Masaki Terasoma and Akio Otsuka are perfect for master roles—their deep, authoritative voices suit rakugo masters teaching traditional performing arts. The rakugo apprenticeship journey sounds compelling; Akane climbing from opening act to headliner while navigating school and rivalry creates layered storytelling. Having a rakugo supervisor ensures authenticity; Kikuhiko Hayashiya's involvement guarantees proper representation of the traditional art form. 19 volumes means rich storytelling to adapt—three years of serialization provides substantial material for the anime.

Ahead of an April 2026 broadcast, the Akane-banashi anime announced the casting of Masaki Terasoma (Golden Kamuy) as Shiguma Arakawa, Akane's rakugo teacher, and Akio Otsuka (My Hero Academia) as Issho Arakawa, the head of the Arakawa School of rakugo.

New Cast Members

Shiguma Arakawa - Masaki Terasoma (Known for: Kiroranke in Golden Kamuy)

Issho Arakawa - Akio Otsuka (Known for: All for One in My Hero Academia)

Previously Announced Cast

Akane Osaki - Anna Nagase (Known for: Natsuko in ZENSHU)

Karashi Nerimaya - Takuya Eguchi (Known for: Loid in SPY x FAMILY)

Hikaru Koragi - Rie Takahashi (Known for: Yuzuriha in Hell's Paradise)

Production Staff

Director: Ayumu Watanabe (Summer Time Rendering)

Animation Studio: ZEXCS

Series Composition: Michihiro Tsuchiya (Saint Cecilia & Pastor Lawrence scriptwriter)

Character Design: Kii Tanaka (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead)

Music: Akio Izutsu (Akuma Kun)

Rakugo Supervisor: Kikuhiko Hayashiya

About the Manga

The original manga by Yuki Suenaga (story) and Takamasa Moue (art) began in February 2022 with 19 volumes released in Japan to date. VIZ Media releases an English-language version of the manga.

The Story

VIZ Media describes the story:

Akane unintentionally stirs up a scandal when she's discovered taking informal lessons from her father's former teacher, Shiguma Arakawa. And she's about to make even bigger waves because she is about to begin her first steps in climbing the ranks of a rakugo performer from zenza opening act to shin'uchi headliner is exchanging her secret lessons for formal training. But she'll still have to finish high school and navigate her relationship with Shiguma's existing apprentices, all while learning that becoming a stellar rakugoka takes much more than just being good at performing!

Premiere Information

Date: April 2026

Are you excited for Akane-banashi? What do you think of the new cast? Do you know about rakugo? Which traditional performing art interests you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!