Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai
13 episodes
Insect Battle
Summer vacation. Shogo, an elementary school student who spends his holidays at his grandfather’s house every year, is obsessed with "beetle wrestling," a game played among local kids. However, he keeps losing and desperately wants a stronger insect. That's when he discovers that the adults are holding a special, secret beetle wrestling match at night...
Willow Wicker Trunk
Yukako is an elementary school student living with her family. Her mother, Tae, always talks cheerfully to her wicker dowry trunk. However, because the family's life became difficult, Tae makes a decision to part with her important wicker trunk. Yukako has a bad feeling, but...
Collapse
Hirahara, an old man living in the village, suddenly caused a stir, shouting, "It’s going to burst!" However, the villagers, seemingly used to this, did not take him seriously. This was because, on that perfectly clear day, it was impossible for the dam to break. Yet, a man secretly monitoring Hirahara was informing an emergency via radio...
Pumpkin Field
With his mother giving birth, Yuta has to spend his summer vacation at his grandma's. There are no shops around, only endless pumpkin patches. Bored, Yuta goes for a stroll, when a girl suddenly appears from the field and asks him to play. However...
Can I Decide?
Late at night, Rikako arrives at her local station on the last train. For some reason, a young boy is standing there all by himself in front of the station, with no guardian in sight. Growing concerned, Rikako stays by his side and walks him toward his home. They arrive at an old apartment building, but then, the boy starts saying he doesn't want to go home...
Decisive Factor
Minori is a junior high school student living alone with her mother, Aiko. Always kind, efficient at housework, and quick to make decisions, Aiko was someone Minori deeply admired. However, after finishing her high school entrance exams, Minori stumbles upon a secret lurking within this house...
Episode 7
Haruko has just transferred to a rural elementary school. On the day of the Sports Day, it unfortunately pours with rain. But the school's decision is "Proceed as scheduled." The Sports Day is held without being canceled. Neither the teachers nor the other children seem to find it odd. Haruko also has no choice but to follow that atmosphere, but...
Episode 8
Officer Takeuchi, a police box officer on patrol, spotted a mysterious doll placed at the base of a utility pole—the very site where a child had died in a car accident a few days earlier. That evening, a creepy visitor arrived at the police box, bringing along...
Episode 9
Eiko is a housewife drowned in daily chores. Every day, she faces endless piles of laundry from her husband, her high school son, and her middle school daughter. But Eiko washes away more than just grime; she cleanses the malevolent grudges that cling to her family. Then one day, the washing machine begins to make an ominous sound...
Episode 10
"Shini-gai"—a strange, deep-rooted custom practiced in Koichi's home village. Hating this custom from the bottom of his heart, Koichi broke free and left the village. Nine years have passed since then. Now, at the age of twenty-seven, has he truly been able to escape that curse-like custom?
Episode 11
Yoko recently lost her husband a few months ago. While out with her daughter, Manami, she notices a suspicious individual. Manami, completely absorbed in a magical girl anime, confuses reality with fiction, irritating Yoko. But is it really just the little girl's imagination...?
Episode 12
Kondo found a recruitment post for a moving job on social media. The reward was stated as "50,000 yen + a scary story." Attracted not only by the high amount of the reward but also by the words "scary story," he invited his junior, Shimizu, and applied half in jest. It was well and good up to the point they applied, but...
Episode 13
Left in a child care facility due to his single father's work circumstances, Keita immediately hits it off with the other children who share a similar background. On his first day, he and his new peers secretly slip out of the home to play. That is when they hear the voice of a kamishibai storyteller calling out to children from a nearby park...