For Those Interested in Japanese Classical Literature, These Anime Series are a Must-Watch!

Kapanlagi.com - Japan is indeed a fascinating country to visit. In addition to its beautiful places, its culture is also interesting to learn. One of the cultures from the land of the rising sun that has captivated many people around the world is its classical literature.

The classical literature of each country is unique and has its own unique charm. Various mystical stories, fairy tales, legends, and reflections of someone's life in the past are conveyed in written form that can be read by everyone in the future.

Here are a series of anime that contain stories from Japanese culture and classical literature. With stunning visuals, studying these old stories from the land of the cherry blossoms will certainly not be boring!

1. AYAKASHI: JAPANESE CLASSIC HORROR (2006)

AYAKASHI: JAPANESE CLASSIC HORROR (Credit: IMDb)

Like its title, AYAKASHI: JAPANESE CLASSIC HORROR is an anime that adapts mystical stories in Japan. In contrast to its dark story, the visuals presented by this anime are quite colorful and artistic.

This anime has 3 horror stories from Japanese society. The first story is about a female ghost seeking revenge, the second story is about forbidden love between a human and a goddess, and the last one is about a prospective bride who is killed by a mystical creature.

2. MONONOKE (2007)

MONONOKE (Credit: IMDb)

MONONOKE is a spin-off from the anime AYAKASHI: JAPANESE CLASSIC HORROR. The artistic impression displayed is no less impressive than the previous series. This anime discusses 4 classic Japanese horror stories, including Zashiki-warashi, Umibouzu, Nopperabou, Nue, and Bakeneko.

This anime revolves around an unnamed person who works as a medicine seller. Although only working as a medicine seller, he has the ability to hunt ghosts. Eventually, this anime will tell the story of how he eradicates the ghosts in the places he visits during his journey.

3. AOI BUNGAKU SERIES (2009)

AOI BUNGAKU SERIES (Credit: IMDb)

AOI BUNGAKU SERIES is an anime that adapts 6 classic stories from several famous Japanese writers. For fans of the anime BUNGOU STRAY DOGS, the names of the writers whose stories are used in this anime will surely not feel unfamiliar. Because it is adapted from several literary figures, this anime certainly has a variety of story genres.

This anime has 2 stories by Osamu Dazai titled NO LONGER HUMAN and RUN, MELOS! Then, there is a story by Ango Sakaguchi titled SAKURA NO MORI NO MANKAI NO SHITA and one story by Natsume Soseki titled KOKORO. Last but not least, the last 2 stories belong to Ryuunosuke Akutagawa with the titles THE SPIDER'S THREAD and HELL SCREEN.

4. CHOUYAKU HYAKUNIN ISSHU: UTA KOI (2012)

CHOUYAKU HYAKUNIN ISSHU: UTA KOI (Credit: IMDb)

CHOUYAKU HYAKUNIN ISSHU: UTA KOI is an anime adapted from the romantic poetry anthology HYAKUNIN ISSHU. HYAKUNIN ISSHU itself is a collection of 100 romance poems from 100 different poets. Therefore, it can be said that this anime is an interpretation of those poems.

UTA KOI tells the love stories of 12 couples in the Heian Era. It not only focuses on romance, but also touches on common social and cultural issues that occurred during that time. Therefore, not all couples in this anime have a happy ending.

5. SHOUWA GENROKU RAKUGO SHINJUU (2016)

SHOUWA GENROKU RAKUGO SHINJUU (Credit: IMDb)

Unlike the previously mentioned anime that are adaptations, SHOUWA GENROKU RAKUGO SHINJUU is not an adaptation of a classic story. Nevertheless, this anime provides a lot of knowledge about the traditional Japanese storytelling art called rakugo.

This anime tells the story of a man who is a former prisoner and wants to start a new life. He decides to learn the art of rakugo after being captivated by its performance while in prison. For those of you who are very interested in rakugo, this anime is highly recommended for you to watch!

So, those are some anime that have elements of classic Japanese literature with interesting storytelling and visuals. Happy watching and learning!

Written by: Ursea Mayoriska

(kpl/mag)