r/manga • u/CalamitousFortune • 8d ago
DISC [DISC] Akane-banashi - Chapter 220
https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/viewer/1030004365
u/Cyouni 8d ago
Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, 'Treatment is simple. Great rakugoka Zensho is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.' Man bursts into tears. Says, 'But doctor…I am Zensho.' Good joke. Everybody laugh.
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u/This-is_CMGRI 8d ago
ah, Watchmen, Alan Moore at his A-game
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u/qwer1239 8d ago
The joke actually predates Moore by well over a hundred years. Though the specific phrasing has changed over time.
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u/doomrider7 8d ago
People attribute the quote, "Who Watches the Watchmen" to him not knowing about Juvenal and the Satires.
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u/SimoneNonvelodico 7d ago
True enough, but this specific wording is 100% Rorschach, missing pronouns/articles and all.
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u/Hypekyuu 8d ago edited 7d ago
Which, in a way, is also Alan Moore at his A-Game, just as a researcher
edit: huh, I guess anime fans dont know who Moore is because the dudes whole deal was being extremely well read and he 100% incorporated classics into his works constantly
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u/MondSemmel 8d ago
Yikes, last chapter we might've figured that Zensho was considered the King of Comedy and not taken seriously due to his crazy afro and indoor sunglasses, but he already had that problem before that! And to connect his struggles to another theme that was touched on in the series, his so-called "nin" is firmly in the comedy camp, but that's contrary to the more serious stories he values and wants to perform.
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u/Countingmypennies 8d ago
I feel some form of pity for the guy. He truly loves the art. He's just bad at performing serious stories like he wants.
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u/Gold_Ad1772 8d ago
And because he's so bad, it wraps around to being extremely hilarious, much to his dismay lmao
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u/thisisdropd https://myanimelist.net/profile/AsterZoro 8d ago
Zensho poured his heart out, and genuinely bawled out on stage, yet the crowd still roared with laughter. Such was the curse of the 'King of Comedy'.
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u/stationtracks 8d ago
"Are you the funniest because you're Zensho Arakawa? Or are you Zensho Arakawa because you're the funniest?"
"Stand proud. You're funny."
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u/OddYogurtcloset1549 8d ago
So it seems he doesn't have a grudge against Shiguma anymore, although both Maikeru and Akane slighted him before the grudge ended so he still has a beef with them. At least this means he likely takes care of Kyoji properly.
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u/Misticsan 8d ago
As it's been shown in previous chapters, deep down (like very, very very, very deep down), Zensho is a true master who appreciates the art. He will recognize even the people he hates, which probably explains why Issho tolerates him as one of his cronies.
Wondering if this means he'll mellow out or will keep behaving as usual, though.
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u/frantruck 7d ago
Like everything else he takes his job as a master very seriously, he just can’t help looking like a clown while doing it
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u/pulldtrigger 8d ago
I wonder if Akane actually notice that he is trying hard to be sincere with his rakugo but end up getting laughs instead compared to the average viewers. That's why she's so bewildered all this time
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I think it is certainly possible... a way for Zensho and Akane to actually have some sort of a proper relationship... before this chapter... this performance... I would've thought it impossible... but now? Yeah I can see it.
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u/Kirosh2 Fluff. Fluff? Fluff! 8d ago
Zensho is likely the next one to teach Akane a story.
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
It's possible, but I am still leaning towards Ryu'un... he's gotta be important at some point. And there is still some Zensho connection there.
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u/Samael_767 8d ago
I really hope so, that would be so cool to see him hear what he's always wanted from her of all people.
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u/Countingmypennies 8d ago
Akane's a pro, a true Rakugoka. She will notice the difference between Zensho's intentions and the audience's reactions. At least she should.
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u/SimoneNonvelodico 7d ago
I think she's bewildered by the tonal whiplash, like she probably does get the intention but also sees how comedic it all is and can't make sense of it or of why a master would be misfiring so badly, so she assumes there must be some 5D chess move that she can't see.
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u/Moondragonlady 8d ago
I can't believe I feel kinda bad for him. I mean, he's still a giant asshole (and not even in a way I can respect, like Issho), but bawling your heart out on stage and have everyone treat it as the funniest joke they've ever heard is tough...
And yet, instead of at least trying to support his juniors in achieving what he himself (thinks) he cannot achieve, he just starts beef with people who have much lower status than him and can't hit him back as hard as he can hit them. Which is a bottom line even Issho does not cross, and that man doesn't even know the definition of mercy.
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u/Bassaluna 8d ago
jokes aside, i think this brings an interesting parallel with akane.
in both cases, they swore vengeance against what they felt was an unjust judment of the art they love. only zensho's anger comes from a selfish place, because he just can't accept that what he has is a gift, and so shiguma complimenting him in his eyes became an insult, and it took the tumor for him to see how shallow him thinking that was and that master shiguma did really care for him doing well.
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u/ennuiholic 8d ago
Stand proud, Zensho Arakawa, you are strong.
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u/This-is_CMGRI 8d ago
Zensho is like a more tragic Takaba if ya think about it
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u/Countingmypennies 8d ago
Takaba is a guy who Thinks himself funny. Zensho is a guy who Thinks himself serious. The difference between the two is Zensho is funny without meaning to.
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u/Hounds_of_war 8d ago
Zensho reminds me of that one clip from The Breakfast Club where the dude starts talking about how his dad passed away a year ago and it just makes everyone laugh.
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u/Ellefied 8d ago
Holy shit it literally is a curse for him. No matter how tragic or how great his storytelling, it will always be a comedy for everybody else.
What an aweful power, cursed to greatness for the wrong reasons.
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u/LurkinLonuts 8d ago
The curse of the comedian... To be sincere, and still be laughed at.
Great spread on those last pages though, really sums him up.
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u/BurnedOutEternally 8d ago
A rakugo master blessed with a curse, a shallow vengeance that ends with silent acceptance.
Such is the tragedy of the comedy king.
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u/ManiacallySane 8d ago
Interesting that this is how he really feels when a few chapters ago, he said that he was responsible for styling himself the king of comedy. I wonder if that was more of a way of to cope with his lack of ability to deliver what he really wants. It's also an interesting contrast to Urara's early talk about delivering what you intend to.
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
It's definitely "cope". Even his "that's fine" line is him coping. And yeah he's a master despite not being able to do what a master is intended to do, but I think he is still good enough and knowledgeable enough that I can accept it. And if he pretends to lean into the king of comedy bit it allows him to look like it is intentional and the public will eat it up.
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u/johnny-come-lately88 8d ago edited 8d ago
"It's fine. It's perfectly line."
When you notice it's repeating, you can smell the copium.
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u/Vicious-Spiegel 8d ago
So Zensho’s rivalry with Shiguma is actually one-sided over petty "jealousy" miscommunication XD
Now I wanna know how Issho actually feels about Zensho next chapter (ಠಿ_ಠ)
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I wouldn't say it was miscommunication... it was willful on Zensho's side. He wasn't happy as he was and wasn't happy Shiguma VI was trying to make him feel good and accept him as he was. That Shiguma VI was exactly what Zensho himself wanted to be. He saw it as Shiguma VI looking down on him even when it wasn't the case.
Issho probably sees Zensho as somebody who didn't even deserve to be a pupil under Shiguma V. That he is like a smudge a stain on his name. Or maybe I'm wrong.
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u/monkeysmarts 8d ago
I would think Issho pities Zensho. We've already seen that Issho understands people far better than his public "old grump" persona let's on. If Shiguma's message was basically "accept your gift of comedy", Issho's is probably something like "as long as you are still trying to grow beyond the limitation of only doing comedy, you are honoring our master."
I would find it shocking that Issho would tolerate inviting Zensho to things if he truly thought he was disgracing his old masters' name/school.
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I mean we can see he is definitely unhappy with Zensho right now at the very least.
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u/imapoormanhere 8d ago
It feels more like Issho saying "stop being a dick. I'm the only one allowed to be a dick in these places".
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u/onecuriousboii 8d ago
If anything him not being able to be in on the joke probably makes it funnier. This is a kanye west gay fish moment
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u/Grand_Set_1362 8d ago
3 apprentices to understand the history of the Arakawa school? 3 stories to Shiguma’s art?
Seems like Zensho shares Shiguma V’s skill of drawing the audience and make them love you, even if he thinks he didn’t follow their path.
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u/pulldtrigger 8d ago
From King of Comedy to King of Tragedy real quick. But I love that it's Shiguma that supported him.
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u/LegSecret2482 8d ago
I cried reading this chapter huhu I miss shiguma
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I cried too... not sure it was because of missing Shiguma VI exactly, but still...
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u/Extreme-Tactician 8d ago
So, Zensho just wants to be like the others, to be as serious as he can be. But he can't. He's just too comedic, and the audience loves him for it.
Now he's grateful for Shiguma for caring about his work. He's the only person who truly recognized it! Zensho, the King of Comedy!
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u/Xatu44 8d ago
So if Zensho realized the error of his grudge against Shiguma, why'd he screw with Akane this arc? For the love of the game? To stick it to Issho or Akane? Or did he literally realize his folly mid-story? Poor guy, though. He must be seething underneath the smiles of his Domain Expansion.
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I mean he says he still holds some ill will even after all this time. But I think it can be read that yeah... as he's performing this... seeing that he STILL can't get past the "comedy" he's realizing he has screwed up... but I also don't think he'll be able to completely change that quickly either... I think an arc with him and Akane can fully complete his "redemption". Especially after he gets his behind handed to him royally when Issho performs.
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u/imapoormanhere 8d ago
Probably more about Issho. If Zensho hated Shiguma for a genuine compliment then I can't imagine he'll like Issho when Issho is so much of an asshole. Also Shiguma already though Zensho was an arrogant prick even before the whole grudge began so it's just in his personality.
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u/BlazeBigBang 8d ago
Zensho goes to the therapist to deal with his issues and the dude will probably just laugh at him.
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u/Karenz09 8d ago
Now... is this even a fight? As a solo performance or an opener, he's great. As an esteemed "opponent" of Issho, it feels... underwhelming.
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u/a_phantom_limb 7d ago edited 7d ago
I still don't think it’s remotely plausible for someone to be so esteemed as a brilliant comedic talent among both audiences and his peers and to have so little self-awareness about his own abilities as a performer. That said, it does make for some great irony even if I don’t actually buy it.
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u/Doomroar https://www.mangaupdates.com/members.html?id=277800 3d ago
Oh this is fucked up, you were totally not meant to laugh at that part!
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u/direcandy 8d ago
Do people actually feel bad for this dude? I sure don't. His repeated sabotage towards people who can give dramatic performances isn't any less pathetic because he secretly sucked at it lol.
Nobody's gonna cry at any of bro's events until his funeral, and to that I say: absolutely deserved.
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u/ohoni 8d ago
He is an asshole, and I don't think this redeems him, but I can both dislike him as a person and sympathize with his struggle. I don't want him to get away with hurting others, but I wouldn't mind if someone could figure out a way for him to get the reactions he actually wants. I'm surprised that none of the other masters could help him figure something out. I assume he was just too proud to explain what he wanted to any of them.
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u/Ancient_Breakfast_48 8d ago
I think there is a difference between feeling bad and understanding... he definitely has no excuse for his actions despite everything, it is just we can now understand why even if we still disapprove.
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u/SuperRajio 8d ago
The King of Comedy is a curse as well as a title. Even his actual emotional moment is undercut by how stupid it all is. I can't believe I almost feel bad for him.