AKANE-BANASHI, VOL. 17

Akane-Banashi follows Akane Yamanaka, a fiercely determined teenager chasing the demanding art of rakugo, traditional Japanese comic storytelling, after her father was unjustly expelled from the prestigious Kissho School for a scandal he did not cause. Refusing to accept the ruling, Akane enters the same brutal world of masters and apprentices, training under a strict mentor and competing against rivals with years more experience, all to prove her father's innocence and reclaim his name. Along the way she must master not just technique but the emotional depth and stage presence that separate a good storyteller from a true rakugo master. This volume continues Akane's rise through the ranks, as new trials and rival performers push her storytelling, and her resolve, to their limits. Yuki Suenaga's script and Takamasa Moue's expressive art keep the series' blend of performance drama and coming-of-age tension razor sharp.

• Author/Artist: Yuki Suenaga (story), Takamasa Moue (art)
• Brand: VIZ Media / Shonen Jump
• Officially Licensed: Yes