este manga es excepcional. El uso de los distintos tipos de letra, ya sean de escritura o tipografía, los tamaños de las fuentes, las formas de los bocadillos e incluso la cantidad de espacio en blanco dentro de ellos... juega un papel fundamental a la hora de transmitir al lector las narraciones de los artistas de rakugo, ayudandonos a percibir los ambientes, los tonos de voz y la personalidad de los distintos artistas, esto junto unas expresiones faciales muy bien conseguidas hace que las historias que cuentan los artistas de rakugo sean cada vez más interesantes.
Aunque sea algo que está ahí desde el principio de la serie y es una cosa en la que normalmente no me fijo demasiado, me gustaría comentar que la rotulación de este manga es excepcional. El uso de los distintos tipos de letra, ya sean de escritura o tipografía, los tamaños de las fuentes, las formas de los bocadillos e incluso la cantidad de espacio en blanco dentro de ellos... juega un papel fundamental a la hora de transmitir al lector las narraciones de los artistas de rakugo, ayudandonos a percibir los ambientes, los tonos de voz y la personalidad de los distintos artistas, esto junto unas expresiones faciales muy bien conseguidas hace que las historias que cuentan los artistas de rakugo sean cada vez más interesantes.
April 20, 2022
Acá se cuenta qué onda con los nombres Sukeroku y Yakumo y creo que es interesante el peso que tienen en los artistas. En esa época se valoraba el nombre y el talento aunque fuera un gran peso para los artistas.
Por otro lado, se presenta a Konatsu, la hijita de Suke y Miyo, quien los dejó porque su odio a Rakugo es grande.
Por otro lado, se presenta a Konatsu, la hijita de Suke y Miyo, quien los dejó porque su odio a Rakugo es grande.
April 11, 2018
Another great volume in this series. Continuing the story of Kikuhiko, we get to one of my favorite parts of domestic bliss and happiness. The art remains expressive and clean, the characters ring true and deep. Excellent source material for my favorite anime.
May 20, 2020
I'm continuing to enjoy this series, however I'm a little suprized that at this point . Looking forward to where the story will go from here.
October 1, 2023
Brilliant volume with so much character introspection and development. This series is becoming a favorite of mine quickly, hope it keeps going this way.
The art is just icing on the cake, so pleasing and captures so much emotion.
The art is just icing on the cake, so pleasing and captures so much emotion.
August 9, 2025
More of the series has been flashback than not at this point. It's still good though. I appreciate how much more muted this is compared to the shonen stuff I've been reading. It just feels much more grounded.
November 26, 2017
Yakumo’s Shinigami 😭 Konatsu’s haircut scene 😭The Weathered Bones 😭 my chest has been impaled with a freaking rusty poker all over again, goODBYE
December 15, 2017
One of my favorite new manga series.
September 15, 2018
I cried this was so emotional , this manga does not hold back I love it.
March 22, 2020
This series continues to be, well, perfect.
May 26, 2020
Friendship drives this volume
Read
February 25, 2023揭露上一代八雲和助六的關係，菊比古真的是在單戀吧。
June 25, 2024
Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 3 ★★★★☆
Kikuhiko finally gets to dedicate himself to rakugo, but at what cost? He's alone and has no one. As always, the writing is fantastic. I love that backstory about Yakumo the seventh, because it's so revealing about his character: he wishes to be above spite and pettiness yet couldn't bring himself to actually do so. On top of that, Kiku's interactions with Konatsu are absolutely hilarious. Bro is literally beefing with a toddler.
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 3 ★★★★☆
Kikuhiko finally gets to dedicate himself to rakugo, but at what cost? He's alone and has no one. As always, the writing is fantastic. I love that backstory about Yakumo the seventh, because it's so revealing about his character: he wishes to be above spite and pettiness yet couldn't bring himself to actually do so. On top of that, Kiku's interactions with Konatsu are absolutely hilarious. Bro is literally beefing with a toddler.
March 11, 2025
墜落。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2021
This volume is bittersweet; so many heartwarming panels and at the same time the bitterness that these good moments were never meant to last.
Neglect, abandonment, longing, friendship, toxic love, hope and death are themes present in this volume which I consider the best of this series so far. The illustration is still a huge factor to this series' glamor.
Neglect, abandonment, longing, friendship, toxic love, hope and death are themes present in this volume which I consider the best of this series so far. The illustration is still a huge factor to this series' glamor.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews