My Master Has No Tail

The Taishou era marked the decline of the tanuki’s mischief. These shape-shifting raccoon dogs once delighted in tricking humans, but modern technology made their pranks obsolete. Still, Mameda, a young tanuki girl, refuses to abandon the tradition. Determined to follow her father’s path, she travels to Osaka to deceive people-just as her village warned, she fails miserably and ends up chased by an angry mob. Taking shelter in a theater, Mameda stumbles upon a rakugo performance by the master storyteller Bunko Daikokutei. Enthralled by the vivid tales woven through Bunko’s art, Mameda becomes obsessed and begs to become her apprentice. Though hesitant at first, Bunko agrees after seeing the tanuki’s determination. Now, between learning taiko drumming, working at the theater, and memorizing rakugo stories, Mameda must pour everything she has into mastering the one art that might still fool people-if she can pull it off.