Shabake

This is a slow-paced, feel-good anime about Ichitarou, his friends, and life in the Edo period with lots of yokais. It reminded me of Natsume's Book of Friends, even thought the main story revolves around solving a murder, it's more about friendship. The whole anime is one story, even if it seems to be multiple cases at first, this is why I recommend watching all episodes at once, otherwise you will forget things, and might not understand what's going on. I didn't like the hairstyle and clothing, but they seemed accurate for the Edo period. The characters are believable, they have different personalities and faults. I do not recommend watching it for the mystery, and there are barely any action or romance. Give it a try if you liked Natsume's Book of Friends.

Shabake — Sometimes, it takes a keen mind to be open to the slowest of burns for a good payoff, especially if the mysterious takes precedent. I will admit this from the outset: the world that we live in nowadays, craves a lot of stimulation for things to happen and react, and especially in a society where answers are needed now more than it's worth waiting for, we forget the essence of how things came to be. This is especially important when it comes to works of mysterious art, where cases not only need both the culprit and the evidence to work together, but the suspense itself bridges the gap so that it can make or break content that is otherwise pretty laden and rather taxing to go through. So why am I bringing this context from the very beginning? As it turns out, you might realize this more than you thought, but in the case of supernatural mysteries, time is needed to flesh things into commonality, and I understand if it goes against the brainwashing of the need to want the answers now. But above all, it's the payoff that really is the star of the overall case that brings the Eureka moment to finally be glad that you stuck it out, no matter how fast or slow burn it can be. And this is exactly the case for one such show this Fall 2025 season: Shabake, the 2nd anime adaptation of novelist Megumi Hatakenaka's works, of which Tsukumogami Kashimasu a.k.a. We Rent Tsukumogami came out way back in Summer 2018 as a canon sequel to this series, which is the first of (as of this review) 23 released novels since December 2001, that finally got its own adaptation a quarter-century later. To really explain Shabake is to (thank God that I can) describe what Tsukumogami Kashimasu a.k.a. We Rent Tsukumogami, is like. Even back then, the Summer 2018 show was one of a handful of anime in the seasonal lineup that really didn't pop off as big as it hoped (though you have to imagine that it's up against the likes of Shingeki no Kyojin a.k.a. Attack on Titan's 3rd season, and even the now favourites of Banana Fish and Grand Blue's premiere season), though its prevalence can be described best because it would play to what the historical fantasy series is like in a sort-of sequel-prequel setup. The setup of humans running a shop in the olden traditional days (a la Edo), where spirits called tsukumogami have either latched themselves onto items to live out their being, or are shown in the form of demonic beings (which I can assure you that they're harmless), both beings work hand in hand to solve mysteries and other problems that their community might face. Now take that plot and turn it into a murder mystery affair, which is how you get the setting of one of the largest shops in Nihonbashi, Nagasaki-ya, that is run by the young master, Ichitaro, who, due to his frail health, is taken care of by the tsukumogami around him, namely the inugami Nikichi and harataku Sasuke, in an effort to root out one cruel disaster of a murder. And this murder mystery is by no means easy to figure out, due to the bizarre nature of how the murders are executed one after the other, to reach a conclusion that the journey to get there, is one of the most profound that I have experienced of a supernatural mystery series in the mythological sense. Unfortunately, if you try to apply the infamous "3-episode rule" to Shabake, I'd heavily suggest that you don't, because this murder mystery, as plain, bleak, and boring as it looks, is a lot smarter than you can imagine. Obviously, the order of murder mysteries should be tough to figure out from the start, and it's not a case where you can get the answers you need immediately, which is why Ichitaro and his supporting tsukumogami by his side face quite the numerous walls of obstruction when they are getting the links to the case. Even with the help of the cast of characters, of which there are many, the few occurring ones, like the yokai of Byobu Nozoki, and even Ichitaro's brother, Matsunosuke, are the ones that I suggest you look out for, even when the stories seem so disconnected that it tries to side-swipe you that it's another case, but that it interweaves itself into the case when the murders strike out. And to process all that, you'd really have to sit through a slog of details that will definitely bore you to tears (I know I did), but I believe that with a little help from Sherlock Holmes, this murder mystery, I hope, will suit your time best if you're up to the challenge of not getting bored with a slow start, where the complaints about how the series goes at a turtle's pace are commonality at best. For a show of this magnitude, there's honestly no need to go all flashy when it comes to mystery settings, where all that it needs is just some decent production and a well-crafted directorial path, which is what director Takahiro Okawa and his staff team did over at Bandai Namco Pictures that is at least acceptable by modern anime standards. Even the music is kind of so-so, though Kujira's OP and KAFUNE's ED are honestly OK at best, and I kind of like them with a little bit of zing and speed. If anything, Shabake truly is a show that tests its audience on the one thing that modern society just cannot understand anymore: media literacy. The attention span that the show deserved may be at fault for its writing, but when it's all put together, it's like a well-written book that's a classic open-and-shut case in its own right. I'm kind of both ashamed and proud that I gave this one a no-drop requirement (a la the 3-episode rule drop or continue), because this is actually a fine show that can deliver drama that slowly builds and builds until the case pops wide open to the glee of its audience. It's boredom...but intentionally woven under the skin and guise of a great story of connections and ploy.

Shabake is a weird anime to write about. One of the early impressions is that this anime is very slow-paced. Also, to add to it, its story is Ichitarou's story, meaning it is 100% character-driven. As we see how he grows, this show continues. I will say, as a character-driven show, it is superb, especially in the latter half. This type of historical anime is nice because it is a breath of fresh air in the land of anime seasonals in this fall 2025 season. Also, Bandai Namco Pictures had some great direction in this show at times, especially in the latter half. Still, I can imagine the slow pacing can really put people off from this show. Are you the type that is looking for a different type of anime and is of the slow-burn, character-driven one? Then this is a hidden gem and quite a good show. If that doesn't appeal to you, then you might be better off skipping this one.

Ok i have to review this beautiful anime. While it has no action like shonens etc, still some action, that is centered to the mystery part is present, but is not that much, no it's very little but dosed based on the moment (near the end there is more because we are at the end of the season/story so obviously there is more to hilight the drama, tension etc.). The thing is, is freaking similar to anime like Natsume's Book of Friends with the only differences that: 1) ayakashis are seen as "normal" and not something strange to see because of the Edo Era; 2) is even more slice-of-life thanks to being set in Edo Era and not modern/contemporary like Natsume and so the story and what happen is even more calmer even if there is all the mystery thing. Last thing about the genre/plot: don't be fooled by the fact that is soo charming, calm etc, because all the dots about the mysteries does connects to each other at the end so all the questions about the mysteries are aswered as well handled perfectly well (there are some things i hope they'll answer to with a season 2, but still the major questions are all perfectly resolved during the 13 episodes) and the mystery part do play its role (at least for me i was soo hooked up coz i wanted to watch the next episode a second later, i could not wait at all). Characters: i think all the characters are hadled pretty well with a lot of little and different povs based on the episodes and what happen in the story in some specific moments. MCs like Ichitaro, Sasuke and Nikichi do evolve and we have all the backgrounds about them, and not only them but even about the others like Byobu-Nozoki etc. as well Ichitaro's parents and friends, so nothing bad to hilight about this. Lastly, the part that really let me astonished: visuals and music. Visually is perfect, is so good also to just watch the scenery of the episodes. Well, now about the music: i think the opening and the ending, as well the OSTs, are the best of the season (or some of the bests), i literally had the ending rent free in my head after every episodes and even the following days so... That's it, if you want to watch some good slow-paced anime and calming like Natsume's Book of Friends then this is your cup of tea, at least for me this is the entirety definition of "comfort anime", that are the vibes i got from it while watching Shabake. Vote: 10 (really recommend it!!)

Shabake is an anime that meets most, if not all, of the criteria for being a solid series. Yet for some reason, it is rather unknown and rated very poorly here. It tells a thought-out, complete story set in the Edo period using great visuals and a soundtrack that makes for a great watch. Don't be afraid to check this one out just by looking at the ratings and popularity! The story of Shabake is about a sickly rich kid, Ichitaro, who tries to solve a series of murders in the Edo period together with his friends/guards/spirits, Nikichi and Sasuke. The story is clearly well thought-out and develops naturally and completely. There are no obvious plot holes that I could see, and everything that happens makes sense in the end. I will also praise this anime for having a complete story in 13 episodes. It is not often these days that we get that without rushing or leaving the ending open to try to allude to a second season. However, I wouldn't really call the story engaging, per se. For a murder mystery, it was hard to guess who the killer was due to many of the clues being revealed only shortly before the culprit was unmasked. Furthermore, the show had a bit of a pacing problem in the first half; some episodes felt like they added little to the overall story and world-building. In terms of how the Edo period is depicted, I don't really know since I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject. Overall, the story is solid and well-constructed. In terms of characters, we have the previously mentioned Ichitaro, Sasuke, and Nikichi constituting the main cast. Ichitaro, the show's main character, starts off as a weak, unhappy, and sickly boy. Through the events of the story and the encounters he faces, he grows as a character. The development of his character is also quite natural and logical. His thoughts and actions are all reasonable and realistic, making him a well-written protagonist. Nikichi and Sasuke aren't as deep as Ichitaro, and their motives and thoughts aren't as obvious, but they are still logical in hindsight. They both fill a clear role in supporting the character development of Ichitaro and add a lot to the story. There are many other characters that don't make as large an appearance as these three, but almost every one of them adds to the story in some meaningful way, leading Shabake to have an overall good cast of characters that tie into the story nicely. The show's art and animation are really good. I did not expect this quality for an anime of this popularity. The art is overall clean, with few noticeable cut corners. The character design is one of its stronger parts. Even though most humans in the series have the exact same haircut, they're all recognizable due to noticeable, but not exaggerated, differences in their faces, clothes, or bodies. The spirits, however, have awesome character designs. I especially liked how Byobu Nozoki and Suzuhikohime look. Furthermore, the animation was fluid and consistent throughout the whole show, and the rare use of special effects wasn't invasive. In conclusion, it has quite a good artistic direction. Sound production in Shabake is also quite good. The voice acting is standard; it is overall well-produced and the voice actors did a passable job, but there's nothing really special about it. The soundtrack has some really nice tunes, though. It does a great job of creating ambience and amplifying the feeling of the show. Being mostly jolly, it makes the show feel less like a murder-mystery thriller and more like a coming-of-age story marking the successes of Ichitaro overcoming his illness and growing as a person. Some of the tracks in the OST were quite memorable, and I found myself raising the volume just to hear them better. I might also mention that the OP and ED were both good songs. Overall, a great soundtrack! As for my personal enjoyment, it was an okay watch. Sure, most of the episodes went by quickly and it never felt like a drag, but I just never got fully invested in it. This might be because of the pacing issues in the beginning, or the fact that I never got a chance to be involved and try to solve the murder mystery myself. But overall, it is an objectively good anime with few flaws, so it’s nearly impossible for me to feel like it wasn't worth watching. At times, I did actually enjoy it, especially when it ramped up after the introduction. So in the end, I'd say that I'm happy I watched it, but it didn't really strike me as anything special or memorable. In conclusion, Shabake is a good anime worth watching. It is nothing flashy, nothing new, and nothing funny. But it might hit the spot for older anime fans looking for a well-produced show with cohesive storytelling, and that's who I'd recommend it to. I'm not really interested in reading the source material myself, but it was nice to see an anime that comes from a novel. In the end, I think this is an anime that definitely deserves better than being this unpopular and poorly rated.

This is solid. It's a wonderful story and even though it's a murder mystery, it doesn't feel like it's purposely trying to gut punch you just to make you feel something. The whole thing was done with competence. The original story is solid. The adaptation was done well. I don't think they made anything earth shattering, but this level of skill is definitely needed and appreciated. I thought I'd get used to the hair but it was a bit distracting. I know it had it's propose for certain people, but for it to be adopted by all men of the time period? Kind of ridiculous. So, yeah, I couldn't stop thinking about that and how it effected the character design.