A new visual and trailer have been unveiled for the ongoing Akane-Banashi TV anime series, spotlighting the central characters in the “Karaku Cup Arc” storyline. The anime began broadcasting in Japan on April 4, 2026.
The trailer features Akane, Karashi, and Hikaru competing and showcasing their storytelling skills during the Karaku Cup competition.
The anime’s official Japanese Twitter/X account also released a Japanese version of the latest visual.
Ayumu Watanabe (Summer Time Rendering, Children of the Sea, Witch Hat Atelier) is directing the anime series, with Yu Harima (Summer Time Rendering Episode 7 and 20 director) as assistant director, Kii Tanaka (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) as character designer and chief animation director, Michihiro Tsuchiya (Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr-Hunt compilation, Aikatsu! x PriPara scenario writer) as series composer, Yasunari Nitta (Shadowverse Flame) as sub-character designer, Noriko Shimazawa as costume designer, Akio Izutsu (Akuma Kun) as music composer, and Kikuhiko Hayashiya as rakugo supervisor. ZEXCS is handling the animation production.
Meanwhile, the anime’s voice cast includes:
- • Anna Nagase as Akane Osaki
- • Takuya Eguchi as Karashi Nerimaya
- • Rie Takahashi as Hikaru Koragi
- • Tohru Osaki as Shinta Arakawa
- • Nobunaga Shimazaki as Maikeru Arakawa
- • Chiaki Kobayashi as Koguma Arakawa
- • Yohei Azakami as Kyoji Arakawa
- • Seiichiro Yamashita as Guriko Arakawa
- • Akihisa Shiono as Kaisei Arakawa
- • Masaki Terasoma as Shiguma Arakawa
- • Akio Otsuka as Issho Arakawa
Akane-Banashi is streaming in North and South America on the show’s official global YouTube channel. Netflix is streaming the series in several Asian territories and will begin releasing it worldwide on May 17, 2026.
The coming-of-age rakugo manga series is written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue. It began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on February 14, 2022 and has released 21 tankobon volumes in Japan as of April 2026.
VIZ Media licensed the Akane-banashi manga for English release, describing the first volume as:
Shinta Arakawa wants nothing more than to pass his shin’uchi exam — the test that would make him a top-rank headliner and master storyteller in the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. His daughter Akane Osaki is his biggest fan, and even practices the same performances while watching him behind the closed door to his study. When rakugo master Issho Arakawa expels everyone after the exam with no explanation, a fire is lit inside Akane. From that day forth, she has had one goal — to avenge her father and prove his art was worthy of the title of shin’uchi.
Sources: Akane-banashi Official Twitter, Akane-banashi Official YouTube Channel
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