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Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū TV Anime's Video Previews Opening Song

The official website of the television anime of Haruko Kumota's historical manga Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (Shōwa Genroku Era Comic Storytelling) began streaming the anime's third promotional video on Tuesday. The video previews the anime's opening theme "Usurahi Shinjū" by Megumi Hayashibara.

In addition, the staff of the anime will hold a theatrical screening of the "director's cut" of the OAD episodes bundled with the manga's seventh and eighth volumes. The director's cut will bring together both episodes into a continuous video. The director's cut will screen in Shinjuku Cinemart in Tokyo from December 26 to January 8 (with a break in December 30 and January 1), and in Cinemart Shinsaibashi in Osakafrom January 2 to January 8.

The anime will premiere on January 8.

The anime's first story revolves around a mature prisoner who was released on good behavior during Japan's Showa Genroku era (1960s to early 1970s). He is called Yotarō by others, a term that means an "anti-hero" or a "dim-witted man." When he returns to society, he starts a new life in rakugo (comic storytelling). Touched by Yakumo's role as the "grim reaper," he asks the master to take him in as an apprentice.

The anime's first episode will air as a one-hour special titled "Yotarō Hōrō-hen" (Yotarō Wandering), depicting Yotarō, recently released from prison, seeking apprenticeship under Yakumo Yūrakutei. The second episode will be titled "Yakumo to Sukeroku-hen" (Yakumo and Sukeroku).

The website previously streamed the anime's first promotional video in October, and the second video in November.

The anime's staff held an event in the Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya Public Hall on December 12. The event screened the anime's first episode, and featured a talk show event with the cast.

The announced cast includes:

• Tomokazu Seki as Yotarō
• Kouichi Yamadera as Sukeroku
• Akira Ishida as Kikuhiko (Eighth Generation Yakumo Yūrakutei)
• Yū Kobayashi as Konatsu
• Megumi Hayashibara as Miyokichi
• Hiroshi Yanaka as Seventh Generation Yakumo Yūrakutei
• Shigeru Ushiyama as Matsuda
• Chafūrin as Master Bansai
• Kōji Yusa as Mangetsu-niisan
• Kappei Yamaguchi as Amaken
• Yasuyuki Kase as Yakuza Brother
• Shou Sudou as Ani-san
• Shinpei Hayashiya as Master Nekosuke

Seki, Ishida, and Kobayashi reprise their roles from the OAD episodes bundled with the manga.

The anime's staff includes:

• Director: Mamoru Hatakeyama
• Series Composition: Jun Kumagai
• Character Design: Mieko Hosoi
• Rakugo Supervision: Shinpei Hayashiya
• Color Key: Hitomi Sano
• Director of Photography: Shigemitsu Hamao
• Music: Kana Shibue
• Music Production: Starchild Records
• Sound Director: Kouji Tsujitani
• Sound Production: Dax Production
• Animation Production: Studio DEEN

Kumota began the manga in ITAN in 2010, and the series received the "Best General Manga" prize at the 38th Kodansha Manga Awards, and was also honored with the Excellence Award at the 17th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards. The manga was also nominated for the 17th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013.

Sources: Comic Natalie, MoCa News