Copyright © 1997 Muraichou Memu - Media Works / HJ Creation Committee

We first looked at HAUNTED JUNCTION in EX 4.3, back in the days when AnimeVillage.com offered two episodes per VHS volume. But now, continuing Bandai Entertainment's plan to flood the North American anime scene with complete series for bargain prices, all 12 episodes of HAUNTED JUNCTION are available in one two-disk DVD set.
Just to reiterate what was covered in our last review, HAUNTED JUNCTION takes place in the most haunted school in Japan (thanks to its headmaster being so preoccupied with acquiring occult items). To make sure the ghosts do not get out of line too much, Haruto, a son of a Christian minister, is reluctantly shanghaied into being the "Holy" Student Council president. The other members consist of the happily bribed Mutsuki, a daughter of a Shinto priest, and Kazuo, a son of a Buddhist monk. Mutsuki is a budding master at performing exorcisms, Kazou gets possessed at the drop of a hat and Haruto is without any real special abilities, which causes many humorous situations.
Over the course of the series, Haruto gains the support of seven school spirits who assist the council with various supernatural problems. Most of the stories are relatively episodic, and everything from dead souls unable to reach their final resting place, opened gates to demon worlds, beauty contests between toilet spirits, overzealous exorcists, and full out manga paper wars will occur.
The late-night TV production values for this 12 episode series are not bad, though occasionally the character consistency and style takes many shortcuts. However, for uncut anime purists, it does not get any better than this DVD set: a really clean video transfer with few artifacts, unmodified openings and endings with their original Japanese credits, original Japanese dialog only with selectable soft DVD subtitles, next episode previews, commercial break cuts, etc. You could almost sell this DVD set directly in Japan as is (though you would have to increase the price dramatically).
HAUNTED JUNCTION certainly fits my criteria as an anime I would normally expect to remain "only in Japan." Why, you might ask? While the drawing style and the targeting of an older audience are well on their way to becoming accepted norms in North America and the world, I am talking more about some specific content. The show expects a general Japanese knowledge on ghosts and myths at times (for example, do you know about the tale of Toilet Hanako-san?). Character comments and traits like Mutsuki's Shouta complex (she really likes her boys young) would rarely appear unedited in a release outside of Japan, and you will never see this on domestic TV. HAUNTED JUNCTION is certainly not for young children, but nothing is really overly risqué either in the anime scheme of things.
For those with a strong interest in Japanese culture and offbeat comedy, run now to pick up HAUNTED JUNCTION. There are a ton of anime in-jokes as well, and the more familiar you are with the various shows, the more you may appreciate HAUNTED JUNCTION. It definitely is not for everyone though, as the humor is an acquired taste in parts, but, for the price of admission I certainly feel that HAUNTED JUNCTION is a worthy purchase.

Released in North America by AnimeVillage.com
DVD Subtitled, 300 minutes
AV-1130
$39.98
Available now in the USA
Where to buy