Anime Ichiban: Top Ten Yamishibai Stories (Countdown to Halloween 4 of 5)

Introduction

What is Yamishibai?

Yamishibai is a horror anime that began airing back in 2013. Each story (episode) is based on Japanese folklore and urban legends. At five minutes a pop, these tales tell of frightening phenomenon caused by ghosts, monsters, and other, often evil, supernatural entities.

Along with horror, Yamishibai has a distinct visual style. This series’ art takes inspiration from the kamishibai method of storytelling, which uses still images to tell a narrative. As a result, Yamishibai’s animation is usually very jagged and limited.

I won’t lie: Much of this franchise is meh. On top of that, there have been some real stinkers.

HOWEVER, Yamishibai survives because every now and then, it hits the bullseye.

The problem is — as of the posting of this list — there are six seasons, a.k.a., 78 stories under the Yamishibai banner. In total, that’s over SIX HOURS of content. Who even has the time? Evidently, I do, and I’m here to make your next Halloween horror-viewing a bit more efficient.

These are the Top Ten Yamishibai Stories.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 6 (Countdown to Halloween Part 3 of 5)

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai 6. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It’s time to begin our sixth journey into the dark and the macabre; the strange and the creepy. Listen to the stories of the things that go bump in the night.

It’s once again time for Yamishibai.

The Stories

Thunderous Visitor – A man who hates thunder remembers his mother.

Tomonashi Cave – Four “friends” ignore a Do-Not-Enter sign and venture into a dark cave.

The Wind’s Warning – A lonely salaryman comes home, and it appears the wind is trying to tell him something.

Swamp Offering – A newlywed woman moves to the countryside and joins an ancient ritual.

The Dripping – A man gets stuck in a rainstorm on his way home and chooses to take someone else’s umbrella.

Sakura – After a car accident, a man recovers in a hospital and befriends some of his fellow patients.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 5

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai Season 5. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It’s time to begin our fifth journey into the dark and the macabre. The strange and the creepy. Listen to the stories of the things that go bump in the night.

It’s once again time for Yamishibai.

Wrong Number – A housewife deals with someone who keeps dialing the wrong number.

Give it to Me – An office worker runs into the same little girl every day. With each time, the child asks for something.

The Crow Children – A woman and her daughter are visiting the countryside. While heading to their destination they pass an old lady in black.

Copy Cat – Two lifelong friends enter college. Although one has the habit of copying everything the other does.

Shadows of Women – A woman can’t help but feel that her husband isn’t telling the truth. She suspects he is cheating on her.

Okaishi-sama – A girl is distraught after her boyfriend dumps her. She is willing to try anything to get him back.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 4

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai season four. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It’s time to begin our fourth journey into the dark and the macabre. The strange and the creepy. Listen to the stories of the things that go bump in the night.

That’s right, it’s once again time for Yamishibai.

Tongue – A man finds a dead cat in the middle of the road. His mistake was taking pity on the poor thing.

Fish Tank – Three friends break into an old abandoned house. Inside they find a disgusting looking fish tank.

Sewing Shears – A woman moves into her new apartment. Under one of the floor boards, she finds an old pair of sewing shears.

Red High Heel -  A tired office worker manages to hail a cab late at night. On the floor of the backseat, the man finds a single red high heel.

Night Bus – A man and his friends ride on a night bus. The man asks to go to the bathroom. When he returns, the passengers are a little off.

Guess Who? – A girl finds the courage to ask the boy she likes out. Their date ends as they wait for the next train to arrive.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 3

Series Synopsis

Round three.

The mysterious masked man has been replaced with a small boy calling over his friends to look at the drawings in his notebook. What sorts of chilling things will we see from the mind of this child?

Lend it to Me

A man is on his way home when he passes a public bath he has never seen before. On a whim he decides to use the facilities and appears to be the only customer. However from the women’s side, someone begins asking to borrow a few items. Slowly, the requests start to become much stranger.

Tunnel

Two friends get lost on a road trip and come across a tunnel that is not on their map. Because they're running out of gas, they chance it. Unfortunately, their car runs out in the darkness.

Rat

Moving into a new apartment, a young wife gets scared after seeing a rat and is bit by one that night. Unsure if she can handle the pests, her husband goes on a business trip. She then learns

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 2

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers Yamishibai Season Two. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Yamishibai continues with thirteen more stories of the strange and the macabre.

Taro-chan - A ventriloquist performs his act with his old wooden puppet.

Kitchen - A woman visits her friend’s new apartment. While there, she can’t shake the feeling she's being watched.

Inside - A boy returns home with an old Russian doll. The boy's mother takes the thing to throw it away. She returns hours later cradling the doll.

Wall Woman - A man sees a strange creature climb up the side of a building. Right into an unsuspecting apartment.

Locker - A girl is struggling with love and decides to test out an urban legend. Rumor has it, there's a locker with the ability to grant any wish.

Nao-chan - While a family sleeps, the young son smiles at the ceiling. Looking into the shadows, the boy whispers the name Nao-chan.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai - Japanese Ghost Stories

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

A mysterious masked man sets up his stage. A crowd begins to gather in anticipation.

“Step right up and have a look. It’s time Yamishibai”

The Stories

The Talisman Woman: A man moves into a new apartment and discovers a charm hanging from the ceiling.

Zanbai: Waking up in a hospital bed with no memory, a man tries to get some information out of his fellow patients.

The Family Rule: A young boy's parents learn the rules of their new home.

Hair: Staying late, an elementary school teacher is alone in the office.

The Next Floor: On a trip to the mall, a man gets a call from work asking him to come in.

The Overhead Rack: A man grows annoyed as he observes the other passengers on the subway.

Contradiction: In the middle of the night, a young woman's awoken by a phone call from her friend.