Special Report: TV Anime "Akane-banashi" Pre-Broadcast Program! Anna Nagase, Rie Takahashi, and Akihisa Shiono Discuss the Charm of Rakugo

On Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 10:30 PM, the special program "TV Anime 'Akane-banashi' Pre-Broadcast Live Roundtable!" was broadcast exclusively for free on ABEMA to celebrate the anime’s premiere.

Akane-banashi is an authentic Rakugo story currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha). The story follows Akane Ōsaki, a young girl captivated by her father’s magical Rakugo performances. After a pivotal incident surrounding her father’s "Shin'uchi Promotion Exam," Akane dives into the world of Rakugo herself, aiming to reach the highest rank of Shin'uchi.

The special program, aired just before the TV anime's debut, featured live appearances by Anna Nagase (voice of Akane Ōsaki), Rie Takahashi (voice of Hikaru Kōragi), and Akihisa Shiono (voice of Kaisei Arakawa). The cast provided an in-depth look at the story and characters, shared behind-the-scenes production stories, and engaged in various talk segments.

"Falling into the Rakugo Rabbit Hole!" Cast Members Reveal Their Passion

Matching the world of the anime, the three cast members made their entrance to the sound of debayashi (traditional intro music). In the first segment, they highlighted the appeal of Akane-banashi through "Three Passionate Points."

Discussing the point "The Characters are Too Passionate," Anna Nagase described the protagonist, Akane, as "someone with an incredibly straightforward personality who perfectly embodies the phrase 'reckless momentum.'" She added, "You can really feel that 'Jump' spirit in her." Rie Takahashi praised her as well, stating, "She fits the role of a true 'protagonist' perfectly, rather than just being a heroine."

Akihisa Shiono also shared a production secret he heard from the original author, Yuki Suenaga. "Apparently, the character of Akane was created first, and the theme of Rakugo was actually added afterward," he revealed. This prompted shocked reactions from Nagase and Takahashi, who exclaimed, "What! Really!?" and "I didn't know Akane was born before the theme itself!"

The conversation then turned to the charm of Rakugo as an art form. Nagase confessed she is hooked on the "sage" (the punchline), saying, "The feeling of satisfaction when a story wraps up with a punchline is addictive." Takahashi agreed, noting, "Sometimes I listen to Rakugo specifically just to hear that 'sage' at the end." Shiono added his perspective, describing Rakugo as "iki" (refined/stylish). "It might seem like it has a high barrier to entry at first, but after watching Akane-banashi, you can enjoy it in a completely different way," he said. He further emphasized, "I think Japanese DNA is naturally drawn to things that are 'iki.' Anyone who loves that sense of style will surely love this series."