Akane-banashi Season 2 Coming in 2027: New Cast and 'Zenza Shugyō-hen' Release Date Announced
The second season of the anime adaptation of Shonen Jump's beloved rakugo-themed manga Akane-banashi has been officially announced. According to sources in Japan, the new season, subtitled "Zenza Shugyō-hen" (Apprenticeship Arc), will begin airing in January 2027 on TV Asahi's IMAnimation block and BS Asahi. Along with the announcement, six new voice actors, a promotional video, and a special celebratory illustration by character designer Kinue Tanaka were also shared.
In the new season, Akane Osaki's journey to become a rakugo master accelerates. Unlike the first season, which only featured voice actors for the main characters, this time legendary voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka (known for his roles as Jiraiya in Naruto and Whitebeard in One Piece) joins the cast. He will voice the mysterious rakugo master Shōzō Kaisei. Other new cast members include Rie Kugimiya (Kanzashi), Junichi Suwabe (Ichimatsu), Suzuko Mimori (Chigiri), and more. These names will voice the apprentices and masters that Akane will encounter in the new arc of the story.
Akane-banashi is a shōnen manga written by Yūki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Mō. The series began in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2022 and quickly gained attention for its unique deep dive into the world of rakugo and impressive character development. The first season aired in April 2025 and received positive feedback from both critics and viewers. In particular, the motif of Akane Osaki challenging the master Shigeki Arakawa, who ruined her father's rakugo career, gives the series an emotional foundation.
The story of the second season will focus on the "Zenza Shugyō" (apprenticeship) arc from the manga. Akane will learn the intricacies of rakugo while trying to find her own style by working under various masters. Although the anime studio has not been officially announced yet, it is known that the first season was produced by Studio Fūga. The series' producers said they chose to keep the planning phase long to improve quality by 2027.
This news is great news for anime fans, especially those interested in the art of rakugo. Having blended traditional Japanese storytelling with a modern shōnen story in the first season, the production seems set to delve deeper into the characters in the second season. The countdown has begun; let's mark our calendars to witness Akane's apprenticeship days in January 2027. New cast announcements and trailers may come in the coming months; stay tuned!
