Akane-banashi Season 2 will premiere in January 2027 at studio ZEXCS, adapting the Apprentice Training Arc with six new voice cast additions.
Akane-banashi will return for a second season in January 2027. Studio ZEXCS is back at the helm for the continuation, which adapts the manga's Apprentice Training Arc and introduces six new cast members to the rakugo-themed series.
The freshly announced voice cast brings a roster of veteran talent to Akane-banashi's expanding world of competitive rakugo. Hochu Otsuka joins the series as Miroku Kashiwaya, while Ryotaro Okiayu takes on the role of Shomei Tsubakiya. Veteran actor Hiroshi Naka voices Enso Sanmeitei, and Mutsumi Tamura plays Urara Ransaika. Rounding out the additions, Shinichiro Miki portrays Ryu'un Kenputei and Tomokazu Seki voices Chocho Konjakutei.
The casting choices reflect the story's shift into the professional rakugo world, where Akane will encounter a new generation of mentors, rivals, and peers on her path to mastering the traditional Japanese storytelling art.
Season 2 picks up after Akane graduates from high school and officially becomes an apprentice of Shiguma Arakawa. Taking the professional name Akane Arakawa, she begins her journey as a full-fledged rakugoka a significant leap from the amateur competitions that defined much of the first season.
The Apprentice Training Arc in the original manga by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue, serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, follows Akane as she navigates the grueling hierarchy and traditions of the rakugo world from the inside. The arc introduces the characters now cast with the six newly announced voice actors, each playing a distinct role in Akane's development as a performer.
ZEXCS produced the first season, which aired during the Summer 2025 season. Director Ayumu Watanabe is expected to return alongside character designer Kii Tanaka, series composer Michihiro Tsuchiya, and music composer Akio Izutsu. The core creative team guided the first season to positive reception, with praise directed at its authentic depiction of rakugo performance and its vibrant character animation during storytelling sequences.
The anime's first season adapted the early arcs of the manga, covering Akane's introduction to rakugo through her father's disgraced career and her determination to challenge the rakugo establishment that cast him aside.
The first season of Akane-banashi is available on Netflix with both English subtitles and an English dub. The series also streams on YouTube in North America and Latin America, alongside availability through international services including ADN and Ani-One across Europe and Asia. Season 2's streaming distribution has not yet been finalized, though a similar global rollout is anticipated given the existing licensing arrangements.
With a January 2027 premiere window, Akane-banashi Season 2 is positioned in the Winter 2027 anime season. Further details on the returning cast, opening and ending themes, and an exact premiere date are expected in the months ahead.
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