Descending Stories – Watch online: seasons and episodes

• Specials
• Season 1
• Season 2

S02E0126:541. Episode 1January 7, 2017After ten years' apprenticeship to the eight generation Yakumo, Yotarou has finally achieved the rank of shin'uchi and taken on the name "Sukeroku," after his master's…

S02E0226:402. Episode 2January 14, 2017A magazine has exposed Yotarou's past as a former convict and member of the yakuza, plunging the rakugo world into scandal and sullying Yotarou's name. Although he…

S02E0326:543. Episode 3January 21, 2017Consumed by concerns over not finding his own rakugo, as well as harboring doubts about the relationship between Konatsu and a local gang boss, Yotarou lets off steam by…

S02E0426:214. Episode 4January 28, 2017As far as Shinnosuke is concerned, Yotarou is his beloved father, and now that he's become a popular storyteller, Yotarou is even appearing on TV shows. After he…

S02E0526:475. Episode 5February 4, 2017Hearing Yakumo's "Inokori" blasts the doubt from Yotarou's mind, and spurs his sudden rise to fame. Now, he himself is to perform that story in two months' time at a…

S02E0626:096. Episode 6February 11, 2017While performing "Hangon-ko," Yakumo passed out and dreamed of being in a hall of candles, being strangled by the Second Generation Sukeroku. Yotarou's voice brings him…

S02E0727:597. Episode 7February 18, 2017A week after his collapse on stage, Yakumo finally awakens. But the light inside him has faded, and when he speaks next, he declares that he won't do rakugo anymore. He…

S02E0826:068. Episode 8February 25, 2017Mangetsu has returned to Kyoto-style rakugo, and Yotarou is taking on apprentices. Triggered by Yakumo's desire to quit, everyone is trying to find ways to preserve…

S02E0926:449. Episode 9March 4, 2017As eras change, one thing remains rock solid. To Yotaro, that's Yakumo. After being inspired by the "Shinigami" he heard from him in prison, he decided he'd follow him…

S02E1026:5410. Episode 10March 11, 2017The Uchikutei caught fire after the performance, and Yakumo, who was alone there, was badly burned. Though he has managed to survive, his comeback will be more difficult…

S02E1126:0811. Episode 11March 18, 2017Yakumo was listening to Yotaro's rakugo on the porch with Konatsu when he suddenly found himself lost on a scaffolding of candles. There, he met the Second Generation…

S02E1226:3812. Episode 12March 25, 2017Fifteen years have passed since that fateful day. Yotaro and Konatsu's children are growing up: Shinnosuke is a futatsume, and Koyuki has entered high school. Those who…

Descending Stories synopsis

When a certain man is released from prison, he knows exactly where he's heading first. After falling in love with a traditional comic storyteller's rendition of the story called "Shinigami," he is determined to become his apprentice. The performer, Yakumo, has never taken an apprentice before, but to everyone's surprise, he accepts the eager ex-prisoner, nicknaming him "Yotaro." As Yotaro happily begins his new life, he meets others in Yakumo's life, including Yakumo's ward Konatsu. Konatsu was the daughter of a famous storyteller, and Yakumo took her in after her father's tragic death. Konatsu loved her father's storytelling, and would love to become a performer in her own right—but that path is not available for women.

Descending Stories cast

Tomokazu SekiYotarou (voice) · 25 ep.Koichi YamaderaSukeroku Yuurakutei (voice) · 25 ep.Akira IshidaYakumo Yuurakutei (voice) · 25 ep.Kappei YamaguchiAmaken (voice) · 25 ep.Megumi HayashibaraMiyokichi (voice) · 25 ep.Yu KobayashiKonatsu (voice) · 25 ep.Toshihiko SekiEisuke Higuchi (voice) · 25 ep.Shigeru UshiyamaMatsuda (voice) · 25 ep.Koji YusaMangetsu Tsuburaya (voice) · 25 ep.Sanae KobayashiYakumo Yuurakutei (young) (voice) · 13 ep.Ayaka AsaiKoyuki (voice) · 12 ep.Mikako KomatsuShinnosuke (voice) · 12 ep.Yuki OnoShinnosuke (adult) (voice) · 12 ep.

Descending Stories trailer