Who hasn’t longed at some time for a magical and powerful companion to rescue them from the dreariness of everyday life? Kantaro Ichinomiya has dreamed since boyhood of finding and setting free a legendary demon-eating crow tengu, sealed away centuries ago. Now Kantaro works as a writer, folklore researcher, and solver of supernatural mysteries, aided by his pert and attractive assistant, Yoko, a fox spirit. Called into the countryside to solve a case of demonic possession, Kantaro stumbles upon an abandoned temple. Could this be the place where the legendary tengu is imprisoned? Using esoteric chants, he breaks the seal and sets the black-winged tengu free. He names him Haruka, thus binding him to serve him. Just in time, as it turns out, for the lurking demon resists all Kantaro’s attempts at exorcism. Haruka come to his new master’s rescue, setting the pattern for the ensuing episodes.

And yet ‘Tactics’ is so much more than a ‘solve the supernatural mystery of the week’ series. Set towards in a period of great change towards the end of the Meiji era,(late nineteenth century) there is an underlying sense of culture clash between the traditions of old Japan and the growing influence of the west. Kantaro and his companions use steam trains, photography and trolleys, but while Kantaro and Yoko dress in traditional costume, Haruka and Suzu (the token young girl who tags along with them) adopt western clothing. Some of the cases that Kantaro is called to solve are poignant and touching, such as episode 6 ’The Ghost Trolley Departs At 9.07p.m.' Others, such as episode 2 which deals with a geisha, possessed by the spirit of her dead lover, are genuinely disturbing.

'Tactics' is rich in the folklore that Kantaro researches. In episode 3, Kantaro is called to solve a mystery of disappearing children; the whole episode is threaded through with a singing game, ‘Kagome’, that the village children play, treading an ancient circle dance. This episode also introduces Sugino, a white tengu, the mountain god, and his ‘wife’, a cute little green monster called Muu-chan.

There is some delightful humour showing Haruka’s attempts to come to terms with ‘modern’ times; check out the scenes where he gets his finger stuck in an empty soda bottle. Haruka is good at sulking, too; when Kantaro’s playful teasing becomes too much to bear, he tends to take to the roof or fly away.

The relationship between Kantaro and Haruka is the strongest undercurrent that stops 'Tactics' from being too episodic. There are occasional hints that Kantaro is hiding much deeper feelings towards his dark protector. But Haruka is growing increasingly troubled by the fact that he cannot remember why he was sealed away or who sealed him. In episode 12, the first clues to his past are revealed when he is captured and put to the test by the servants of Lord Raiko Minamoto. But these are only hints (there are another twelve episodes yet to come) and it is to be hoped that the mystery will be properly resolved by the end of the series.

I’ve used the Japanese dub name ‘tengu’ for Haruka, where the US dub uses ‘goblin’. To my western ears, ‘goblin’ conjures up the image of a stooped, deformed, leering creature of darkness, whereas Haruka is bishonen personified: dark good looks, dishevelled hair, and crow-black wings. Other minor quibbles? The tacky music used whenever Kantaro begins the powerful Nine Word Chant jars badly with the evocative snatches of koto music.

‘Tactics’ is a visual feast: the characters are exquisitely drawn and animated, the title sequence and credits are rich in the gorgeous patterns of traditional Japanese fabrics. The depictions of the countryside are atmospheric, so that it is all too easy to believe in the spirits and demons Kantaro encounters haunting the woods and mountains.

In Summary

Given the engaging storyline, beautiful artwork, and sympathetic characters, ‘Tactics’ is a real find for anyone who enjoys mysteries with a flavour of Japanese folklore. The boxed set is also a bargain, with thirteen episodes, extras, bonus booklet (not seen)and six trailers.