THIRD STORY SENIOR APPRENTICES
All right.
Pardon me!
Master, I've brought you some tea.
Hey! Long time no see, Masaki! How've you been?
Well, well, Masaki.
It's been a long time. How are things with you?
Yo! Master Masaki, long time no see!
Tell me, how's it going?
Master.
What the heck are you doing?
- They're here? - I'll get the door!
Right, right. Get the door!
- It was peaches! - Peaches, huh?
When our guests arrive, prepare a plate for them.
Right!
Master, you sure are keyed up!
I see.
So you're telling me your desire to train under me is even stronger now?
Yes. It hit me hard that at my skill level now,
I'll never reach the rank of Shin'uchi.
I want to hone my skills more.
I don't want to waste even a second or a minute.
So please...
Allow me to become your apprentice!
Fine. I'll accept you as my apprentice.
Yeah!
No, I can't let myself be satisfied with this.
This is just the start line!
That said, your official apprenticeship will start next spring,
after you've graduated high school.
Until then, you'll be coming here as a trainee.
- Understood? - Yes!
Also, you're to come here on an official visit with your parents.
My parents?
As a profession, Rakugo is unstable.
And your family has been through a lot.
Um, Dad's in Tokyo for work, so he's not here.
Can I come with just my mom?
Yes, I know. That's fine.
Understood! See you tomorrow, then!
Tomorrow?
U-Uh, right. Great!
Look at me sweating bullets when I'm the one who summoned them.
How pathetic.
I haven't seen Masaki since that day, huh?
I never even told her that I was teaching Akane Rakugo.
How am I supposed to act when I see her?
That kid's father was the master's top apprentice,
Shinta Ani-san, who got expelled six years ago.
Of course it's gonna be awkward.
Pardon us!
Hold on, should we be barging in like this?
Why not? It was open, anyway.
Oh, Master, I brought Mom with me.
Dummy! You should call me "Mother" at times like these.
Master Shiguma, I haven't seen you since that day.
It's been a long time.
R-Right, Masa-chan.
Long time... no see.
Thank you for your hospitality.
No, no. It's nothing.
There's an unpleasant grownup vibe washing over us.
Awkward!
Hey. These peaches are misshapen, huh?
Damn, can't you read the room?
I need to apologize to you for something, Masaki.
I've been training Akane in Rakugo for the last six years.
Part of it was because her passion overwhelmed me.
But it was mainly to atone for what happened to Shinta,
and to make this kid give up on her dream.
Even so, I should've spoken to you before we got to this point.
I'm so sorry for not telling you.
Excuse me, I knew.
What?
That you'd taken Akane under your wing.
You knew about it?
Yes. Because this girl blabs about everything.
Well, it's not something I needed to hide, right?
Then you're fine with her performing Rakugo?
Oh, I'm totally against it!
Since that incident happened.
Then, why?
It's no use trying to stop her. Not this girl.
I also went against my own parents' wishes to become a hairdresser.
She takes after me, so there's nothing I can do.
And I knew that you were taking good care of her.
Most of all, my husband told me,
"If it's Master Shiguma, there's nothing to worry about."
Masaki. I couldn't protect my own apprentice.
So I'm not fit to take on another.
But as I continued to watch this kid's Rakugo, I started to dream.
I wondered what kind of Rakugoka Akane would become.
You may be thinking, "Isn't it too late for this?"
But if you would allow me to take her on...
Incompetent as I am, I, Shiguma Arakawa will pour all my heart and soul
into training this child to become a fine Rakugoka. I swear it!
Master! Same here!
I will become a Rakugoka worthy of your name, Master.
Please look after me!
All right, me too.
Please look after my daughter.
You've received your family's approval.
Once you've graduated high school, you'll be my apprentice.
I'm sure you already know this, but Rakugoka are assigned ranks,
and they rise through the hierarchy according to their experience and skills.
Zenza.
The training period when becoming a Rakugoka.
While being consumed by daily chores and training,
you build up your foundation as a Rakugoka.
Futatsume.
Those who've been recognized as Rakugoka use this period to hone their craft.
You're also allowed to wear haori and hakama from the Futatsume tier.
Shin'uchi.
The pinnacle of the Rakugo world.
At the Arakawa School,
the Shin'uchi rank is conferred to those who've become masters of their craft.
While striving to elevate their personal art form,
they're also permitted to take on apprentices and train the next generation.
Your official apprenticeship starts next spring.
That said, there's no time to waste idling about!
Let me introduce you.
These four are my students.
They're all Futatsume, and every one of them is a piece of work.
Starting now, these four will drive the basics of Rakugo into your head.
The training will be tough, but you can handle it, right?
Of course I can!
Uh, Master. About that...
We respectfully decline.
Huh? You didn't tell them?
Listen, you rogues!
It's your job as elder fellow apprentices to look after the newly accepted students!
That's true, but it's been six years? Seven, since Guriko?
If our first new student in years quits because of me...
Nope nope nope nope nope nope!
Master, come on, it's me!
That kid will fall head over heels in love with me for sure!
A romance that would be against the rules!
Don't you agree, Guririn?
Huh? Well, um...
- Th-Then I'll do-- - Let me look after her, for starters.
KYOJI ARAKAWA
Master, is that all right with you?
- Fine by me. - Grin!
Kyoji, I'm leaving her in your hands.
As you wish.
Guriko. Your concern for your younger apprentice is commendable.
But you've only just become a Futatsume.
Right now, you need to focus on honing your own craft.
Right.
You, there. Come over here.
The younger Rakugoka always greet the others first.
Uh, right.
My name is Akane Osaki.
Pleased to meet you.
- Yeah. That's a polite, good bow. - What?
Every performance starts and ends with a bow.
The sight of a polite bow is also pleasing to the audience.
Wow, he's really pouring it on with the compliments!
He might be a nice guy.
I'm Kyoji Arakawa.
You'll be accompanying me for the time being.
What's your school schedule?
Oh, you don't have to worry about that.
It'll be totally fine if I ditch class.
Idiot!
The high school that your parents put you in, with your best interests at heart.
You're saying you want to ditch it?
Outrageous!
As a student, your duty is to study!
Don't get your priorities wrong!
R-Right.
As long as we're clear, it's fine.
That was one quick baptism by fire.
Ever since Shinta Ani-san was expelled,
Kyoji Ani-san has taken charge of the Shiguma School apprentices.
He's also known as...
the Magistrate of the Shiguma School!
All right, I'm texting you the address of tomorrow's venue.
Oh, crap. This guy...
I think he's the type that I totally can't deal with!
STUDIO THREE
All right, though you're still a novice...
I will now teach you what you need to learn for your Zenza training!
- Soak in all you can! - Thanks!
It's finally starting today.
My road to becoming a Shin'uchi, and catching up to that guy.
I'll master it all right away!
All right, let's begin!
- Start by straightening everyone's shoes! - Right!
Greet others properly! They're the proprietors of this venue.
Right!
When you get to the dressing room, serve tea!
- Make it hot and strong. - Right!
- Help me get dressed! - Right!
Fold my discarded clothes neatly!
And also...
It's all menial chores!
What did you expect?
When you've just started training,
your job is all those chores that you just did.
I bet you're thinking, "That has nothing to do with Rakugo."
But Rakugo is all about making the people in front of you happy.
You can't handle this job if you can't make one person around you happy.
You have to think about what would make
that person happy, and constantly anticipate their needs.
Rakugoka call this "attentiveness."
If you can't even do that, you'll never become a Zenza.
Right.
Attentiveness, huh?
But at the end of the day, it's the Rakugo that makes the audience happy!
That guy even said so.
In Rakugo, artistic skill counts the most!
It's art! In the end, Rakugo is all about art!
Good morning!
Mr. Hakushu Kashiwaya just arrived. Greet him!
Yo.
So you're Akane, huh?
I heard about you, but you really are young!
Listen, can you take the stage today?
- What? - Hakushu!
She's going to be apprenticed, right?
It's just you and me performing, anyway.
I can do it! I have my kimono, too!
Please allow me to take the stage!
FUTATSUME PERFORMANCE
I don't agree with putting someone on stage before they've been apprenticed.
I've at least drilled the stories into her.
She's not an official apprentice, but you can put her on stage.
Guess we'll see what she's got.
I'm not as nervous as I was before.
I can see my surroundings, too.
All right. Here goes!
I'm going to make him realize that in Rakugo, it's art that's crucial!
Well, you know how they say that borrowed plumes will soon come off.
Apparently, mimicking others doesn't ever go well.
This Makura...
Is she going to perform "Praising Children"?
Hattsan? What are you doing here?
Well, I just heard from someone nearby...
I see. She's good, all right.
Not just her performance and how expressive she is,
but more than anything, her sitting posture is lovely.
Oh, looks like you heard it wrong.
Some relatives send me sake...
Her core is stable, as if she's rooted to the stage.
That's not something you acquire overnight.
She must've put in tireless work to hone that skill.
But...
Free, three, who cares which one?
Just give me a drink, you cheapskate!
Huh?
How can you call me a cheapskate?
It's not like I'm a total bust, but I don't know.
It's not like the response I got before.
No, it's fine!
If I let out everything I've learned, then they'll laugh!
That's how it works, see?
Oh, so there are ways to get it done, huh?
But why? I think I'm doing okay.
"I've at least drilled the stories into her," huh?
Master, now I really understand what you meant.
You look depressed.
You weren't happy with your performance today?
Talk about insolent.
Hakushu's kindness is what allowed you to take the stage.
It's not that I'm unhappy. Not at all!
I couldn't be more grateful.
Hearing Mr. Hakushu and the audience praise me made me so happy.
But more than that, not getting huge waves of laughter really stung.
That never would've happened to him, I bet.
I found out how lame I am.
I have to train harder, and polish my Rakugo more.
So if you can just polish your craft, you can satisfy the audience?
Uh, well, isn't that what it's about?
You sure are arrogant.
Your Rakugo couldn't be more selfish.
Self...
Huh? What do you mean?
Let me ask you, then.
There were a lot of older audience members today.
How did you tailor your act to get laughs out of them?
Well, that's...
If I let out everything I've learned, then they'll laugh!
About today's performance, to me it seemed like...
you were throwing 93 mph balls over and over.
The pitches seem incredible because they're fast,
but since they don't land in the strike zone, your performance isn't funny.
I acknowledge your talent.
But Rakugo is all about how much you can make the audience laugh.
It's not inward that you need to gaze into right now.
It's outward.
I've given them a heads-up.
Starting tomorrow, you'll be going there.
How can you perform Rakugo in a way that makes others happy?
Find the answer to the question yourself.
Understood! I'll get it done!
UMI
Wait, the place where I'm supposed to learn is an izakaya?
Huh? Wait, did he just want to get rid of me?
Like he's saying, "You're in the way, so buzz off!" So deflating.
Hey, Newbie! Get to work!
Still, even though I've only known him for a couple of days, I really get him.
I know that he's going to teach me all kinds of stuff.
My experience here has a purpose, for sure!
Welcome! Do you have a reservation?
Huh? No, I don't...
A newcomer! Please, have a seat over here!
An izakaya, customer service, and attentiveness...
There's only one answer.
He wants me to learn attentiveness here, and use it in my Rakugo!
I'm going to apply myself, and learn it right away!
Welcome!
You sent Akane to Izakaya Umi, the bar?
Yes. I have a lot of regional work this week, so I can't accompany her.
I thought it would be a good opportunity.
I see. She's at Miku-chan's place, huh?
Things are getting interesting, eh?
Welcome!
Would you like something from our Specials menu?
We make this dish with Spanish mackerel!
We're not ready.
- And here we have our pride and joy... - Akane!
I hate to tell you this, but you're trying a little too hard, okay?
You might want to dial down the volume of your voice, too.
But aren't you supposed to be cheerful and energetic towards customers at a bar?
I just looked it up online!
Oh, sure, of course, that's also really important.
But listen, before you try so hard, you have to look at people first.
That's what the manager told me.
What do you think that means? That trying hard isn't good, maybe?
Who knows, really?
Hiiragi-san, I'm really struggling with this!
Well, I don't think it's a bad thing.
But I think the important thing isn't just to try hard,
and instead, we want people to come here again?
After all, this isn't a sport.
Why don't you try it the way he told you for now?
Thanks for waiting!
Right. Got it.
No, I'm telling you...
I'm not complaining, okay?
I'm so wiped!
I tried all the things I looked up, but none of it is working.
And I'm just causing Hiiragi-san trouble.
Wait, am I doing the same thing again?
Taking what I've learned, and just throwing it out there.
I'm not thinking about the people in front of me.
You couldn't be more selfish.
What a moron I am! I haven't...
Oh, are you on a break?
So? Are you used to the job now?
Well, of course you wouldn't be on day one.
- He can be so reckless, that Kyo-chan! - Kyo-chan?
I mean Kyoji. He's a regular here.
Oh?
But he can't hold his liquor, so he always drinks orange juice.
How adorable is that?
Boss.
Attentive, thoughtful.
How can I learn to be that way?
I was told that if I couldn't, I can never even become a Zenza.
So I can't afford to mess up.
Thoughtful, huh?
That's actually something that I learned from a Rakugoka.
From a Rakugoka?
I've always loved Rakugo, and I went to see performances a lot.
That's when I happened to see Master Shiguma.
I'm sure he can read people's minds!
Whenever I wanted to laugh or cry, he'd hit me
with precision and perfect timing!
You don't know how good that made me feel.
I wondered if I could do that myself, and I tried all kinds of things.
Oh?
Well, hey, who doesn't feel joy when they're being cared for so well?
If you want people to like you, then first you need to accept them.
You're young, so don't overthink it, and try some things out.
Even if you fail, no worries.
Turning failure into a funny story.
Isn't that what makes Rakugo so great?
Dear me! I just lectured a Rakugoka about Rakugo!
Please forgive me for my arrogance!
No, not at all!
That was really moving!
Boss, do you have a second?
Um, are you... Your order? No, wait, um...
I don't think he's speaking English.
What should we do?
Hey, I know! There's an app for that! Um, sorry!
Uh, hello!
Think about the person before you.
What's on this person's mind?
What does he want to tell us?
The menu...
Maybe he doesn't understand Japanese.
I mean, there are no photos.
But I have no idea how I can explain it to him.
In that case...
This. Watch me.
Beer?
Right! Yes, yes! Probably yes!
Um, next up...
Here, take my phone...
It's all good now.
Gotta hand it to those Rakugoka, huh?
Yakitori!
Here you go!
Now sit back and enjoy!
Arigato!
Oh, thanks.
Wow, this is intense! I'm so thrilled!
Akane, nice going!
Loved the way you chugged it!
Was that a Rakugo skill?
You crushed it!
Keep that up, okay?
Right!
AKANE RUNA HIIRAGI SATORU SHOUMA KAZU AKI YUUTO NOE MICHIRU
Good evening!
Hey, Kyo-chan!
- I just got back now. - Welcome back!
Thank you for looking after my junior apprentice for a whole week.
Here's something for you.
Oh, my, thanks so much!
My pleasure! She was a huge help, actually!
All right, then, I'll have my usual.
Here you go. Orange juice.
That's thoughtful of you.
Well, sure. Miku-chan trained me well, after all!
Have you found your answer?
Maybe you should be the judge of that yourself?
Fine.
I have some business in the city next weekend.
You should come along.
Let me see, in detail, what you've learned.
Right!
NEXT EPISODE BEYOND JOY
Akane Small Talk!
Now that you've accepted me
as your apprentice, I can't hold back my excitement!
Right?
There are no schools or training institutes for Rakugoka.
If you want to become one,
the only way is to get apprenticed to a Shin'uchi, and train.
That's the first step everyone has to take.
Well, whether or not you have no problems getting accepted
depends on who your master is.
Oh, really? Is that right?
Yes. While some may get a quick, "Yes,"
it's not uncommon to hear about people
who finally got accepted after months of pleading.
It took me six years! Six years!
In your case, you'd been watching training sessions since before you were taken on,
so I'd say it was a special case.
Special, huh?
Some start by waiting by the dressing room door at yose theaters to greet them,
and others visit the master's house, unannounced.
Everyone struggles when trying to get apprenticed.
Did you struggle, too, to get accepted?
Well, of course! I prostrated myself on the street.
- What? - Oh! Well, you know...
Someday if it comes up, I'll tell you about that.
Oh, right!
- Um, I've got to practice "Shinigami." - Hey, I have to know!
Please tell me, Master!
Master!