Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan: A review that explores the depths of horror

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan": The appeal of the ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty

■Overview of the work

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is a TV special broadcast on Fuji TV on August 16, 1981. It is an anime based on a traditional literature. It is 54 minutes long and has only one episode. It was produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and aired mainly in the 1980s as part of the variety TV program "Kao Meijin Gekijyo". This work is a story by Ichiryusai Teisui, a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories, with animation and some live-action footage of the storyteller. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan, in which Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband, becomes a ghost and exacts revenge. When the DVD was released, it was titled "Anime Version Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories.

■ Story

The story is set in the 15th year of the Genroku era, and the gambling-loving Tamiya Iemon falls in love with the beautiful town girl Oiwa. Iemon even prepares a dowry, but in fact the money has been stolen from the government. When Oiwa's father finds out, Iemon kills him, conceals the fact, and marries Oiwa. However, Iemon soon finds Oiwa to be a nuisance, and plots to kill her... Amidst a mix of horror and tragedy, the highlight of this story is how Oiwa's desire for revenge is portrayed.

■Explanation

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is a work that combines animation with the story of Ichiryusai Teisui, a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories. Some live-action footage of the story is also inserted, creating a visually and aurally terrifying production. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan tale of Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband and becomes a ghost to exact revenge. When the DVD was released, it was given the title "Animated Version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories. This work is loved by many viewers as a ghost story animation that combines horror and beauty.

■Cast

Narration by Teimizu Ichiryusai

■ Main staff

<Staff for live-action footage>
Producers: Ryuji Sawada, Kenji Murakami (KTV)
・Written by: Sadatoshi Yasunaga ・Director: Yuji Hirukawa ・Directed by: Ryuji Sawada ・Edited by: Pearl Studio ・Technical cooperation: Totsu ・Production: Tokyo Movie Shinsha ・Production: KTV, Tohan Kikaku ・Storytelling: Teimizu Ichiryusai

<Animation staff>
・Director: Hajime Suzuki ・Chief animation director: Tsukasa Tannai ・Animation: Telecom Animation Film ・Art director: Jun Ito ・Background: Atelier Lascaux ・Color setting: Shuichi Ta (currently under investigation)
Finishing touches: Studio Kiri Director of photography: Hirotaka Takahashi Cinematography: Takahashi Productions Editing: Mitsuhisa Tsurubuchi

■ Main Characters

・Oiwa: A beautiful town girl. She is approached by Tamiya Iemon and they become husband and wife, but after much hardship she is brutally murdered. However, her soul becomes a ghost and seeks revenge on Iemon and his men who killed her and her father.

Tamiya Iemon: A ronin who loves gambling and is also a villain who commits theft and murder.

Matazaemon Oiwa's father. He learns Iemon's true nature, but is killed by him.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

This is a one-off anime that was aired in the 1980s as part of the variety TV program "Kao Meijin Gekijyo," and is a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories, Ichiryusai Teisui, with animation added to the narration. Some live-action footage of the story is also inserted, creating a visually and aurally terrifying production. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan, in which Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband, becomes a ghost and exacts revenge. When the DVD was released, it was given the title "Animated Version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories.

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

■ Recommendation points

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

This is a one-off anime that was aired in the 1980s as part of the variety TV program "Kao Meijin Gekijyo," and is a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories, Ichiryusai Teisui, with animation added to the narration. Some live-action footage of the story is also inserted, creating a visually and aurally terrifying production. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan, in which Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband, becomes a ghost and exacts revenge. When the DVD was released, it was given the title "Animated Version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories.

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

■ Related works

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

This is a one-off anime that was aired in the 1980s as part of the variety TV program "Kao Meijin Gekijyo," and is a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories, Ichiryusai Teisui, with animation added to the narration. Some live-action footage of the story is also inserted, creating a visually and aurally terrifying production. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan, in which Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband, becomes a ghost and exacts revenge. When the DVD was released, it was given the title "Animated Version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories.

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.

■ Summary

"Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is visually and audibly terrifying, and has the power to draw viewers in. Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the appeal of the work, further increasing the sense of fear. This work is a one-off anime that aired in the 1980s variety TV program "Kao Meijin Gekijo" slot, and is a story by Ichiryusai Teisui, a storyteller who specializes in ghost stories, with animation added. Some live-action footage of the story is also inserted, creating a visually and audibly terrifying production. The story is the familiar Yotsuya Kaidan story of "Oiwa, who was brutally murdered by her husband, becomes a ghost and exacts revenge," and when the DVD software was released, the title "Anime version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" was added to distinguish it from other Yotsuya Kaidan stories. "Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan" is loved by many viewers as a ghost story anime that combines horror and beauty. In particular, the scene depicting Oiwa's beauty and her subsequent desire for revenge as a ghost is directed to evoke fear both visually and audibly, and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, Ichiryusai Teisui's narration also enhances the charm of the work, further heightening the sense of fear.