Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen

Hello, there!

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

Of course, I've been sitting here with my head down the whole time,

Yurakutei Yotaro

so I don't know how long it's been...

What's that?

We're past spring, through summer, and all the way to winter again?

You gotta be kidding me!

I spent a whole year with my head pasted to the stage?

Yurakutei Yotaro

No wonder I can hardly tell my head from my feet anymore!

Owie, my head's gone numb!

What?

Those are my feet?!

Yurakutei Yotaro

Now, as for the long-awaited Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju...

The story started with Yotaro getting out of jail

and getting himself apprenticed to the great artist Yakumo,

but Yotaro—that's me, and I'm every bit the fool the name suggests—

he actually falls asleep during his master's big performance!

Boy, was Master mad!

Yotaro, did you sleep well during my rakugo?

You are hereby expelled.

I beg you, Master!

Anything but expulsion! Forgive me!

He left me crying in the snow for a bit,

but I finally got through to him.

Then, he sprang this on me:

If you don't want me to expel you, Yotaro...

You must promise me three things.

First:

You must memorize all of Sukeroku and I's rakugo.

Second:

Sukeroku and I once promised to open a path for rakugo's survival.

You must fill the hole he left.

Third:

You must not die before I do.

Why did Master say this, you ask?

Let me tell you: Master once studied rakugo

with a senior apprentice who was his best friend ever.

That man's name was Sukeroku!

Me and Sis spent a whole night listening to his story about it.

Time passed since then, and before I knew it, ten years had gone by.

With my promise to Master in my heart, I devoted myself to training,

and at last, I got my wish: a promotion to the highest rank, shin'uchi!

But while I was riding high,

Sis said something that slapped me back to Earth.

Yota, I'm gonna have a child.

A child?!

Yurakutei Yotaro

What're you talking about, Sis?!

Who's the father?

I won't tell you.

I've decided to raise the child on my own.

And spare me your objections.

I see...

Hey, Sis.

Could I be the baby's father?

That idea sprang right from my brain and out my mouth,

but it's not a bad thought, is it?

I don't want to watch her struggle all on her own, anyway.

But after all that, I had to go see Master.

He'd become president of the Rakugo Association and was busier than ever,

but I had to ask him something

before my promotion went through.

I found him at his master— the former Yakumo's—grave,

and I got down on my knees and begged him...

Yurakutei Yotaro

Allow me to become the third Sukeroku.

Get it?

Yurakutei Yotaro

Yurakutei Sukeroku

Showa Genroku

Rakugo Shinju

Descending Stories

Yurakutei

Yurakutei Sukeroku Shin'uchi Advancement Presentation

Yota-chan! Congrats!

Sukeroku

Episode 1

You finally did it, Yotaro!

Hey, shin'uchi!

Looking good, Yota!

Sukeroku

Hey! I'm changing my name, you know!

Sukeroku

Sukeroku? Oh, please!

You'll always be Yota-chan, Yota-chan!

Yotaro's already the perfect name for you!

Give it a rest, you jerks!

Yota.

Get moving, already.

The people came here to see me.

Yakumo-san!

Eighth Generation!

Yes, yes. You, too?

You just wanted to show off, Master!

So what if I did? I am the president.

How long are you gonna stand there?

Yota-chan, go on! Get walking!

Yotaro, you look great in that!

Congratulations!

Yotaro! Best in Japan!

You're the king!

You guys! Thanks a bunch!

Master Yotaro's coming through!

Yurakutei Sukeroku Shin'uchi Advancement Presentation

Good luck!

I'm so glad for you!

Sukeroku

Thanks so much!

Yotaro-han!

It's been a while.

Congratulations on your success.

Hey, Big Bro Mangetsu!

My business trip overlapped,

so I managed to make the first day.

Thanks for making the time!

Not at all. Congratulations!

So, is Master Yakumo in?

Sorry.

I'm going over today's performance by myself right now.

I'll wait here, then.

Here, to congratulate you.

Congratulations -Tsuburaya Mangetsu

Oh, now, that's way too much money—

Just take it!

You've really gone and done it, haven't you?

What were you thinking, taking the Sukeroku name now?

Well, I couldn't handle being a shin'uchi with the name Yotaro,

and there's no other name I have a history with...

What did Master Yakumo say?

He didn't bat an eye.

He just said, "Do as you wish."

Yurakutei Yakumo

Yurakutei Sukeroku

It's got no history.

It's not a famous or sought-after name,

so the inheritance itself isn't an issue, he said...

True. He used to have passionate fans,

but there aren't many left now.

A few photos, a few records.

That's all that's left.

Dead men can't speak.

Speaking of which, Yotaro-han...

Sorry, Sukeroku, I guess.

It's okay, call me what you like.

Congratulations -Tsuburaya Mangetsu

By the way, Big Bro,

you've got another job on the side, right?

You seem to have cash to throw around...

Of course I do!

It's a bubble economy.

I'm swamped with work on TV.

It's tough,

I'm so busy, I can barely keep it together!

How do you find time to practice, then?

Well, I'm not exactly doing rakugo anymore.

My father's passed.

With nothing left to hold me to it, I've got no enthusiasm.

I never had any talent, anyway.

But wait, that's no reason—

Rakugo is over in Kyoto, anyway.

Speed is everything nowadays,

whether it's manzai routines, or what have you.

No one wants to sit still for rakugo anymore.

The last of the rakugo theaters in the west have finally closed.

Even here in Tokyo, this is the only one left, right?

Once people stop wanting it, they close the places where you do it.

That's just where the laughter business is going.

The art of Rakugo is about creating empathy.

It's not just about making people laugh.

Empathy doesn't change, no matter the age,

so don't worry!

Or so Master says.

Oh, you're kidding!

You, lecturing me? Your ego's grown, hasn't it?

But as you just parrot him,

I can see the experience of it in your eyes.

Master Yakumo hammered it into you after all that time you spent together.

Maybe I never had any promise.

In the end, he wouldn't see me even once.

I'm so jealous.

Bro, you can always do rakugo.

Once your new job fails, come back to us, 'kay?

You shut up!

Master Yakumo is taking to the stage.

Master!

Yota.

Yes, sir!

Good luck, sir.

There he is!

Eighth Generation!

Yakumo-san!

Hello, there.

You have my tremendous thanks

for coming to this auspicious opening day.

On a day like this,

I can't help but think back to my own promotion to shin'uchi.

So many people came to congratulate me,