Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (Original Japanese Version)

After ten years' apprenticeship to the eighth generation Yakumo, Yotaro has finally achieved the rank of shin'uchi and taken on the name "Sukeroku," after his master's fellow student and Konatsu's father.

A magazine has exposed Yotaro's past as a former convict and member of the yakuza, plunging the rakugo world into scandal and sullying Yotaro's name.

Consumed by concerns over not finding his own rakugo, as well as harboring doubts about the relationship between Konatsu and a local gang boss, Yotaro lets off steam by performing the rant from "Daiku Shirabe."

As far as Shinnosuke is concerned, Yotaro is his beloved father, and now that he's become a popular storyteller, Yotaro is even appearing on TV shows.

Hearing Yakumo's "Inokori" blasts the doubt from Yotaro's mind, and spurs his sudden rise to fame. Now, he himself is to perform that story in two months' time at a family show with Yakumo.

While performing "Hangon-ko," Yakumo passed out and dreamed of being in a hall of candles, being strangled by the Second Generation Sukeroku. Yotaro's voice brings him back to consciousness, but he won't be getting back on stage.

A 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 also quits as president of the Rakugo Association, and gives Matsuda more free time.

Mangetsu has returned to Kyoto-style rakugo, and Yotaro is taking on apprentices. Triggered by Yakumo's desire to quit, everyone is trying to find ways to preserve rakugo and Yakumo's own style of it.

As 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 anywhere.

The 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 now.

Yakumo 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 Sukeroku once more, who told him that he had arrived at the Sanzu River.

Fifteen 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.