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Akane-banashi release schedule (Updated May 2026): When the next episode of the hit anime is coming

Akane-banashi focuses on a traditional form of Japanese storytelling along with all the drama and comedic antics that come with it.

Akane Banashi Screenshot — Image credit: Zexcs

Guides by Trent Cannon, Senior Contributing writer

Published on Tue May 12 2026

There is no right or wrong reason to choose a career in the performing arts. You can do it for the love of the craft, because you see it as a way to make money, or, in the case of the Akane-banashi anime, out of spite. To avenge the disgrace of her father, Akane enters the traditional Japanese storytelling form of rakugo. The Akane-banashi anime is out now, and its release schedule is a little different from most anime this season.

How often do new Akane-banashi episodes air

Akane-banashi Season 1 began on April 4, 2026, with weekly episodes airing after that through the Spring 2026 Anime Season. Unlike most anime, fans in North America, including the US, can watch every episode of Akane-banashi for free on YouTube.

When is Akane-banashi Episode 7 out?

Akane Banashi Ending Credits Screenshot — Image credit: Zexcs

New episodes of Akane-banashi air on Saturdays in Japan and are posted to streaming sites around the world shortly after the Japanese broadcast. If you are in North America, you can watch them for free on YouTube. Other territories can watch the series on Crunchyroll or Netflix. Akane-banashi Episode 7 should be released on May 16, 2026 at 12:00 pm EST.

The expected Akane-banashi release schedule is:

May 16: Episode 7
May 23: Episode 8
May 30: Episode 9
June 6: Episode 10
June 13: Episode 11
June 20: Episode 12
June 27: Episode 13

Where can I watch Akane-banashi?

As we mentioned above, American fans are in the fortunate position to be able to watch Akane-banashi for free on YouTube. Every episode is available for free in North America. Outside of that territory, a few different streamers have the rights to the show, including Netflix and Crunchyroll. If you’re a regular anime viewer, chances are good that you’ll be able to watch Akane-banashi with an existing subscription.

Is rakugo a real thing?

Akane Banashi Rakugo Screenshot — Image credit: Zexcs

The simple answer is yes. The performance art depicted in Akane-banashi has existed in Japan for centuries, though it has evolved and changed over time. Rakugo is typically performed by one person who sits on a raised platform in the middle of the stage. They tell a story, usually a humorous one, using limited body movements and without moving from that spot. Think of it as something akin to stand-up comedy with strict rules in place. While the depiction of rakugo in Akane-banashi is stylized for the medium of manga and anime, it is still a fairly faithful representation of a somewhat obscure part of Japanese culture.

Is the Akane-banashi manga still ongoing?

The first chapter of Akane-banashi appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2022, and it has been running consistently since then. Currently, 21 volumes have been published with no ending in sight. The Akane-banashi manga is still ongoing, with new chapters most weeks on the Shonen Jump app and on the Viz Media website.

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included...