I'd appreciate it if you could help me
The story of a flawed protagonist passionately immersing themselves in something and growing from it is a classic narrative, often seen in competitive fields like sports, Go, or Shogi. In sports, the ultimate goal is usually winning a championship. In this drama, although there is a goal for the main character to improve in rakugo and rise from the beginner's rank to a professional, this comes secondary to their primary motivation of wanting to be 'interesting'. This lack of intense focus on winning keeps the series fresh and avoids the monotony often seen in sports dramas, where the story typically progresses from winning a regional tournament to competing in nationals.
Each episode of 'Tiger & Dragon' is crafted following the punchline of a classical rakugo story, making viewers feel as if they have experienced twelve different rakugo performances. While some may argue that listening to classical rakugo in its original form is best, adapting and modernizing these stories is essential to keep the tradition alive.
'Sanctuary' is a growth story set in the world of sumo wrestling. The protagonist comes from a challenging family background and takes up sumo wrestling as a last resort, growing within the sumo stable. On the other hand, in 'Tiger & Dragon', the protagonist, having lost his parents, leads a rough life as part of the yakuza. One day, while collecting debts, he witnesses a man making people laugh with rakugo and, inspired by this, decides to pursue laughter rather than fear. He resolves to become an apprentice to the rakugo performer.
