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Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū
Episode 7

by Gabriella Ekens,

How would you rate episode 7 of
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū ?
Community score: 3.3

Note: I made the decision to refer to the main character (alternately called “Bon,” “Kikuhiko,” or “Yakumo”) as Yakumo in the first writeup. At that point, I assumed that this show would alternate between the past and the 1970s timeline, where he is called Yakumo. As that has proved untrue, referring to the character as “Yakumo” – a name that belongs to another character in the past – has become increasingly awkward. As a result, I've made the decision to refer to him by his most commonly used name – Kikuhiko – from now on. This won't change previous write-ups, but it should eliminate some awkwardness going forward.

This episode explored a simple but important emotional development - Miyokichi has begun to realize that Kiku-san is not that into her, but he is suspiciously committed to his best friend, Sukeroku. She begins to understand that Kikuhiko will never love her and has a breakdown. Our two futatsune, meanwhile, continue to advance in their careers. Sukeroku will be promoted to the next level of rakugo performer, shun'ichi. After his creative awakening, Kikuhiko has become much more popular. His master, seeing this, invites him on a regional tour – a great honor. Despite continuing tensions between Sukeroku and the elder rakugo performers, the pair's futures look bright. Together, the two of them plan to lead a new golden age of rakugo. But we already know what will happen instead. Somehow, Sukeroku will die estranged from Kikuhiko, leaving behind a daughter. Kikuhiko will become a bitter recluse. While their lives only seem to be getting better, tragedy looms over Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū. As of this episode, with Miyokichi's revelation, I feel like the guillotine's blade has finally begun to drop.

If this show has a flaw, it's that we're perhaps too entrenched in Kikuhiko's head. Some perspective on why exactly Miyokichi is so enamored of him would be helpful right now. The basics are conveyed well enough – it appears that she's lived a rough life, having at one point survived by becoming Yakumo Sr.'s mistress in Manchuria. The implication is that, while she's reliant on them for her livelihood, she hasn't been around many nice men in her life. Kikuhiko is conscientious, kind, and handsome, making him a glowing exception to that standard, so she fell in love. But without specifics into her psychology, it can be difficult to feel for her. I think one episode rooted in her POV by now would have been a boon. We've spent this entire show mired in Kikuhiko's indifference towards women and attraction to Sukeroku. Miyokichi has only been around for three episodes, so it's realistic that she'd only now be catching on to Kiku-san's tastes. But to us, the possibility of a real relationship between them has been a lost cause since the beginning. There's a dissonance there that's somewhat hampering the storytelling at this point. It's far from terrible, and there's time to make up for her shallow characterization, but it's the difference between making her a tool, a necessary element to disrupt Kikuhiko and Sukeroku's idyllic partnership, and a character that the show cares about beyond that. So far, Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū is solidly a character study of Kikuhiko, but it could have expanded its scope without too much trouble.

There's a scene of Kikuhiko practicing his next rakugo set that's emblematic of the show's nuanced storytelling. He begins, "I was young, even if I loved a girl, I could never tell her. That would pile up in my heart and turn to lovesickness…” In the viewer's mind, this immediately recalls Kikuhiko's unexpressed feelings for Sukeroku, which originated in childhood. Then with a jarring cut to Kikuhiko's back, it continues, “But if you're going to get lovesick, it should be for a beautiful woman.” These lines, which no doubt meant something completely different in their original context, are used here to sum up Kikuhiko's dilemma - that he's been in love with his male best friend since childhood - without representing conscious knowledge on Kikuhiko's part. Instead, the way Kikuhiko lingers on these lines represent his unconscious longing and fear. On some level, he recognizes his feelings, but he's too determined to refuse acknowledging them consciously, because they are taboo and thus inexpressible. Kikuhiko, a man, does not know how to talk about loving another man, even when those feelings are present within him. The depth and manner of Kikuhiko's repression is present even when its subject remains undiscussed, at least in direct dialogue. I wonder when the show will break this silence?

Otherwise the episode was dedicated to quasi-romantic scenes between Kikuhiko and Sukeroku, many involving Miyokichi's awkward reactions to their existence. Miyokichi goes on a “date” with Kikuhiko where they mostly end up talking about Sukeroku. He then declines to go see a movie with her. Kikuhiko picks out a new outfit for Sukeroku and discusses the future with him. Kikuhiko cleans Sukeroku's ears (a stereotypical romantic gesture in Japan). Seeing this, Miyokichi angrily pulls Sukeroku's head off of Kikuhiko's thigh to make room for herself, but Kikuhiko refuses to clean her ears. By the end, Miyokichi seems to have realized that Kikuhiko will always reject her and suffers a breakdown. Next episode, it looks like she'll enter into some sort of confrontation with Sukeroku and Kikuhiko. This episode is the first time in a while that Miyokichi and Sukeroku have had significant interaction, as they bicker over Kikuhiko's time. While it's not the immediate longing Miyokichi felt for Kikuhiko, she doesn't lack chemistry with Sukeroku. I suspect that the confrontation next week will mark a shift towards some sort of romantic relationship between them. She may also try to disrupt their friendship. “Your best friend is in love with you” is a pretty heavy emotional wound to deal with, even outside of a society as homophobic as mid-20th century Japan. Up to this point, Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū has been building up to the disruption of a precarious emotional situation. Now that Miyokichi has been armed with both a weapon (knowledge of Kikuhiko's feelings) and motive (pain at her own rejection) to disrupt it, disaster is bound to strike soon. There are still premonitions of a selfishly-motivated lovers' suicide. Let's see how it pans out.

Grade: A-

Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Gabriella Ekens studies film and literature at a US university. Follow her on twitter.


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