Hey, loved you write up. For how much I loved this show, that their clothing styles are so mismatched with their rakugo philosophies is something I completely missed. I really agree with your closer. The whole show portrays characters that are flawed; characters that are not in perfect harmony with their own philosophy. Almost every character is seen making a choice that runs counter to their own wants or desires, because of their ideals. Similarly, they often act against their own self-interest. And they're aware they're doing so. Bon can't help denying sukeroku money despite what it costs him. Sukeroku acts out, acts "immorally" and drinks, despite knowing this will land him in trouble with the masters, and that it will ruin him financially. Yakumo bans Sukeroku, despite the fact that he breaths life into this artform. Miyo wants men who don't want her, and recognizes how poisonous that is. And it's fascinating how each justifies it to themselves. Sukeroku, even when he sees that his child depends on him, does not get his act together. He marries the woman he knows loves Bon. Bon thinks that each must act out their own life and change themselves, and so lets Sukeroku carry on (something he finally confronts at the end of the flashback). They act out against their better judgement based on flimsy justifications that at the core they recognize as being wrong. And the way it's done in Rakugo masterfully captures the nuance of being human. Now the video was focused on contradiction, but I think the art ties into it as well. Or at least, the way the show portrays the "lifetime" of the art. The fall of any tradition is met with reactionaries. But throughout the show, this fall, or dilution, of certain japanese institutions is evident. Traditional music and opera is slowly replaced with jazz and american music. The western style of dress becomes more and more widespread. Geisha houses become illegal and must close up. And of course, rakugo is overtaken by radio and films. Yet, it's really an evolution, or maybe a fusion, of the two that occurs. The Japanese clothing styles persist, even during the 50s and 60s. The geishas evolve into mistresses of rich men and escorts. Rakugo is changed by those passionate enough about it to make it live. Even the opening music is a beautiful blend of jazz with more traditional chords and instruments. Yet, when sukeroku passes, it's almost as if this fusion passes as well. When we look at the modern day, Bon is a relic of the past; a living museum piece adored by the public but almost literally the last of his kind. The clothing styles have become totally western. Even the houses and building styles are only reflected in bon's isolated segment of the past. The death of the traditional with Sukeroku's death is the ultimate contradiction, and the decline of rakugo (as portrayed in the show) is heartbreaking in its own. As for Bon not wanting Konatsu to perform, I think that's more nuanced. He's carrying on the want of Miyo in not wanting her or sukeroku to perform Rakugo, and her description of it as untasteful. There's also the fear that if Konatsu starts, she will perform the art of her father, and be lost in the world that he inhabited. Her brashness and headstrong attitude is something inherited from Sukeroku, and the vices are surely something Bon fears will manifest in her as well. There's also the hope of breaking the cycle: Bon, after making a tremendous amount of change in how he views rakugo through his interaction with Sukeroku, falls back into the traditionalist role. Maybe he thinks he isn't skilled enough to do what he perceived Sukeroku as being capable of. Maybe it's the ultimate punishment for his actions; that he is 'undeserving' of being what changes rakugo. But he also recognizes the cycle that entrapped Sukeroku. The previous sukeroku died penniless performing rakugo for the lowest echelons of society, and despite the high ambitions he portrayed, our Sukeroku also fell by the wayside. One can see him as wanting to break the link with Konatsu. Sorry for this meandering post, but I absolutely love this series and feel it holds a lot to be unpacked (with most of what I said presumably already digested by you :P).
Man, you have a lot of stuff in there I didn't consider, especially about the characters doing and wanting things they know they shouldn't and about Bon's reasons for not letting Konatsu perform. Just goes to show how one brain can never think of everything. Thanks for jumping in on the discussion!
well, rakugo is not only about comedy. There're categories like ninjou-banashi/touching stories and kaidan-banashi/horror stories. Shinigami is one of the horror stories, so the basic tone of the story is scary, not humorous. Kikuhiko/Yakumo's performance of Shinigami is based on the performance by Ensho(6th). Shinigami was his favorite title. Kikuhiko as a character is partly inspired by Ensho, I think. th-cam.com/video/0Ecdhz-6GH4/w-d-xo.html Here's his performance. Ensho(6th) was a traditionalist who played only the classics in their original forms. Some people say his performance is like a textbook of rakugo. Some rakugo schools are good at touching stories, and other schools are good at humorous stories. Kikuhiko and the atmosphere of Rakugo Shinju don't contradict with rakugo. Even in funny rakugo stories, they sometimes shows satire on human desire. Some great master said that rakugo is a way of affirming egoism. Rakugo Shinjuu is trying to talk straight about the deep core of rakugo.
I've gotta say, you've got an incredible voice. I find that a good voice goes a long way, and while you're moulding your product that'll be the biggest draw point alongside the potential behind each of your videos. There's a lot of good stuff here, and very well done! I didn't find it disjointed, and kept my attention throughout. There was little things with the pacing in terms of how the audio was edited (sometimes parts quickly following another without that slight break) but overall it's a rather solid release. Consider me a fan!
Hey, thanks Michael, love your stuff! I'd like to improve my audio spacing, so could you give me some specific places in the video that I could use as examples?
Sent ~ Anime Stuff Certainly! My apologies for not specifying the exact times, as it doesn't help you just to comb through and try to figure it out. I'm far from an audio expert as well, so I could easily be wrong about these things as their more so based upon how they personally sound to me. I'll give it another once over and jot down the time or times that I hear issues at and give you another reply!
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you sooner. Was doing some graphic design work yesterday, and was fried afterwards so I ended up binging on Daredevil on Netflix. There were two big things I noticed, and that was some segments were not given enough space and some were too much. One of the examples is at around 1:05 I'd recommend spacing it similar to how you did earlier at 0:48. While it wouldn't need to be that long it would help the break a bit more in terms of the audio pacing (in my humble opinion). Where as there's another part around 1:30 where the break is a bit longer and could be trimmed down by just a second or so. This is more so nitpicking and if you're really aiming to go full on perfect piece. It isn't a deal breaker, and as I had first stated it really is a little thing but I thought I would bring it to your attention nonetheless.
You've returned with a really well thought out video! I really need to get around to finishing this series, I have no problems with it but I feel like it requires a certain mood and/or state of mind
Rakugo is really the best anime I've watched these 2 years! Btw my friend once mentioned to me that there are similar ideas and settings between Rakugo and Kids on the Slope, will you make an analysis about it?
And also your analysis about Rakugo as a literature is so clear and useful! My school now is teaching Naruto as a literature work but actually I think Rakugo is more suitable to show social and ideological contrast, and it's more like a literature xd
i don't have artistic talent but if i did create something it would simply be because i enjoy it. i doubt most people have some complex reason to do something especially if they enjoy it.
Oh I definitely agree with you, but in regards to Shouwa Genroku, it's reductive to assume Kikuhiko simply desires to enjoy what he does. He wants to belong somewhere, among other, less apparent things.
Great explanation. But i find it strange that nobody mentions the other episodes that weren't translated. The ones showing the opening with her, Konatsu, holding her son, and everything happening in present day. Also the guy she had her child with and his connection to them. Guess they accidentally uploaded season 2 soon after
What? No. Sukeroku dresses like that because he's closer to the working class, while Kikuhiko is closer to the intelligentsia. It's your usual Labor party vs Conservative party thing.
Sent ~ Anime Stuff stuff if u didn't know will get messy in the future especially the main Villains of the show of each Part including the one that is airing right now so maybe an analysis video, mostly for Part 5 because it is really messy as of now (u can wait for it next to come out or just read the manga after Part 4 finishes airing
Excellent video! I just finished the first series, and this video popped up in my TH-cam home page. Weird huh? The title of this video _Contradiction in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu_ misled me. I got here expecting a rant on contradictions and other problems you had with the story. Once the vid started, It was immediately obvious you were doing just the opposite of ranting. Maybe prepend _Examining_ or _Exploring_ to the title? This would have given me a better context in which to understand what the vid might be about.
my main complaint with the show was how painfully difficult it was to get through the first episode, even the second episode can feel a little slow but the third episode and onward has a consistent driving force. your video is a great breakdown of certain story elements, looking back I can now see that the editing between their two Styles was very different and it was something that I felt rather than saw, but it is nice to know that that feeling was complemented or I suppose caused by excellent editing.
Shouwa actually relies heavily on visual contrasts - in the lighting, angles, and cutting of not only Kiku's and Sukeroku's performances, but also their conversations as well. Looking back, I wish I'd commented on that a bit more in the video - after all I'm not looking at a novel, but an anime (and maybe a manga if it ever gets translated).
that is probably because the first episode (the long one) was made before the official anime came out. it was an OVA meant to bundle with the 6th volume of the manga
I'm not trying to knock you down here about your thumbnail but yo its the most uninteresting thumbnail I've ever seen....like...even a simple pic of one character would be 100x more interesting than the one you chose. What you got is a nice pic, but it won't help you pull in a lot of views. I'm speaking as a consumer. I was extremely put off by the thumbnail lol so I had to say something. But I mean, feel free to disagree because I won't consider myself a pro or anything
Hey, loved you write up. For how much I loved this show, that their clothing styles are so mismatched with their rakugo philosophies is something I completely missed.
I really agree with your closer. The whole show portrays characters that are flawed; characters that are not in perfect harmony with their own philosophy. Almost every character is seen making a choice that runs counter to their own wants or desires, because of their ideals. Similarly, they often act against their own self-interest. And they're aware they're doing so.
Bon can't help denying sukeroku money despite what it costs him. Sukeroku acts out, acts "immorally" and drinks, despite knowing this will land him in trouble with the masters, and that it will ruin him financially. Yakumo bans Sukeroku, despite the fact that he breaths life into this artform. Miyo wants men who don't want her, and recognizes how poisonous that is.
And it's fascinating how each justifies it to themselves. Sukeroku, even when he sees that his child depends on him, does not get his act together. He marries the woman he knows loves Bon. Bon thinks that each must act out their own life and change themselves, and so lets Sukeroku carry on (something he finally confronts at the end of the flashback). They act out against their better judgement based on flimsy justifications that at the core they recognize as being wrong. And the way it's done in Rakugo masterfully captures the nuance of being human.
Now the video was focused on contradiction, but I think the art ties into it as well. Or at least, the way the show portrays the "lifetime" of the art. The fall of any tradition is met with reactionaries. But throughout the show, this fall, or dilution, of certain japanese institutions is evident. Traditional music and opera is slowly replaced with jazz and american music. The western style of dress becomes more and more widespread. Geisha houses become illegal and must close up. And of course, rakugo is overtaken by radio and films. Yet, it's really an evolution, or maybe a fusion, of the two that occurs.
The Japanese clothing styles persist, even during the 50s and 60s. The geishas evolve into mistresses of rich men and escorts. Rakugo is changed by those passionate enough about it to make it live. Even the opening music is a beautiful blend of jazz with more traditional chords and instruments.
Yet, when sukeroku passes, it's almost as if this fusion passes as well. When we look at the modern day, Bon is a relic of the past; a living museum piece adored by the public but almost literally the last of his kind. The clothing styles have become totally western. Even the houses and building styles are only reflected in bon's isolated segment of the past. The death of the traditional with Sukeroku's death is the ultimate contradiction, and the decline of rakugo (as portrayed in the show) is heartbreaking in its own.
As for Bon not wanting Konatsu to perform, I think that's more nuanced. He's carrying on the want of Miyo in not wanting her or sukeroku to perform Rakugo, and her description of it as untasteful. There's also the fear that if Konatsu starts, she will perform the art of her father, and be lost in the world that he inhabited. Her brashness and headstrong attitude is something inherited from Sukeroku, and the vices are surely something Bon fears will manifest in her as well. There's also the hope of breaking the cycle:
Bon, after making a tremendous amount of change in how he views rakugo through his interaction with Sukeroku, falls back into the traditionalist role. Maybe he thinks he isn't skilled enough to do what he perceived Sukeroku as being capable of. Maybe it's the ultimate punishment for his actions; that he is 'undeserving' of being what changes rakugo.
But he also recognizes the cycle that entrapped Sukeroku. The previous sukeroku died penniless performing rakugo for the lowest echelons of society, and despite the high ambitions he portrayed, our Sukeroku also fell by the wayside. One can see him as wanting to break the link with Konatsu.
Sorry for this meandering post, but I absolutely love this series and feel it holds a lot to be unpacked (with most of what I said presumably already digested by you :P).
Man, you have a lot of stuff in there I didn't consider, especially about the characters doing and wanting things they know they shouldn't and about Bon's reasons for not letting Konatsu perform. Just goes to show how one brain can never think of everything. Thanks for jumping in on the discussion!
well, rakugo is not only about comedy. There're categories like ninjou-banashi/touching stories and kaidan-banashi/horror stories. Shinigami is one of the horror stories, so the basic tone of the story is scary, not humorous.
Kikuhiko/Yakumo's performance of Shinigami is based on the performance by Ensho(6th). Shinigami was his favorite title. Kikuhiko as a character is partly inspired by Ensho, I think.
th-cam.com/video/0Ecdhz-6GH4/w-d-xo.html
Here's his performance. Ensho(6th) was a traditionalist who played only the classics in their original forms. Some people say his performance is like a textbook of rakugo.
Some rakugo schools are good at touching stories, and other schools are good at humorous stories. Kikuhiko and the atmosphere of Rakugo Shinju don't contradict with rakugo.
Even in funny rakugo stories, they sometimes shows satire on human desire. Some great master said that rakugo is a way of affirming egoism.
Rakugo Shinjuu is trying to talk straight about the deep core of rakugo.
unfortunately, the link does not work anymore :(
@@kiraila19 fixed
Thank you
Great information and thanks for the link
The best video on Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu I've seen so far! Gotta check your other content. This was deep and thoughtful and all around amazing!
Thanks! If you're looking for more Rakugo stuff, check out Pause and Select and Rogersmith2004's videos on the show too!
Awesome video man! keep up with the good work.
Thanks for the support!
Great video.
Always great to hear someone crystallize the vague reasons I think something is great. Keep on keeping on!
Excellent vid! Great to have you back, Sent. Thanks for the link in the description, too.
Thanks Roger! I definitely took from your video, so I felt I should include it.
I've gotta say, you've got an incredible voice. I find that a good voice goes a long way, and while you're moulding your product that'll be the biggest draw point alongside the potential behind each of your videos. There's a lot of good stuff here, and very well done! I didn't find it disjointed, and kept my attention throughout.
There was little things with the pacing in terms of how the audio was edited (sometimes parts quickly following another without that slight break) but overall it's a rather solid release.
Consider me a fan!
Hey, thanks Michael, love your stuff! I'd like to improve my audio spacing, so could you give me some specific places in the video that I could use as examples?
Sent ~ Anime Stuff
Certainly! My apologies for not specifying the exact times, as it doesn't help you just to comb through and try to figure it out. I'm far from an audio expert as well, so I could easily be wrong about these things as their more so based upon how they personally sound to me.
I'll give it another once over and jot down the time or times that I hear issues at and give you another reply!
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you sooner. Was doing some graphic design work yesterday, and was fried afterwards so I ended up binging on Daredevil on Netflix.
There were two big things I noticed, and that was some segments were not given enough space and some were too much. One of the examples is at around 1:05 I'd recommend spacing it similar to how you did earlier at 0:48. While it wouldn't need to be that long it would help the break a bit more in terms of the audio pacing (in my humble opinion). Where as there's another part around 1:30 where the break is a bit longer and could be trimmed down by just a second or so.
This is more so nitpicking and if you're really aiming to go full on perfect piece. It isn't a deal breaker, and as I had first stated it really is a little thing but I thought I would bring it to your attention nonetheless.
+Cyanide Blizzard Thanks for doing this, I'll keep this in mind for my next project!
You've returned with a really well thought out video! I really need to get around to finishing this series, I have no problems with it but I feel like it requires a certain mood and/or state of mind
Yes, definitely. It's easy to lose focus on it if you're not prepared to take it in. I had to watch it a couple times myself.
just caught up with the series to watch your video, great stuff!
(also always down for more kyousougiga videos, A+)
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the content!
That was incredible. Time to change my anime list rating from a 9 to a 10
Wow I really like this, nice nice. I'm so proud of kumota haruko ;u;
and u got urself a sub!
Thank for the video! It's just great
+Ekaterina Efremova Thank you for watching!
yay you uploaded ❤
I'm just as happy as you are : D
Great video! Subscribed!
Thank you!
Does anyone know the title of the OST that starts playing at around 3:30?
subbed! good vid keep it up
Thank you!
Love ya vid
Josei has plenty of interesting stories people miss out because of that ridiculous "stigma"
Everything was beautifully said - and I agree with your points. Also, have you watched Honey to Clover? It's one of my favorites.
No, I haven't. That's going on the bucket list :)
F A N T A S T I C !
Thanks bb
Rakugo is really the best anime I've watched these 2 years! Btw my friend once mentioned to me that there are similar ideas and settings between Rakugo and Kids on the Slope, will you make an analysis about it?
And also your analysis about Rakugo as a literature is so clear and useful! My school now is teaching Naruto as a literature work but actually I think Rakugo is more suitable to show social and ideological contrast, and it's more like a literature xd
i don't have artistic talent but if i did create something it would simply be because i enjoy it.
i doubt most people have some complex reason to do something especially if they enjoy it.
Oh I definitely agree with you, but in regards to Shouwa Genroku, it's reductive to assume Kikuhiko simply desires to enjoy what he does. He wants to belong somewhere, among other, less apparent things.
Great explanation. But i find it strange that nobody mentions the other episodes that weren't translated. The ones showing the opening with her, Konatsu, holding her son, and everything happening in present day. Also the guy she had her child with and his connection to them. Guess they accidentally uploaded season 2 soon after
At least there some positive things about this show .I liked this series
What? No. Sukeroku dresses like that because he's closer to the working class, while Kikuhiko is closer to the intelligentsia. It's your usual Labor party vs Conservative party thing.
Yes, of course. I neglected to mention that since it wasn't really relevant to my reading of the series in this video.
👍
👍
Did you watch Rakugo Season 2?
Not quite yet. Will get around to it eventually!
Interesting, I'll subscribe do u do videos on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?
+Usama Siddiqui I've got no plans for JoJo right now, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility.
Sent ~ Anime Stuff ok
Sent ~ Anime Stuff stuff if u didn't know will get messy in the future especially the main Villains of the show of each Part including the one that is airing right now so maybe an analysis video, mostly for Part 5 because it is really messy as of now (u can wait for it next to come out or just read the manga after Part 4 finishes airing
Excellent video! I just finished the first series, and this video popped up in my TH-cam home page. Weird huh?
The title of this video _Contradiction in Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu_ misled me. I got here expecting a rant on contradictions and other problems you had with the story. Once the vid started, It was immediately obvious you were doing just the opposite of ranting. Maybe prepend _Examining_ or _Exploring_ to the title? This would have given me a better context in which to understand what the vid might be about.
my main complaint with the show was how painfully difficult it was to get through the first episode, even the second episode can feel a little slow but the third episode and onward has a consistent driving force. your video is a great breakdown of certain story elements, looking back I can now see that the editing between their two Styles was very different and it was something that I felt rather than saw, but it is nice to know that that feeling was complemented or I suppose caused by excellent editing.
Shouwa actually relies heavily on visual contrasts - in the lighting, angles, and cutting of not only Kiku's and Sukeroku's performances, but also their conversations as well. Looking back, I wish I'd commented on that a bit more in the video - after all I'm not looking at a novel, but an anime (and maybe a manga if it ever gets translated).
You're right, looking back this show did a fantastic job of setting up great shot composition in most every scene.
that is probably because the first episode (the long one) was made before the official anime came out. it was an OVA meant to bundle with the 6th volume of the manga
Yumehop hype! Really? Huh that is quite interesting. Do you know if a different studio helmed it or if there was a different director or staff?
It's the same director, I'm pretty sure the staff is the same as well.
I'm not trying to knock you down here about your thumbnail but yo its the most uninteresting thumbnail I've ever seen....like...even a simple pic of one character would be 100x more interesting than the one you chose. What you got is a nice pic, but it won't help you pull in a lot of views. I'm speaking as a consumer. I was extremely put off by the thumbnail lol so I had to say something. But I mean, feel free to disagree because I won't consider myself a pro or anything
Tbh it may just be the extremely weird shadow on your text. It's sticking out to me in a bad way on all your video thumbnails
The way pronounce as "tsukeroku" really piss me off sometimes. I can't stop grinding my teeth every time I hear that...
Sorry! My pronunciation is a continuous work-in-progress.