Ghost Slayers Ayashi (2006)
Ghost Slayers Ayashi is a Japanese anime series, created and written by Shō Aikawa and produced by Bones. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, it featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto and premiered across Japan on October 7, 2006 on TBS's 6:00 pm doroku timeslot, which has previously occupied other noted anime Blood+, Fullmetal Alchemist and both series of the Gundam Seed franchise. It received its satellite television premiere across Japan on Animax on November 14, 2006, and also received its English language television premiere on Animax's English networks across Southeast Asia and South Asia, Animax Asia, from January 2009. While originally scheduled to air for 52 episodes, the series' length was shortened to 25 due to its low ratings and ended its run on March 31, 2007.
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Episode 1 - The Youi Arrival
Release Date: 2006-10-07Torii Yōzō, the South Edo Magistrate, promises to recognize the legitimacy of the Bansha Aratamesho if Ogasawara and the others can recruit a man called Ryūdō Yukiatsu into the organization.
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Episode 2 - The God of the Mountain Falls
Release Date: 2006-10-14Yukiatsu helps the other Ayashi to protect Ōta from the Yōi.
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Episode 3 - Doctrine 3 - Dark Flow of Flowery Edo
Release Date: 2006-10-21The samurai residential quarters of Edo are under attack by the second Yōi. Meanwhile, Yuki must choose between a life with Ōta and Tae-san or a life as an ayashi.
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Episode 4 - The Living Doll
Release Date: 2006-10-28The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is investigating a series of missing persons around the circus area in Yotsuya. The South Edo Magistrate are also pursuing the same case.
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Episode 5 - Murderer`s Story
Release Date: 2006-11-04Tamahei, the Okappiki, suspects that Yukiatsu might have murdered someone in Edo 15 years ago.
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Episode 6 - Dragon Aura Running
Release Date: 2006-11-11The serpent Yōi runs wild in Edo. Torii plans to use Atl as human sacrifice to appease the Yōi.
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Episode 7 - The Dragon in the Cloud
Release Date: 2006-11-18Yukiatsu tries to draw out the Ayagami from the serpent Yōi, but finds he is unable to do it. The only thing to do is to try to take the Ayagami from Shichi in order to subdue the Yōi. To change the serpent Yōi into a good spirit, Kumoshichi fuses himself with it.
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Episode 8 - Fox Play
Release Date: 2006-11-25The Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement is given jurisdiction to investigate the case of missing people around the Kabuki playhouses. Saizō is adamant to investigate the case without Yukiatsu's help.
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Episode 9 - Front and Back
Release Date: 2006-12-02Saizō is possessed by the Mask Yōi and her dance is drawing all Yōi into Edo. Ogasawara orders his Ayashi to terminate Saizō.
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Episode 10 - Holy Music of Girl Smelling March Flowers
Release Date: 2006-12-09After Ryūdō confronts Saizō and saves her from the Mask Yōi, Saizō manages to destroy the Yōi herself.
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Episode 11 - Nikkou Spirit Highway
Release Date: 2006-12-16Ryūdō and Ogasawara travel along a highway outside Edo, slaying Yōi to make a safe path for an important official to travel through the area.
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Episode 12 - Equine Dragon, Howling at the Moon
Release Date: 2006-12-23The Western Ones use the Killing Stone to summon a vast number of Yōi in the Nikkō region. Meanwhile, Ogasawara is told he must kill his old friend Kanō to prove his innocence.
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Episode 13 - Record of Rumors of Hell and Paradise
Release Date: 2007-01-06Tamahei, the policeman, explains to Kai Shūzaburō, a young painter, about the Bansha Aratemesho. His story recaps all the previous episodes.
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Episode 14 - Butterfly Dance
Release Date: 2007-01-13After a woman is murdered in the brothel district, Shūzaburō and Atl come under suspicion from a special branch of the police called the Arson/Thievery Investigations.
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Episode 15 - Woman on the Rashoumon Riverbank
Release Date: 2007-01-20The Arson/Thievery Investigations continue to investigate the murders. Eventually the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement discover that the killer is a Yōi which uses human bodies as a chrysalis.
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Episode 16 - The Machine Tribe
Release Date: 2007-01-27The government officials supporting the Office of Barbarian Knowledge Enforcement come under attack by an elusive gunman, and the ayashi investigate. Meanwhile, Abi meets a tribesman from his past.
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Episode 17 - Cloistered World
Release Date: 2007-02-03Saizō and Edo Gen are help captive by the mountain tribesmen, who reveal that their true target is Torii Yozo. Meanwhile, the other ayashi investigate the tribesmen and Abi searches for his sister.
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Episode 18 - Wanderer`s Paradise
Release Date: 2007-02-10The attack on Torii fails. Abi continues to seek his sister, but eventually learns that she resides in the Other World and has become a demon.
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Episode 19 - Three Yukiatsus
Release Date: 2007-02-17Two people, a boy and an aging man, appear in Edo, both claiming to be called Ryūdo Yukiatsu. The ayashi investigate this and in doing so discover more about Ryūdo's past.
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Episode 20 - Shinobazu Pond Lullaby
Release Date: 2007-02-24Yukiatsu must decide whether he wants to return to his family permanently. The Ryūdo family sword transforms into a giant yōi and Ryūdo fuses with Kumoshichi to defeat it.
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Episode 21 - To End on a Starry Night
Release Date: 2007-03-03The Western Ones create a new Yōi which travels to Edo and attacks a series of young girls, transforming them into heartless killers. Atl and Saizō act as bait for the Yōi but in the end it chases Edo Gen instead, and is later killed by Ryūdo.
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Episode 22 - A Drunk Who Doesn`t Come Home
Release Date: 2007-03-10The ayashi hunt down a sake-based Yōi which dwells in the water systems. Meanwhile, Atl meets a samurai who will soon be forced to commit seppuku so she tries to open a gate to the Other World which will lead him to safety.
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Episode 23 - Official Construction in Old Canal of Inba Marsh
Release Date: 2007-03-17The Ayashi receive a plea for help at the Inba Marsh construction site, but Atobe orders Ogasawara to not take action because Torii is supervising the construction and his failure could provoke his downfall. However, Ogasawara does not stop the other Ayashi from going there instead.
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Episode 24 - Fantasy of the Latter Southern Dynasty
Release Date: 2007-03-24Atl's dissatisfaction with the Human world reaches its peak, and she summons a massive Yōi which falls under the Western Ones' control. To complicate matters, Yuki discovers that Genbatsu has joined the Western Ones.
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Episode 25 - Intermission
Release Date: 2007-03-31To complete their master plan, the Western Ones use Atl's power to summon another gigantic Yōi deep into the Ayashi's lair, but Yuki and his companions bring forth the full power of their ayagami to stand against them.