Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

[saladesu]

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo (Psychic Detective Yakumo)



In order to help a friend possessed by a spirit, Ozawa Haruka knocks on the door of her university's movie research association. There she meets Saitou Yakumo, a rude, unkempt young man with a red left eye, who is said to have spiritual powers. At first Haruka is skeptical, but she comes to believe him when he conveys messages from her older sister, who died when she was a child. Together, they work to shed light on the terrifying events happening at their university. But this is only the prologue of what's to come...

Slated for 13 episodes

Opening:
"Key" by Daisuke Ono

Ending:
"Missing You" by Lisa Komine

Seiyuu:
Ayumi Fujimura as Haruka Ozawa
Daisuke Ono as Yakumo Saitō

Akimitsu Takase as Unkai Saitō
Hiroki Touchi as Kazutoshi Gotō
Megumi Toyoguchi as Makoto Hijikata
Rokuro Naya as Hideyoshi Hata
Ryoka Yuzuki as Miyuki Nanase
Tokuyoshi Kawashima as Yūtarō Ishii
Toshihiko Seki as Isshin Saitō

Anyone caught this anime yet? I thought the first episode was pretty good. The OP and ED were above average, and so was the BGM. I didn't even realise that it was Ono Daisuke (the seiyuu for Yakumo himself) singing the OP till I saw the credits XD

Spoiler tag for some spoilers for the first episode...

Some parts of it were rather trite - such as Yakumo's eye powers. Sounds too much like Allen Walker from D.Gray-Man imo. The only thing I thought was very strange was the whole talking on top of a burning building bit at the end of the episode. Doesn't strike me as very wise... But I liked Haruka - she wasn't the archetypal helpless girl who needed saving. She needed some supernatural help, sure, but she was pretty down to earth.

There was also the introduction of a Big Bad Villain (seemingly) at the end of the episode. I hope it's not just the villain of the next episode, but actually a villain that lasts throughout the series. I would prefer this series not to be an episodic, case-by-case story.

[<.Haruka.>]

Dunno but this anime somehow reminds me of Ghost Hunt but on different aspect/angle.
Anyway, the OP was quite good as well as how the story was introduced.

There was also the introduction of a Big Bad Villain (seemingly) at the end of the episode. I hope it's not just the villain of the next episode, but actually a villain that lasts throughout the series.

The villain at the end looks like he has the same red eye (only both) like Yakumo's.
Can't wait for the next episode.

[Asarii]

When I read the title, Neuro came to mind with the supernatural detective motif. This one takes on a separate approach so I'm glad it's different.

XD More characters with special red eyes! I don't mind though.

My speculation: Haruka's sister might be crucial later on.

[Zeltrax]

Watched this, and it was okay.
There's a lot of illogical things that got me thinking though,
for example, the purses,wallets and handbags of the girls were found too easily. I mean, if you want to hide your crime, things like that can't be found so easily..what about the police? Why aren't they the one who found it, maybe it's just a coincidence but, whatever, that caused the downfall of that teacher.
Another weird thing is that if the teacher murdered the two students, won't it be weird that the dead body have traces of murder? I mean, the police will notice that the cause of death was not getting hit by the train, but something else, right?
So why the hell din't they investigate?
And what the hell was that? The main character used his eye power to scare off a sick and scary murderer that killed so many girls? Seriously? That guy had a weapon and is scared of someone who has a red eye?
And the two other friends who did not went in the house..they din't appear, din't give any statement, din't say anything, din't get involved.
You think they'll actually say something after two of their friends die.

Never mind, I just found it weird and have some holes, but still enjoyable.

[<.Haruka.>]

episode 2 is out already... The Curse Of The White Fox

Haruka's friend from previous episode introduced is gets better after the ghost(s) on her that makes her unwell has given justice.
Yakumo uses contact lens to cover his red eye when he goes out. I love his green eye colour.
There's also Yakumo's uncle who was a monk I think that was shown with having red eyes too but can remove it.
They helped a businessman to resolve the spirit who's lover has waited for him long time ago.

Nice episode but I hope to see more or even just a bit deeper cases to solve.

[Kuuki]

I think that episode one is rather disappointing, like zeltrax225 said, there are a lot of unexplained events in the case. I suppose fitting all chapters of this case into one episode is not a good idea, because the manga chapters do explain everything that makes the series a lot more enjoyable.

zeltrax225, if you would like, do try the manga sometimes. I think it's much better than the anime. I will continue following this series and see if it gets better in the later episodes

[saladesu]

The story seems to be quite episodic (not to mention rushed, which isn't good for a suspense story imo) right now, which is not something I really like.We are getting a little back story on Yakumo (now we see some members of his family), but I do hope it doesn't continue like this for too long. We've already seen what seem to be the main antagonists a little in both the first 2 eps, and I hope they start to play a bigger role soon They're certainly plotting something... I was half expecting Haruka's face to appear as one of the potential candidates but I was wrong XD;

Random thought. How come this time Yakumo didn't have to go and touch Tecchan's face so he could see Kuniko?

[<.Haruka.>]

Random thought. How come this time Yakumo didn't have to go and touch Tecchan's face so he could see Kuniko?

I think there are limits to Yakumo's power just like these current episode revealed.

On episode 3 (The Darkness Of The Tunnel), they tried to help a spirit of a boy who had died of a vehicular accident and was later found out on the autopsy that he was also strangled too.
There was also the case of the tunnel which has lost souls where Haruka and his co-worker at the udon shop, Tatsuya, had driven by one night when they were going home. It was found out at the investigation that Tatsuya was the one who hit the boy with his car. I think the boy who possessed Tatsuya just wants revenge for what happened with him.
Although I was kind of dissapointed that Yakumo wasn't able to save the boy from those evil/lost souls in the tunnel. He said that, "All I can do is see, and no more."

Anyway, I got to know the meaning of Yakumo's name from his monk uncle, "thick clouds", which I think fits his personality as well as a premonition of what lies ahead of his life.

[saladesu]

I think there are limits to Yakumo's power just like these current episode revealed.

I don't really see the link there to the limitations of Yakumo's powers and how he lets people see the spirits... Both spirits wanted to speak with the respective humans, yet to allow the sister to communicate with Haruka, Yakumo had to touch her face, whereas Kuniko just ~appeared~ to Tecchan... Seems a bit weird to me but I guess it's not a big deal XD

As for episode 3, I was quite confused by where this episode was going. It felt too rushed with so many things happening at once and seemingly coming out of nowhere. And it's another case that starts out with a link to Haruka. I mean yes she's a main character but it's pushing it if every case is linked to her in some way :/ The spirits in the tunnel were also unconvincingly un-scary, and what, they just try and scare motorists into crashing? If there have really been a heightened number of crashes there shouldn't the authorities have done something about it...? o.o;

But it was nice to see that Yakumo isn't infallible. It's true that with that eye he can only see them and communicate with them but there is nothing else he can do... Of course, it's great that he's doing what he can by helping with police work to get justice for them

Another thing I liked this week was the reappearance of the detective Gotou, though! I hope he continues to play a significant role in this show and not appearing in random episodes or anything like that. I liked the exchange where he chided Yakumo for taking Haruka's money, but Yakumo returned that he never got any reward for helping on cases either XD I would like to see more detective pair work from them.

The antagonist couple appear again briefly at the end. Hope they get a formal introduction soon...

[<.Haruka.>]

I liked this week was the reappearance of the detective Gotou, though! I hope he continues to play a significant role in this show and not appearing in random episodes or anything like that..

It seems we get to see Gotou-san (Yakumo's friend detective) often now because on the recent episode (4), he asks for Yakumo's service/assistance again regarding the newspaper reporter that was possessed by a ghost. Though this time, Goutou has a young partner detective named Ishii. I love how Goutou and Yakumo throw mocking remarks at each other.
I think there's a relevance between the missing high school girl case (which was Haruka tried to solve on her own), the serial killer and the reporter who got possessed.
The case(s) probably will be continued on the next episode.

Still at the end of the episode, the mysterious couple with red eyes like Yakumo (possible villains) appeared briefly again but still they're not introduced and just observing Yakumo.

Though i'm guessing they were the ones responsible for the death of the young girls. It looks like they were conducting a research or something and I don't like how they look at Haruka..

Anyway, we get to know a bit more about Yakumo because of the crystal with a red stone which he always looks at.
It belonged to her mother and a small flashback was shown how he get to have that necklace.

[saladesu]

Whoa, a very interesting episode, especially the last 10 minutes or so

And finally, a case that doesn't get solved in 1 episode! Liking this very much. It seems like this case could be continuing for the rest of the run of this series? Since it seems to be directly linked to the 2 villains with red eyes.

My guess is that Yakumo's mother also had the red eye(s), hence feared for her son when she saw that he had them too. Kinoshita's daughter is most likely Ayaka, and the two villains are intending to use Haruka as the container for her spirit/soul... Considering Andou was a doctor, he's probably involved in the experimentation (and by extension abduction and murders) of the high school girls along with Kinoshita. The question is who exactly is Kinoshita? Is there some link that Yakumo's mother (who probably had red eyes) would choose to deliver her son at his clinic? And of course, why was Andou killed?

Yakumo had a sad backstory, I really felt for him Though there is a high chance that some of Kinoshita's words were not even the truth, but all part of the main villains' plans to turn him onto the path of evil. Azusa's going to appear in a future episode, definitely. The mystery grows deeper~ ^^

[<.Haruka.>]

on episode 5...

Yakumo, detective Gotou & Haruka found out the place where the missing girls were kept by Andou. They recovered the latest girl who was missing (Rumi Hashimoto) and found some belongings from the girls who were kidnapped before.
Later, Haruka was the last victim of the doctor (with the assistance of those two villains who has eyes like Yakumo) but good thing Yakumo was able to save her in time.

The mastermind for kidnapping the high school girls was the doctor (Kinoshita) because he was looking for a new body for her daughter who died in the river long ago. The spirit that possessed the newspaper girl was Andou who was seeking justice for his death. He was killed by doctor Kinoshita because he was making more demands (maybe money, i think).

It was nice how Yakumo fit the pieces of scenes & evidences altogether and found some resolution.
The newspaper girl case was resolved also since the spirit which possessed her has left her body.
It was a bit funny how Ishii was disappointed about detective Gotou, he thought that he was a psychic detective but it was all of the help of Yakumo that he could solve the mystery cases. I hope to see more of the tandem of those two detectives.

It seems the enemies who has red eye like Yakumo's would show up more often now..

...one of them i think is Yakumo's father, which he mentioned on the last part.

[saladesu]

So this case ended here... I was expecting it to drag longer. I wonder what case will be next. It will obviously have to link back to the 2 main villains, so I wonder how that will play out.

One of the villains whom is Yakumo's father. Nice development there. I'm pretty certain he had a role to play in Azusa's disappearance, too.

I'm glad this series is picking up the pace in terms of plot Excited to see where it goes from here.

[<.Haruka.>]

on episode 6...

Yakumo and Haruka solved a case of an apartment where a ghost appears on the mirror. It was quite short and simple case rather the previous ones and no sign of the villains who appeared last time.
Its good to see the newspaper girl who was possessed before was back again to her job and we can see Ishii tagging along with her. It seems Gotou is on leave and having some kind of misunderstanding/problem with his wife. I hope to see more of detective Gotou on action later rather than this current one which he looks kind of sad.
I loved the part where Haruka found out one of Yakumo's weakness (ticklish )

[saladesu]

I thought this was a rather different episode from the rest While the previous 2 picked up the pace with the shinrei tantei aspect of the show, and brought the main antagonists more to the forefront of the picture, I felt this one served more to show character development. I liked that Yakumo is becoming more "human", showing more emotions and becoming more open with Haruka. Even if he verbally abuses her like that, he did apologise, which was a little unexpected XD And his smile at Nao was sweet.

I loved the part where Haruka found out that Yakumo was ticklish too XD They're getting closer 8)

But I did find it a little disconcerting that the previous episode ended with something as dramatic as Yakumo declaring that he rejects the fact that the guy is his father, then this episode did not make any reference at all to those villains... Nonetheless a good episode in its own right