Usually, in the mystery genre, they use all the evidence and logic they have to search for the truth. Instead, Kyokou Suiri uses all the evidence and logic it has to create a lie.
The story is about two characters, Kotoko Iwanaga and Kurou Sakuragawa. One of which is a “goddess of wisdom” for the youkai who live in the world, and the other is a seemingly plain human who is not what he seems. The two of them band together (or you can say Kotoko clings on to Kurou) and they try to solve the worries and concerns of the youkai around them.
Episode 1 introduces
...
us to these two characters, and shows us a bit of their backstories together. At first, you’d have no idea that the anime is Supernatural if you haven’t heard about it before, but as the episode goes on you’d realize that they are indeed youkai in the world, and the two characters have more to themselves that meets the eye. In addition, they have a funny relationship with each other right off the bat when they meet each other.
Episodes 2 and 3 then shows us how the Mystery in this anime works. One would normally think that they would search for the evidence first then find the truth, but here they already have all the evidence they need, so now all they need is to figure out what happened. Simple, right? It’s not. In a world where spirits and youkai inhabit the earth, almost anything can happen, so logically finding out the truth will be tough. So instead of going for the truth at the get-go, Kotoko builds up blocks of possibilities of what could have happened to land to the truth that seems the most logical. Any solution may seem real to an extent, but as long as there are holes to it, it will all crumble apart. So she takes what seems right from the previous solution, or the basic elements, then adds it to a more logical one, until she arrives at the “right answer”. You can say that every “wrong” solution brings us closer to the “right” solution.
Once we learn about the “truth” of the matter from the previous case, we go on into the next arc, which comprises all of the next episodes, from 4 to 12. Here we have a long time skip, and we are introduced to a new character, Saki Yumihara, who is actually Kurou’s ex-girlfriend. As a police officer, her job is to help maintain peace in the city, and now there’s someone, or rather, something that catches her eye. Steel Beam Nanase. From what the witnesses claim, she’s a ghost with no face who carries a huge steel beam around and causes a bit of chaos in the city. Once an idol, tragedy struck her, and she died from steel beams falling onto her. One would be logical about this and say that ghosts aren’t real, it’s just in their heads. But she doesn’t. After a certain incident with her boyfriend, she starts to doubt what’s real or not, and what possibly can exist in the world. Then she sees Steel Beam Nanase. As a police officer she tries to stop her, only to be struck with the hard fact that she is indeed a ghost, and that she can’t even touch her. Then she meets Kotoko, who was able to temporarily stop her, and then Saki realizes she isn’t just what she looks like.
Saki and Kotoko then band up in order to stop Nanase, but how can you fight against a being that has no physical form, and that doesn’t really exist? Logic and fiction. In order to save people from getting hurt, they would need to create a “lie” that triumphs over the “truth”. No one needs to know that spirits exist in the world, else the entire balance between the human realm and the spirit realm will fall apart. So in order to erase the ghost from existence, they would need all the evidence in order to create a story that is both logical and entertaining. But can’t you just tell them the truth about her and everyone would believe it? Of course not. Fake news is considered “the better and more believable news” just because it’s more entertaining than the truth. No one wants a boring story. Thus, they need to create logical fiction for the sake of saving lives.
This show heavily relies on dialogue, so it is not recommended for people who just want the action or the youkai interaction. Almost every detail is important, evidence and logic are the most useful weapons this show has to offer, and if you don’t listen or think carefully, you will be confused as to what happens. They may repeat what they have said before, but what mystery show doesn’t? Repetition is one of the most important factors in informative speaking, because the audience would be able to understand that the points the speaker repeats are important. That applies to this show as well. Repetition of details implies that the evidence in hand is important. Logically, they would need to repeat the important details in order for us not to forget what is there. The solutions that are created from these details are also interesting, even though you can poke some holes on them here and there. But one thing to take note of is that Kotoko knew that there are holes in these solutions, and those are needed in order for her to grasp the “right solution”. What’s important is that she needs a majority of her audience to believe in her fictional truths, even if there are holes in them. In addition, she had to come up with multiple solutions that are all lies, that are both entertaining and logical with the given evidence, and in under a few hours, under the pressure of saving possibly hundreds of lives. If you don’t call Kotoko a genius, then I don’t know what is.
The main thing I like about this anime is the character interactions. You have the three characters, Kotoko, Kurou, and Saki. Kotoko is mean and funny, but is smart enough to solve the youkai’s problems. Kurou might seem plain, but he has something that can change the world. And Saki is beautiful and kind, but also sharp and brave. Since Saki was once Kurou’s ex, the interactions between them would be funny and awkward, especially since Kotoko is Kurou’s current girlfriend (although Kurou doesn’t seem to like it). The funny scenarios in the show mix well with all the seriousness of the supernatural for me, and I like that in this show.
All in all, I think this was a great Mystery/Supernatural anime. It gave a refreshing view on Mystery and what it can do. This was actually one of my most hyped anime this season, because I’ve already read the manga before and I’m currently up to Volume 11 of it. I can say that if you want a refreshing twist in Mystery, then this show might be for you. If you aren’t in anime, then the manga would be better for you, as it has more depth for the details and solutions.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: 虚構推理
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jan 12, 2020 to Mar 29, 2020
Premiered:
Winter 2020
Broadcast:
Sundays at 01:30 (JST)
Producers:
Nihon Ad Systems, Kodansha, KlockWorx, Docomo Anime Store, King Records, Crunchyroll, GYAO!, BS NTV, Marui Group
Licensors:
VIZ Media
Studios:
Brain's Base
Source:
Manga
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Statistics
Ranked:
#45332
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#477
Members:
482,355
Favorites:
1,376
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 116 / 122
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Your Feelings Categories Mar 28, 2020
Usually, in the mystery genre, they use all the evidence and logic they have to search for the truth. Instead, Kyokou Suiri uses all the evidence and logic it has to create a lie.
The story is about two characters, Kotoko Iwanaga and Kurou Sakuragawa. One of which is a “goddess of wisdom” for the youkai who live in the world, and the other is a seemingly plain human who is not what he seems. The two of them band together (or you can say Kotoko clings on to Kurou) and they try to solve the worries and concerns of the youkai around them. Episode 1 introduces ... Mar 28, 2020
In/Spectre is the type of series that tests the notion “how far are you willing to stretch a good idea?”
Conceptually, this is a brilliant idea for a story and overall, I think the execution is at least good. While so many mystery stories, anime or otherwise, tend to focus on purely the truth, characters getting to the bottom of how events actually happened, never have I seen creating a convincing LIE to factor into that. A lot of ins and outs are explored in the show’s attempt to qualify this point, so it keeps a unique source of engagement in a way unlike many ... Feb 1, 2020
"Too much speaking" is a common criticism for this anime. Well, even though it is true, all it does is make it a little boring in the last few episodes. This anime didn't stray away from its core message. And the ending was spreading well wrapped.
You should watch this story as a seinen themed one. Because this anime doesn't have conventional main characters, and characters are actually three dimensional and their actions arise from very relatable reason. My most loved element of the story is... Great character interactions... The people in the story actually have souls and behave in a way that's relatable. You will ... Mar 28, 2020
Human beings are storytelling creatures.
Our little stories are vital for us to convey truths, and sometimes, create lies. However, truth manifest lies. Lies, conceal truth. In every mystery and detective anime, there is always one definite truth. Everything else is just a fabrication to bury the truth, layer upon layer. In most cases, a clear line is drawn between what is real and what is not. But, what if, just what if – the line no longer exists? Then, truth and lies are no longer differentiable. They are blended into each other, and being played around by whoever’s behind them to reach a desired conclusion. ... Feb 25, 2020
I'll start by saying I had high expectations for this show, and am an anime only viewer. I speak nothing of the Manga here, It is probably paced differently there, as it is a different medium entirely.
Unfortunately, I have to say watching this show is like reading a really wordy book where you already know what the characters are thinking. It starts with a really strong first episode, and the background for the main characters was very interesting, but everything else in this show moves at a snail's pace. Every option must be explored and explained. This show regularly wastes half of an episode talking ... Feb 1, 2020
When I saw that In/Spectre was getting an anime adaptation, I knew that I needed to watch it. As a huge fan of Blast of Tempest (same author and creator) I was extremely excited to get to watch this anime. And boy am I glad that I am watching it and I hope that you will be too.
Story: 8/10 The premise of this show is quite entertaining and interesting, following Kotoko Iwanaga as she solves various supernatural problems with the help of Kurou Sakuragawa, while simultaneously and humorously pushing her affection onto him. It presents itself very well within the mystery genre. Unlike lots of ... Apr 9, 2020
Imagine a show about dealing with spirits and finding the cause of one's existence.. Sounds like an action/mystery right? Now what if I told you this was accomplished through the characters talking non stop about the problem and barely doing anything about it, or that it was done by seeing the characters post reddit threads. Well that is In/Spectre, except I can't really say they accomplished anything except boring anybody who dared to watch it.
Plot - Basically a spirit of a dead idol goes around terrorizing people and Kotoko and Kurou, someone who can see yokai and an immortal guy respectively try to figure out ... Feb 1, 2020
This show honestly makes me want to read the manga, it's really a great show.
Being that I have an interest in Youkai and that kind of culture. This is the right show for me, and it can be for you! Here are reasons why! The story has a vast number of interesting points. From it's great characters, one which being Kotoko whom despite looking tiny, and having one real leg and one real eye, is not only quite smart, full of spunk and wisdom, but honestly a badass in some scenes. She really is great. While the mystery behind Kurou is a good plot device to ... Mar 28, 2020
It’s really hard for an anime to feel original these days. So many series I’ve seen lately have felt like I was watching the same series, with the same characters, with different names. So when I come across a fresh and unique story, I have to acknowledge it. That’s exactly what I got out of Kyokou Suiri.
Kyokou Suiri is some of the best fun I’ve had watching anime in a long time. Based on a light novel originally, it tells the story of a girl who’s traded her leg and eye for god like powers. She teams up with a boy who also has god ... Feb 2, 2020
Kyokou Suiri wasn’t a series that was at the top of my expectations list going into this season, but it was definitely mid-tier with a bullet. Along with Runway de Waratte (which debuted about as promisingly as one could hope) they were my main sleeper picks. Kyokou Suiri is an interesting and odd manga (actually based on a liht novel on the Kodansha Taiga seinen imprint) and there was a lot of promise here even if the show is flying way under the radar. And while I wouldn’t put it on the same pedestal as Runway, I did like this premiere an awful lot.
It seems like forever ago now, but Brain’s Base was ... Oct 12, 2023
There are a few shows I will claim to be proud of watching. In/ Spectre is one of them, as I am happy of
not having let its poor ratings stand in the way of giving it a chance. In/ Spectre is not an underrated anime, it is a misunderstood one. It seems it was expected to follow the trend of spectacular demons fights in the line of other recent successful shonen. However In/ Spectre has a very elegant and original take on the yokai theme, one not explored yet. Not the fighting approach mentioned above, nor the emotional one tackled in other acclaimed animes. ... Mar 15, 2020
Note: Have not read the manga
I wanted to enjoy this anime from the preview, I really did. Interesting main character with disabilities that actually limit her in a believable way? Mamoru Miyano? Very interesting case files dealing with supernatural causes? Yes, yes, yes! Instead what I got was a mystery anime with maybe 2 arcs vaguely trying to moonlight as the Monogatari series in which they talk every episode and not much gets done at all. Now don't get me wrong, I'm okay with anime that's very dialogue heavy, but it has to be interesting. And I know a lot of the reviews here say ... Mar 28, 2020
Japanese youkai lore has been a fascinating subject in the realm of anime, manga, and video games. Every year, we are graced by media related to these supernatural entities, based on the Shinto religion. And while Kyokou Suiri (ln/Spectre) certainly isn’t among the first to explore such themes, it does embark on a supernatural quest with a lovely little oddball named Kotoko Iwanaga.
Let’s allow reality to hit us first. Kyokou Suiri has a fair amount of volumes but the anime allows the show to be only 12-episodes. To make things more complicated, the early chapters (manga version at least) are fairly long, some expanding well ... Mar 2, 2020
I found this to be a disappointing adaptation and I will not be watching the remainder of it.
I think that there are three main problem areas which prevent the show from succeeding: It has a grating pace. The plot structure is basically episodic monster of the week, but stretched out over several episodes at a time. And It is constantly perforated by repeated or only tangentially related flashbacks made up of panning stills and dull narration. The characters lean heavily into stereotype to make up for the dreadfully lacking ability of the team to develop them on their own in the new medium. The dialogue is mostly ... Mar 3, 2020
I went into Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre) excited and came out bored. In/Spectre isn't a bad anime. I love the art style, the character designs and concepts, the romance, the soundtrack and lastly the voice work. The problem lies entirely with supernatural "mystery" element. And I use mystery loosely. A good mystery tries to get the audience actively engaged in trying to solve the crime (e.g. Poirot) and a bad one makes the audience passive by having some Deus Ex Machina solution (e.g. CSI, Bones). Kyokou Suiri does neither. Instead its like having someone explain to you a Mystery novel they recently read. This is
...
Apr 25, 2020
Rating (My opinion) 6.5/7*
A lot of Talking, TALKING, TALKING, NONSENSE, TALKING, TALKING AND MORE TALKING. If you are the type of person that enjoy mystery and a lot of dialog instead of action, then this anime is for you. Kyokou Suiri is an anime that is mostly focused in a mystery plot that doesn't make sense, I tried liking the show at first, I really did, but by the time I got to Episode 7, I was wishing for the show to end, it was boring, I couldn't stand it. I don't know how it got to the point of the whole 'Last Boss' but ... Feb 1, 2020
Not always do we come across series that is dialogue heavy to the core and follows a slightly unconventional story path than other anime. How can a series consisting of nothing but conversation between the protagonist and the supporting character for 80% of screen time can be some damn entertaining that it will keep you at the edge of the seat till last second? May I present you Kyokou Suiri!
Plot- You can pretty much guess it from the summary. Kotoko Iwanaga is a mediator a.k.a. "goddess of wisdom" who acts as a consultant for the youkai which are usually invisible to normal humans. What makes ... Mar 29, 2020
I made an earlier review of this show after 7-8 episodes where I explained that there were several things I liked including the art, stylisation and early character exploration. However it needed a good kick up the ass to get things moving because the characters went on endless monologues, over-complicating uncomplicated ideas and had little to no natural interaction with each other. I gave the show a 6 and hoped for the best.
After watching the 12th and final episode I can say...It never did get the kick up the ass that it needed. Several episodes of tedious, pretentious, try-hard pseudo-intellectual nonsense. Characters stood in place endlessly ... Mar 9, 2020
This anime has more water than the Pacific Ocean.
First episode tricked me with Bakemonogatari style's dialogues and youkais and I believed that it would be similar to Bakemonogatari. Haha, it is more similar to my diploma. In russian title is 'False Conclusions' and its really true. Firstly I thought we will get some stories which include a murder and yokai, but, we got like 1 introduction story about turtle, and then infinitive Steel Nanance arc. Protagonists saying same thoughts in different words for 4 series in a row. And even 'action' in 9th episode is just saying boring things. Iwanaga and Kuro are cool ... Feb 27, 2020
This is getting very high scores so i thought i'd take the time to toss my opinion out there.
This is a fast paced show that assumes you are an idiot. Well, maybe not...but boy does it beat a point to death! It isn't terrible...and the beginning had me there for a good few episodes...you will find yourself feeling "ohh, wait so thats where we are go---oop. nope we aren't okay"......or those super cringe moments where you suck on your teeth and hope the scene fades. I guess I just couldn't believe the characters. I understand this show doesn't need to be realistic....i actually am ... |