6.024 minSeason 1 • Episode 13
LatestAs the girls come to terms that the show has reached its last episode, a new character appears: an exasperating girl named Uzannu Uzattei. While discussing whether or not "once" is truly enough, Uzannu's personality irritates everyone and threatens the character balance of the show. After the girls drive her away, they visit Akihabara. Later, the girls debate about how some things should be left as they are. Finally, the show ends with one last rakugo performance by Marii.
Joshiraku, abbreviation of joshi rakugo, is a satirical comedy that follows the everyday life of a group of rakugoka girls. A group of girls discuss random things and usually reach an unusual or humorous conclusion that's far from the initial discussion topic.
Writing
Wordplay so dense it requires footnotes; comedy as linguistic gymnastics.
Direction
Mizushima's timing transforms static conversations into visual rhythm.
Acting
Seiyuu chemistry sells rapid-fire banter like they've known each other forever.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Creator Kōji Kumeta also wrote Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, and Joshiraku shares its DNA of despair-as-comedy and visual gags. The rakugo framing was specifically chosen to justify characters sitting still while talking endlessly.
Rakugo itself dates to the 1600s and requires performers to play every character in a story using only voice and minimal props; the show's meta-joke is that these 'apprentices' never actually perform traditional rakugo onscreen.
JP
