Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Episode 3 One thing I can appreciate about Rakugo Shinjuu is its continuous attention to its historical backdrop and setting. Many anime take this as a given and give its setting little to no additional attention. Not this show, no indeed. The history and aesthetic of the show’s time are the purpose and theme of this episode and assists in the tension and drama that we feel for the characters. As Japan grows deeply embroiled in the Second World War, Yakumo and others are not shielded from the consequences. Less people come to shows, rakugo itself becomes censored, and Yakumo’s dreams are put on hold as his disability prevents him from joining his sensei and best friend on the front lines. This setting allows for this drama to reveal itself, which demonstrates how particular and invested the story is in its own aesthetic and time period. This is good storytelling, as it utilizes all of the elements of the story to tell it. There is also a sense of realism that one can feel from a lot of josei works such as Rakugo Shinjuu. We already know that Yakumo, as an older man, appears to be single, but I was pleasantly surprised at how his loves played out. Yakumo’s first love is sweet and adorable, but unrealized as the realities of war force him and his girlfriend apart. His second seems more secure and stable, but there is a conflict between living out his dreams or staying complacent that becomes a main conflict in the second half of the episode.  The romances never felt like something forced in for the sake of having it be some subset of Yakumo’s life, but felt like they sort of organically happened as a result of Yakumo’s circumstances. They play right alongside what the episode’s message and conflicts are about and so they don’t come off as haphazard. As a result, Rakugo Shinjuu’s ability to utilize its setting and capture very realistic and organic human relationships culminates in the ending of the episode. I was quite amused that Shin-san and his sensei returned with the rising sun, a little bit of a reference in itself, but what was most impressive was how emotional that scene turned out to be.  There was crying, but it was minimalistic. There were words exchanged, but they were brief and impactful. The most heartfelt moments turned out to be ones that were not focused on hugs or exchanges. When, Yakumo called out to the mistress and Matsuda-san, you could hear the excitement and disbelief in his voice, the strain as the people he love have finally returned. When Yakumo runs toward Shin-san, you can see his desperate attempt to cover distance between him and his best friend as quickly as possible. Rakugo Shinjuu has, at this point, evolved from simply an anime about storytelling and an immersive story about the Showa period and the people who lived in it. I was not so convinced on the characters in the previous episode, but seeing them grow, struggle, and change has shaken my perspective a bit. With the cliffhanger at the end of the episode, I eagerly await next week to find out what’s in store.  |
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