Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Because of this, we have dropped the series since it is now getting an official translation.

 

You can read more about the licensing here.

Bummer...

but, I'll just have to be patient for the releases.

Thank you Helvetica for all your work !

To anyone wondering where our releases went, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu was just recently licensed by Kodansha Comics. Because of this, we have dropped the series since it is now getting an official translation.

You can read more about the licensing here.

I agree with you for the most part. But you're basically agreeing that his rejection of female rakugo players has largely to do with his gender identity and his role/relation to Rakugo, not necessarily his sexual orientation.

I don't see that the distinction is relevant to what's going on.  It has largely to do with whatever about him is proscribed by wider society's mores (and that he therefore feels guilty about).  Sexual orientation would certainly be one of those, and probably the core one.  I don't think circa WW II Japan had a whole bunch of oppression and disapproval reserved specifically for gender identity as opposed to homosexuality. 

To anyone who's curious as to why chapters have become thin in numbers, it's because we're short on staff.

Until we're able to find a cleaner who can help us with our scanned raws, sadly expect the chapters to be a bit sparse.

That all seems very reasonable to me.  But you think it has nothing to do with his romantic/sexual preferences?

Spoiler

He's all about preserving tradition, while his identity itself violates traditional morals.  And his Rakugo gets its power from his exploration of the female roles, allowing him to express a side of himself that society and tradition repress.  It might be argued that he's so gung ho about tradition as a way of making up for the fact that his most essential self constitutes a rebellion (and contrariwise, the other guy could rebel because in many ways he's inherently so traditional:  A masculine, hard-drinking Japanese guy, part of society's mainstream).  And so there he is, acting as the gatekeeper to keep out other people whose identity violates tradition, the one using Rakugo to express his femininity rejecting the actually feminine.  You might almost say he'd keep himself out if he could, to make up for the crime of being himself.

I doubt his romantic/sexual preferences has anything to do with Yakumo resisting the idea of a female Rakugo performer.

Spoiler

As more chapters come to be released you'll understand that Yakumo himself has always been about preserving tradition. One of the reason why his social standing in the Rakugo society (later) far outweights Sukeroku is precisely because he appeals to the more senior members by doing exactly what has always been pass down, or what they know Rakugo to be of. Tradition. I think in some sense following this tradition and culture is a quintessential part of him. Its also how he expresses his art through Rakugo. If you wanna dig in deeper I think part of his whole idea in following gender tradition also drives to the fact that he couldn't be " a part" in the geisha community precisely because he was a male. I suppose he feels, probably subconsciously on his part- that finally there was Rakugo - a medium for him to explore without any gender restrictions. A place/art where he could express himself prefectly as a man. Something he wasn't allowed to do before while he was living with the Geisha.

That all seems very reasonable to me.  But you think it has nothing to do with his romantic/sexual preferences?

(Although, it does make it an interestingly, yet realistically, stupid/perverse thing for him to be so "Only men can do rakugo, no transgression on gender roles shall be allowed, harrumph")

Ah.  Well, then.  If that's how it works out, that's how it works out.  I'm kind of disappointed though--this generally seems very innovative and closeted gay is such a hackneyed development.
(Although, it does make it an interestingly, yet realistically, stupid/perverse thing for him to be so "Only men can do rakugo, no transgression on gender roles shall be allowed, harrumph")

I'm finding Miyokichi a little more sympathetic in the manga somehow.

Spoiler

He has no interest in her and doesn't know how to deal with it. Later in the story we will see how he is incapable of making his stance clear with Miyokichi until the last moment, letting more and more misunderstandings arise and finally drop her in the worst way. He isn't proper at all.

Ah.  Well, then.  If that's how it works out, that's how it works out.  I'm kind of disappointed though--this generally seems very innovative and closeted gay is such a hackneyed development.
(Although, it does make it an interestingly, yet realistically, stupid/perverse thing for him to be so "Only men can do rakugo, no transgression on gender roles shall be allowed, harrumph")

hey guys, did you like the blooper reel and would you like to see more in future releases?

Sigh.  He's proper.  Back then, it was a legit way for people to be.

Sigh.  He's proper.  Back then, it was a legit way for people to be.

I'm just assuming. Because in chapter 4 (if i'm not mistaken) he said he hope to be born as a woman. I thought it's just because he from geisha? family. But his expression seems more. And... there's triangle love story..

Is yakumo gay?

Sigh.  He's proper.  Back then, it was a legit way for people to be.

Is yakumo gay?

Apologies to anyone if they notice a drop in quality. Our typesetters were both gone this week, so we had to fill in someone else to do their work

Regardless, enjoy the chapter!

Edit: The chapter is being updated with fixes

Absolutely! I almost feel the sounds in some pages, and the fonts you use ease to enjoy the change of the context. Anyway, the story is touching although quite melancholic at this point. Thanks a lot Helvetica!

Thanks! Our typesetters are flattered~

It's really difficult to find the right font for a lot of situations, but they do a fantastic job.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter this week!

Oooooooookay. Here we frickin' go.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter this week!
 

I have really been enjoying reading this as a manga. I loved the anime but this is somehow different. I'm so glad it finally got picked up! Thank you Helvetica!

Can someone spoil the infidelity, love triangle/s, and pregnancy tags on MU for me? Not looking for another Nana where the good guy gets shafted.

Hope you all enjoy chapter 5! This appears as the last chapter of the current arc, so get ready for a real trip.
 
Give Ecchan a round of applause too! Quality may seem a tad different, but I let him quality check this chapter to get his new job rolling.