Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre) is a 2011 Japanese novel written by Kyo Shirodaira and illustrated by Hiro Kyohara and since volume 2, by Chasiba Katase. The manga was successfully adapted into anime and aired in 2021. The series combines elements of the supernatural and romance in a unique way. Hopefully, there will be more cute anime like Kyokou Suiri in the future.
The story revolves around Kotoko Iwanage, a young girl who might look normal but that could not be further from the truth. At the age of 11, she became a mediator between the spirit and the human world. Whenever youkai have some problem they wish to solve they contact Kotoko.
On the other hand, Kurou Sakuragawa is a 22-year-old university student who has just broken up with his girlfriend. Kotoko immediately makes her move when she sees the chance to become closer to Kurou and hopes to get married to him one day. She quickly realizes that Kurou has a lot of knowledge and can be a great help when it comes to solving the various problems presented by the supernatural so they become partners, but she is still hoping that she can make Kurou reciprocate her feelings in the process.
Here is the list of 8 anime like Kyokou Suiri.
8. Uta∽Kata
- Genres: Psychological, Drama, Magic
- Episodes: 12
Similarities
Both anime involve a girl who falls in love with a boy who is several years older than she is. The heroines have connections to spirits and experience supernatural phenomena.
Synopsis
It’s the last day of the school term at Kamakura Girl’s School, and summer is about to begin. Serious but polite 14-year-old Ichika Tachibana is excited to make her summer vacation with her friends a special break to remember! But little does Ichika know that this summer will be more special than she could have ever imagined.
While cleaning an unused school building, Ichika notices an image of an unfamiliar girl in place of her own reflection in a large mirror. Convinced by her friends that she was just seeing things, she is surprised to see the girl in the mirror later that day, holding her lost cell phone. Introducing herself as Manatsu Kuroki, she comes out of the mirror and hands Ichika’s phone back—and to Ichika’s surprise, the stones on her cell phone charm have changed colors and now allow her to borrow the power of the 12 Djinn that watch over the world.
(Source: MAL)
7. Nura: Rise of the Yokai clan (Nurarihyon no Mago)
- Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural
- Episodes: 24
Similarities
Both series take us into a world filled with youkai – the youkai are not always evil, they have unique personalities and motives. The main protagonists are keeping the youkai in check.
Synopsis
Rikuo Nura wants to lead a normal life but unfortunately, he is a quarter-youkai, turning into a youkai at night, for six hours at a time. As a successor to the famous Nura Clan and son of the renowned Nurarihyon, several youkai factions target both his youkai and human friends, and so, Rikuo is somewhat forced to embrace his youkai side if he wants to protect them.
6. Yu Yu Hakusho
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Supernatural, Martial Arts, Shounen
- Episodes: 112
Similarities
Another anime like Kyokou Suiri is Yu Yu Hakusho. The main character of Yu Yu Hakusho, Yusuke Urameshi, is similar to Kotoko in that he acts as a mediator between the human and spirit worlds. Yusuke has multiple partners, not romantic ones, but two of them are supernatural beings, who assist him in battling evil creatures on Earth.
Synopsis
After Yusuke Urameshi passes away in a car accident, he’s brought back to life under one condition: that he becomes a Spirit Detective. As a Spirit Detective, his job is to solve conflicts between humans and yokai.
(Source: ranker)
5. Noragami
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural, Shounen
- Episodes: 12
Similarities
Both Noragami and Kyokou Suiri present an unexpected partnership between a girl and a boy who are connected to the supernatural world of spirits.
Synopsis
Yato, the main protagonist of Noragami, is a minor deity who dreams of having a shrine and many worshippers. He takes on odd jobs to earn money for his shrine, and while searching for a lost cat, he meets Iki Hyori. She kindly pushes him out of the way of an oncoming bus but gets hit herself. Incredibly, she survives the accident but her soul becomes unstable, allowing her to see dead spirits and leave her physical body. Hyori demands that Yato returns her to normal, but she learns that he needs a partner to do so. With no other options, she reluctantly agrees to become his partner and help him on his journey.
4. Natsume Yuujinchou
- Genres: Slice of Life, Demons, Supernatural, Drama, Shoujo
- Episodes: 13
Similarities
Both of these anime feature a main character who can interact with supernatural beings, known as youkai, that are normally invisible to other people. Some of the youkai are friendly, while others are hostile.
Synopsis
Natsume Yuujinchou centers around Natsume, a 15-year-old boy who has always been pursued by youkai. He discovers that his deceased grandmother left him a Book of Friends containing the names of sealed youkai who hope to gain their freedom. Consequently, Natsume, with the help of his companion Madara, works to release the youkai bound by his grandmother’s contract.
3. Kamisama Kiss
- Genres: Comedy, Demons, Supernatural, Romance, Fantasy, Shoujo
- Episodes: 13
Similarities
Each of these anime focuses on supernatural elements, romantic relationships, and mythical creatures known as youkai. The main female characters have the ability to see and interact with these youkai and are accompanied by a powerful and feared partner. Their partnership extends beyond just a professional one.
Synopsis
The story follows Nanami, a girl who finds herself becoming a land god after being kissed by a stranger she had saved. In gratitude for her help, the stranger offers her a place to live in his abandoned home, which she discovers is actually a shrine filled with spirits and a powerful fox yokai named Tomoe. As Nanami struggles to fulfill her duties as a god, she and Tomoe’s partnership deepens and becomes more than just professional. Can she handle the challenges that come with her new role and will their relationship evolve?
2. Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator
- Genres: Fantasy, School, Super Power, Supernatural
- Episodes: 12
Similarities
Both shows feature supernatural and mysterious elements, with an overpowered male protagonist who acts as a protector for his child-like, short-haired female partner.
Synopsis
Academy City is plagued by darkness, and Accelerator, the strongest esper in the city, finds himself caught in the middle of a new conflict. Dubbed as a villain with style, he must once again stop evil and safeguard what he holds dear.
1. Kyoukai no Kanata (Beyond the Boundary)
- Genres: Slice of Life, Supernatural, Fantasy
- Episodes: 12
Similarities
Like Kyokou Suiri, Youkai no Kanata is a supernatural anime that features a lively short-haired girl and a boy with supernatural abilities. The boy is powerful and has extensive regenerative abilities, while the girl is closely connected to supernatural phenomena. The two meet due to their supernatural connection and eventually fall in love.
Synopsis
Akihito is half-youmu and Mirai is a hunter of youmu and the last survivor of a clan of Spirit World warriors. They’re classmates and one day, Akihito decides to save Mirai cuz he thinks she’s gonna jump off the roof, not knowing she’s a hunter. Mirai then tries to kill him with her blood-formed saber but fails because Akihito’s got immortal blood.
After that, they form an unexpected friendship but they gotta deal with some heavy stuff soon after.
I haven’t seen Kyokou Suiri yet but I really enjoyed a lot of the supernatural anime on your recs list, esp. YYH, so I’m sure that I’ll enjoy it. ?