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Descending Stories Vol. 1 Kindle & comiXology

by Haruko Kumota (Author, Artist) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
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THE STAGE IS SET A hapless young man is released from prison with nothing to his name, but he knows exactly what he wants: to train in the art of rakugo comedic storytelling. After seeing an unforgettable performance from one of Japan’s greatest masters, Yakumo Yurakutei VIII, during his time in jail, he will settle for nothing less than to become apprentice to the best. Yakumo, notorious for taking no students, is persuaded to take him on, and nicknames him Yotaro—the fool. Yotaro has no formal training or elegance, but something about his charisma reminds Yakumo of someone from his past.
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  1. Part of Series
    Descending Stories
  2. Print length
    158 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  5. Publisher
    Kodansha Comics
  6. Publication date
    January 17, 2017
  7. Reading age
    16 years and up
  8. File size
    440630 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
  12. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MS2CVS5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kodansha Comics (January 17, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 17, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 440630 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 158 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 62 ratings

About the author

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Matt Alt

Matt Alt

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Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in its suburbs, Matt Alt currently lives in Tokyo with his wife and frequent collaborator Hiroko Yoda. Together they run AltJapan Co., Ltd., a localization company that produces the English translations of Japanese entertainment products such as video games, comic books, toys, and literature.

A longtime co-host of the NHK World TV series Japanology Plus, his writing has appeared in publications including the Japan Times, CNNGo, Wired, The Independent, Slate Magazine, Vice, The Economist 1843, and the New Yorker website.

His newsletter can be found at https://www.pureinventionbook.com/newsletter

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
62 global ratings
Poor care of products by amazon
3 Stars
Poor care of products by amazon
I love the story and the art, good quality too, but I have one problem: you DON'T handle your products carefully, I never had this problem with AmazonMX, not even with purchased items from eBay. I can't even return it back because I don't have the time to go to DHL because of work.
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Top reviews from the United States

Miss Pink Lemonade
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Lessons about Sexism and the Theater, Charming Story!
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2017
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
I was prepared to not enjoy this. In fact, after the first few pages I had this, "Ohhhh man, this is going to be a snore" reaction. (I'm more of a Parasyte, Another, and One Punch Man person ... if you know what I mean.) But, about half way through reading, I realized that I was really enjoying it!

The story simple but charming: a former prisoner seeks refuge and learning in the theater. He becomes the "pet" to the renowned actor/artist Yakumo. At first, he is used for his good-looks (and to carry luggage), but things soon change ... (no spoilers here).

While the story is endearing, there is a strong message concerning the treatment of women. Adult readers may find truly gripping. Earlier in his life, Yakumo took in a female child after her father was killed. Now an adult women, she wishes to perform Rakugo (in tribute to her father). However, both Yakumo and the conventions of the theater do not permit this. Her passion is undeniable and yet she is repeatedly told women cannot perform Rakugo. It is truly compelling to watch this young woman plead her case and be denied repeatedly. In fact, since Rakugo is a dying art, there are implications that the art itself will die before women are permitted entrance into this world.

The writing is superb (I would have never believed I would enjoy a manga about the theater). The artistry is captivating. It's everything I enjoy but didn't know it yet. This volume taught me a lesson ... maybe step out of horror manga once and while.
9 people found this helpful
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TBS
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2017
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
I actually ended up looking at the manga before anything, and I REALLY thought I would not like it after a page or so. It has a specific feel to it that is different, and that difference seems - slow - if you catch this in the wrong mood/at the wrong time. I actually paused because of this at first, only to return at a later time to find that this was much more engrossing than I was expecting.

So not to spoil this, the description that is currently posted: "A hapless young man is released from prison with nothing to his name, but he knows exactly what he wants: to train in the art of rakugo comedic storytelling. After seeing an unforgettable performance from one of Japan's greatest masters, Yakumo Yurakutei VIII, during his time in jail, he will settle for nothing less than to become apprentice to the best. Yakumo, notorious for taking no students, is persuaded to take him on, and nicknames him Yotaro—the fool. Yotaro has no formal training or elegance, but something about his charisma reminds Yakumo of someone from his past."

It is interesting how the anime for this captures certain things better than the manga does, and how the opposite holds true for other items.
Something compelling within that "Showa Genroku Rakugo" did not completely capture in some ways (completely my opinion on this) are specific complexities within some characters. That is not to say that it did not house complexity of character of that it was not good; quite the contrary in fact. There is just something in the written medium that translates well in this, and that I enjoyed the two parts as companions . At the same time, "Showa Genroku Rakugo" actually showcases rakugo, where the manga interestingly leaves this out in some portions or adds its own style here and there. The anime is also artistically beautiful and interesting as well, and the two make something great when taken apart but especially together.
2 people found this helpful
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Kayuga
4.0 out of 5 stars Its not the story, its the telling
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was difficult to get into i think because i have never heard of ragoku before in my life, so i have no connection to the subject matter. It starts out a little slap sticky and light but by the end of the volume the characters and their relationships have really developed.
I reccomend this series if you have enjoyed Ooku, Kaze Hikaru or even Skip beat! Because it is about a performer trying to break into entertaining. However if you are interested in Japanese culture in general i think this series would also interest you.
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auntie mimi
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2017
What a wonderful story. First watched the anime on Chrunchyroll (.com) and fell, head over heels in love.
2 people found this helpful
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Laura Melissa
3.0 out of 5 stars Poor care of products by amazon
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
I love the story and the art, good quality too, but I have one problem: you DON'T handle your products carefully, I never had this problem with AmazonMX, not even with purchased items from eBay. I can't even return it back because I don't have the time to go to DHL because of work.
Customer image
Laura Melissa
3.0 out of 5 stars Poor care of products by amazon
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2019
I love the story and the art, good quality too, but I have one problem: you DON'T handle your products carefully, I never had this problem with AmazonMX, not even with purchased items from eBay. I can't even return it back because I don't have the time to go to DHL because of work.
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2 people found this helpful
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Brandon J. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars A good first foray into Japanese comics
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
Descending Stories is a pretty interesting book. To cut to the chase: Though I had a few moments where I thought the story was a bit weak, by the end I felt inclined to pursue reading the next volume.

This was the first time I've ever read something that reads right-to-left. This looked interesting, and I was looking for an opportunity to read something like this in preparation for checking out a large manga box set that comes out this fall (Akira) that I really want to read. It took me a little while to get used to it, but once I did, I felt comfortable. At the very least, it's fun to get in a different headspace and approach reading from (literally) another angle.

The story follows a character who leaves prison, where he had served time for being in a gang, but then leaves that behind to apprentice under a great Rakugo master. At times, the story seems more like a lecture on the value of preserving this storytelling tradition, so it was odd that at the end there's information about the reality, which is that Rakugo is not in danger of dying out at all. So, the approach to the premise seems odd.

There's also a plot about dead parents, revenge, and accusation that feels a bit forced. Perhaps it will play out nicely in subsequent volumes. But the main story flows well and kept me turning pages. The art strikes me as a bit lazy at times but truly gorgeous at others. I found this fun to read and generally interesting to look at. As my introduction to this medium, I think it was a good choice.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jess
5.0 out of 5 stars Un ottimo Josei
Reviewed in Italy on September 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Le vicende personali dei personaggi si intrecciano a doppio filo con l'arte e la sua importanza: i cambiamenti ai quali le varie figure vanno incontro si muovono di pari passo con i mutamenti che l'arte teatrale di cui sopra, il Rakugo del titolo, si trova a vivere in un'Epoca moderna che, per quanto ancora non lo sappia, ha ancora bisogno di storie e di ottimi cantori.
Il tratto morbido e le linee fini che ritroviamo nei personaggi ben si sposano con i temi trattati.
Il Rakugo la fa da padrone, certo, ma rappresenta anche l'espediente narrativo col quale si dipinge la fragilità umana e l'incertezza verso il futuro.
Vedere questi personaggi affrontare le varie fasi della vita, vedere il loro approccio mutare nel tempo, vederli maturare e cambiare poco a poco, è stato fantastico.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I guarantee if you loved the anime
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
I guarantee if you loved the anime, you will love the manga... every panel is bonafide Art and a masterpiece of a story like this only gets better the second (or third, or forth...) time around!

Huge thanks to Kodansha for translating (and it's a really good translation at that!) this wonderful, heart-wrenching tale so more people can enjoy.
2 people found this helpful
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annano
5.0 out of 5 stars Un manga da avere
Reviewed in Italy on August 18, 2017
Verified Purchase
Per chi ha conosciuto quest'opera tramite la serie animata, il manga riflette fedelmente gli avvenimenti visti nell'anime (anche se bisognerebbe dire il comtrario).
Il tratto della sensei Kumota è più caricaturale e ho molto apprezzato le soluzioni grafiche per trasmettere il "discendere" delle storie. Consigliato.
2 people found this helpful
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