a.k.a. like father, like daughter?

When Aiko walked into her schoolroom, a line of children stood in her way. "Your father is Shigeru Mizuki!" "He's famous!" The girls giggled. "Why didn't you say?" "Can I come to your house?" Aiko pushed past them to her desk.
( school bells... )

That rakugo show that I really liked? There was a little teaser on at lunchtime.  7/25, 8 pm, there's going to be a new show. Looked like they are taking the three men -- Sogen, Shiso, and Kosojyaku -- and putting them into a spinoff. Not sure if this is a one night stand or continuing show, but I'm looking forward to it.

I think they shouldn't have told us it would be a grand finale. It was good, make no mistake about that, but . . . it didn't feel quite like a grand finale to me. It did have some very interesting stylistic points. For example instead of the bouncy theme music and background pictures with credits that we've gotten used to, this started with slow ( Read more... )

That rakugo show - Chiritotechin - is having its final week now. And I am a bit concerned that the rumors of a grand finale may be a bit too enthusiastic.

So far this week, at least, things aren't quite that grand. Good, solid episodes, although a bit fluffy, but . . .
( The spots . . . )

This was the next-to-the-last week (3/24-29 will be the last week!), and I'm afraid it was kind of floppy ( Read more... )

just a quick overview of last week (3/10-15). It was actually fairly important, developing the character of Kosojyaku a bit, setting up a crisis over who will continue the name of Sojyaku, and with a fun twist on the poor uncle . . . but there were a couple of days that felt as if they were stretching things out to fill time.
( Stuff and nonsense )

Last week's rakugo show was pretty interesting. That would be March 3 to 8. The focus was the first student (Yusuke) who is a liar, and his first kosa (public performance). Along the way, they worked on what the heck little brother is doing, and set up this week's crisis (but subtly!).
( Piles of details . . . )

NHK BS 3 (the high-vision channel here in Kansai) is holding a rakugo special today. From high noon until 6, then from 7 to 11 - 10 hours of rakugo.

Someone asked in mail about the rakugo piece I'm writing. Just in case anyone else is confused, I'm not writing an original rakugo piece. The blog entries are all based on the NHK show being presented right now on NHK called Chiritotechin. There are quite a few blog entries around in Japanese about the show, but I guess I'm one of the few writing ( Read more... )

Okay, let's catch up a bit.

Friday, and a chunk of Saturday, were background. We finally heard the story of why Ako's father left the little chopstick painting craftshop and built a factory, and why Grandma has been so angry with him - with a very special resolution.
( Details for the hobgoblin of small minds . . . )