#taizen arakawa

[shysheeperz]

[miminmimikyu]

did not have it on my cards that taizen arakawa would win cutest most adorable akane banashi character in my heart

(akane is disqualified from this contest because she would sweep everyone off the board)

[sebbyisland]

The dilemma is Akane having too much nin while her dad didn't have enough nin in his performance. They both receive help from each other in the audience. Shinta prevailed because he remembered his inspiration, his family, and that he wants to be a role model for his daughter. Akane, on the other hand, was given a gentle flick to her forehead. “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” the way a parent might tell a child it's time to put away their toys. A deliberate intervention. She was very insanely lucky her dad was there.

This arc has continuously emphasized gambles and luck. We see Akane was very lucky this time around. Her newest mentor figure and her dad are both friends with Taizen. She ended up not actually doing a one-on-one gambling round with ChoCho because they just so happened ran out of time. She bet correctly on the gambling round with the other Zenza for a stupid reason that had nothing to do with reality. In this performance, where the biggest thing that would make-or-break her was if she’d remain within her time block, she pulled it off down to the very last second. That this entire arc has been repeatedly referred to as a “big gamble.” That the animal she associates with is the Tanuki, known to be a trickster and indulgent in fun. That she develops her ‘Rakugo zoo” through Tanuki-centric stories. The narrative is pushing her to move forward, to develop her nin and develop her connection to her rakugo mentors.  To keep growing in the way that her dad couldn’t. Being promoted to Futatsume is the accumulation of her drive to keep moving truly No Matter The Unlucky Odds, which is very shonen-protagonist of her.

And as for Taizen, who is ashamed of himself despite graduating to Shinuchi status…his inner conflict is respecting his master over his artistic principles. And his guilt over Shinta Arakawa’s expulsion, which was fortunately already addressed by Shinta himself. If he only saw Akane through his guilt for Shinta, he would never recommend her because he wouldn’t be able to acknowledge her art as her own. Which would be a shame, because Akane Arakawa is a rakugoka who is so young but still so fully dedicated in her artistic principles and ready to rise to the challenge…ready to make a gamble!

How could he NOT feel inspired by Akane? To make his own wager instead of staying within the boundaries set up by his master? To make a decision based on HIS values, how HE appreciates Akane’s willingness to get a little reckless with her own future? I fully believe he will give Akane his recommendation. If I'm wrong ....well I'll accept it but I'm pretty confident here.

[shysheeperz]

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