Series synopsis
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, also known as 怪 〜ayakashi〜 is a Japanese animation mystery sci-fi & fantasy television series that premiered on Fuji TV on January 13, 2006. It ended on March 24, 2006. It stars Hiroaki Hirata, Mami Koyama, Yuko Nagashima and Keiichi Sonobe.
An anthology of three classic Japanese horror stories: "Yotsuya Ghost Story", the story of a wife betrayed by her husband who seeks vengeance even in death; "Goddess of the Dark Tower", the story of forbidden love between a goddess and a human; and "Goblin Cat", the story of a mysterious cat monster with a vendetta against a certain family.
Premise
An anthology of three classic Japanese horror stories: "Yotsuya Ghost Story", the story of a wife betrayed by her husband who seeks vengeance even in death; "Goddess of the Dark Tower", the story of forbidden love between a goddess and a human; and "Goblin Cat", the story of a mysterious cat monster with a vendetta against a certain family.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Hiroaki Hirata as Iemon Tamiya (voice)
- Mami Koyama as Oiwa Tamiya (voice)
- Yuko Nagashima as Osode Yotsuya (voice)
- Keiichi Sonobe as Gonbei Naosuke (voice)
- Ryo Hirohashi as Oume Ito (voice)
- Wataru Takagi as Yomoshichi Sato (voice)
- Hikaru Midorikawa as Zoshonosuke Himekawa (voice)
- Houko Kuwashima as Tomihime (voice)
Supporting cast
- Saeko Chiba as Oshizu (voice)
- Yui Kano as Ominaeshi (voice)
- Kappei Yamaguchi as Kaikaimaru (voice)
- Masaya Onosaka as Kikimaru (voice)
- Takahiro Sakurai as The Medicine Peddler (voice)
- Yukana as Kayo (voice)
- Tetsu Inada as Odajima (voice)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 11 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 11 | January 13, 2006 | March 24, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Yotsuya Ghost Story - Part 1 "Yotsuya Ghost Story" is a retelling of the classic Japanese ghost story, written by the 18th century kabuki playwright Nanboku Tsuruya IV. In the anime, Nanboku himself becomes the narrator. Iemon Tamiya is a ronin samurai who marries a beautiful woman named Oiwa. Oiwa is happy with her married life and the birth of their child, but Iemon feels the burden of their poverty. In return for the promise of a job by a rich man, Iemon promises to marry the man's daughter and conspires to murder his own wife. A servant is ordered by the rich man's daughter to poison Oiwa's food; the toxin permanently disfigures Oiwa's face. Iemon then orders his servant to kill her after having his way with her. Oiwa commits suicide after coming to know of Iemon's treachery. Another of Iemon's servants is also killed and, along with the dead Oiwa, is nailed to a piece of wooden board and tossed into the river. After Oiwa's death, Iemon marries the rich man's daughter, as promised. |
January 13, 2006 |
| 2 |
Yotsuya Ghost Story - Part 2 "Yotsuya Ghost Story" is a retelling of the classic Japanese ghost story, written by the 18th century kabuki playwright Nanboku Tsuruya IV. In the anime, Nanboku himself becomes the narrator. Iemon Tamiya is a ronin samurai who marries a beautiful woman named Oiwa. Oiwa is happy with her married life and the birth of their child, but Iemon feels the burden of their poverty. In return for the promise of a job by a rich man, Iemon promises to marry the man's daughter and conspires to murder his own wife. A servant is ordered by the rich man's daughter to poison Oiwa's food; the toxin permanently disfigures Oiwa's face. Iemon then orders his servant to kill her after having his way with her. Oiwa commits suicide after coming to know of Iemon's treachery. Another of Iemon's servants is also killed and, along with the dead Oiwa, is nailed to a piece of wooden board and tossed into the river. After Oiwa's death, Iemon marries the rich man's daughter, as promised. |
January 20, 2006 |
| 3 |
Yotsuya Ghost Story - Part 3 "Yotsuya Ghost Story" is a retelling of the classic Japanese ghost story, written by the 18th century kabuki playwright Nanboku Tsuruya IV. In the anime, Nanboku himself becomes the narrator. Iemon Tamiya is a ronin samurai who marries a beautiful woman named Oiwa. Oiwa is happy with her married life and the birth of their child, but Iemon feels the burden of their poverty. In return for the promise of a job by a rich man, Iemon promises to marry the man's daughter and conspires to murder his own wife. A servant is ordered by the rich man's daughter to poison Oiwa's food; the toxin permanently disfigures Oiwa's face. Iemon then orders his servant to kill her after having his way with her. Oiwa commits suicide after coming to know of Iemon's treachery. Another of Iemon's servants is also killed and, along with the dead Oiwa, is nailed to a piece of wooden board and tossed into the river. After Oiwa's death, Iemon marries the rich man's daughter, as promised. |
January 27, 2006 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Fuji TV |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 13, 2006 |
| Last aired | March 24, 2006 |
| Runtime | 23 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Friday at 00:50:00 |