Ashura

Rakugo: A traditional form of Japanese storytelling, told orally by one sitting down. Often humorous, often filled with folly, rakugo has persisted throughout the ages with good reason. Within *Masterpiece Rakugo Complete Works*, 33 rakugo stories are closely adapted by George Akiyama, who gives them his own charming, chaotic touch.

"The Moon" is a giant robot created by the millionaire Baron, spending 2.5 trillion yen (at that time). Baron proclaimed that **"God is Dead"** and created The Moon as a replacement, to serve as a new power to bring justice in a world of wickedness. He entrusts the operation to kids with a pure heart, as he believes only children are the ones able to enact true justice. Note: Volume count based on the bunkoban.

(from ebookjapan): A collection of George Akiyama's masterpieces, including eight heart-wrenching masterpieces and shocking problem stories. Jun, an innocent boy who loves his dog Jiro, is asked by his mother to find a pair of sandals that Jiro seems to have hidden. Jun orders Jiro to look for the sandal, but Jiro somehow brings Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" with him. ......?

When Futaro was five years old, his father left his home and his mother got sick in poverty. Also, Futaro has a ugly face, like Quasimodo: he's been discriminated and treated like trash by almost everyone in his neighborhood. Finally, his mother dies because they can't afford medical treatment. Burying her body, Futaro makes up his mind to do **anything** for money…

*Who is he? Where did he come from? What did he come to do?* A man bearing the moniker "the Son of Shaka" comes by the peaceful, quiet Shogidani Village. Followed by a trio of triplet sisters, his agenda is unknown, but he quickly gains a good reputation within the village... He doesn't matter much to the village boy Tomeo, though, who is threatened with separation with his girlfriend, Seiko, and ever-persistent advances by the pesky Aoki. That is, until Seiko starts to feel swayed by the Son of Shaka's aid, his 'hand of love'. Tomeo's concern isn't just petty jealousy, though - the Son of Shaka's intent points to a certain direction.... George Akiyama ([*Ashura*](https://mangadex.org/title/14e8feb7-1388-4fae-9f2e-eb42c571ae91/ashura-george-akiyama), [*Money Crazy (Zeni Geba)*](https://mangadex.org/title/e8688451-514d-4af7-9e1e-bd1170bbe881/money-crazy) ) presents a chaotic thriller of a close-knit village being stricken with corruption, calamity, and absolute evil.

Ashura is an unrelentingly dark drama that follows the struggles of a young boy who did whatever it took to survive during a time of war and famine in medieval Japan.