"Akane-banashi": Second Season with "Maeza-Shugyo Arc" Starts in January 2027

The second season of the anime adaptation of "Akane-banashi" has been officially confirmed. It will air on Japanese television starting January 2027 – in the IMAnimation programming block on TV Asahi (24 stations nationwide) as well as on BS Asahi. The new season adapts the "Maeza-Shugyo Arc" (preparatory training), in which the protagonist Akane, after graduating from school, officially enters the world of professional Rakugo as a student of Shiguma Arakawa and takes the stage name "Akane Arakawa."

With the announcement, the voice actors for the new characters, who first appeared in the final episode of the first season, were also revealed. Yoshitada Otsuka lends his voice to the living national treasure Kashiwaya Sanroku, Ryotaro Okiayu voices the master Tsubakiya Masaaki. Hiroshi Naka takes on the role of the old master Sanmeitei Enso, Mutsumi Tamura the glamorous Ransai Urara, Shinichiro Miki the stormy Kenputeitei Ryuun, and Tomokazu Seki the humorous Konjakutei Chocho. All six performers contributed accompanying comments expressing their excitement for the new roles.

Alongside the second season, character designer and chief animation director Norie Tanaka released a special congratulatory illustration sheet showing Akane together with her rivals Karashi and Hikaru from the student competition "Karaku Cup."

Even before the start of the second season, fans can experience live performances by main voice actress Anna Nagase (as Akane) alongside professional Rakugo artists under the direction of Kikuhiko Hayashiya (the series' Rakugo supervisor). The event "TV Anime 'Akane-banashi' Suehirotei Late-Night-Rakugo-Show" will take place on August 9, 2026, at the historic Suehirotei in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Further details about tickets will be announced later.

The series is based on the manga of the same name by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue, which has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since February 2022 and has received numerous awards – including 2nd place in the "Manga Taisho 2023" and 3rd place in the "Next Manga Awards 2022." The first season aired from April to June 2026 and received positive feedback for the lifelike portrayal of Rakugo by the voice actors.

Production continues to be handled by Studio ZEXCS. Direction is by Ayumu Watanabe, series composition by Michihiro Tsuchiya, and music composed by Akio Izutsu. The opening and ending songs for both seasons are contributed by Keisuke Kuwata.