English Dub Review: Kakuriyo-Bed and Breakfast for Spirits “I’m Marrying into an Inn for Spirits.”

It’s got a restaurant, spirits, and an inn. Exactly what it says on the tin.

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Aoi Tsubaki is a young female college student in Japan who, since an early age, has the ability to see spirits, known as ayakashi. She’s fond of some of the cuter ones, but also knows that the ayakashi can be quite dangerous if one looks them in the eyes or treats one improperly. On her way home from school, one day, she sees a masked ayakashi sitting on some steps, complaining about his hunger. She tries to ignore him but eventually decides to give the ayakashi some food so it doesn’t attack people. Her duty complete, she walks the rest of the way home, but hears the ayakashi call her by name; a name she never told the spirit.

Through an inner monologue, we learn that Aoi was taught things about ayakashi by her grandfather, who played an important role in her life. Sometime later, she comes across a mysterious box wrapped in a cloth with a glass rose on top. Presumably, this is a reward from the spirit she helped, so Aoi opens up the cloth around the box. All too late, she realizes her mistake, as she is immediately sucked through the box into another world, the world of spirits.

Aoi wakes from her paranormal passage in a room with the ayakashi, from the other day, who tells her that she is to be his betrothed and that he is an ogre. She tries to escape by running out of the room, but finds herself witnessing a beautiful sight from the balcony of what appears to be a castle: a city of spirits in the “hidden realm.” The ogre, named Oodanna comes out to explain what the hidden realm is and that he used to know Aoi’s grandfather. Turns out, Aoi’s gramps made a deal with this ogre king to pay off some debt. If he couldn’t find the money to pay the ayakashi, then he would marry his daughter off to him to settle their score. Aoi can’t believe her grandfather would do that, and furthermore wants nothing to do with any arranged paranormal marriage.

Oodanna decides then that his betrothed needs to learn her place. He tries to flatter her with a nice bath, a yukata and a massage from his servants, but these luxuries seem to have no effect on her disposition. He tries to convince her by telling her how much he’d love to eat her and how much he cares about her, but it is to no avail. Aoi asks how much her grandfather’s debt was, and tells Oodanna that she’ll pay off the debt another way. The only other way, it seems, is to find a job at the castle, but doing so would mean she gets no special treatment and no protection from Oodanna, even if another ogre wants to eat her. But Aoi will not be deterred, she sets herself to find a proper job in this crazy world.

Thoughts of her grandfather keep Aoi from sleeping, but in the middle of the night, a visitor arrives to welcome her to the castle. At her door is a fox boy named Ginji, who has a plate of inari in hand to feed the poor girl a decent meal. Conversation is lighthearted between the two, as Ginji’s friendly demeanor is a far cry from Oodanna’s cruel behavior. The two eat and Ginji tries to convince Aoi to go along with her marriage to Oodanna, explaining that he’s not such a bad guy. But Aoi is determined; she’ll get herself a proper job and get herself out of debt. She also reveals a story from her past to Ginji; a time when an ayakashi fed her when she was very young.

The next day, Aoi goes all over the hotel to try and find a job as a servant but finds herself rejected wherever she tries to apply. Solace is found however when a series of mysterious arrows painted on the walls lead her to a special room in the castle. Walking through the room’s entrance, she is transported to a beautiful mead containing an antique restaurant.

She sheepishly explores the restaurant only to find Ginji in one of his forms behind the bar. Ginji explains that he’s the one who made this restaurant to try and do something nice for the guests, but he’s had little success so far. He’s just about to give up on his dream, but Aoi insists on cooking something for the fox boy before calling it quits. At his behest, she makes him a delicious rice omelet that lifts his spirits and impresses him. He realizes that the two of them should reopen the restaurant with Aoi as a cook, and thus the premise of the show is fulfilled.

Our Take:

Well, this isn’t exactly a strong start for a new show. The episode does a good job of conveying its concepts and setup in a timely fashion but doesn’t exactly do a whole lot in terms of characterization. Aoi is, so far, extraordinarily plain, and the other cast members so far feel rather thing, to say the least. Furthermore, the quality of dialogue I’ve seen so far is really questionable, both in writing and delivery. The concept is cute and might be fun to run with, but this episode certainly isn’t doing the job it needs to.