Tōdō Hiroka no Reiyūtan deserves a place alongside Ugetsu Monogatari and Yotsuya Kaidan in the canon of Japanese ghost literature. Its innovation lies in relocating the supernatural from the cemetery to the conscience. The spirits that encircle Hiroka are not wronged souls seeking vengeance but crystallizations of his own denied truth. The tale’s enduring power is its insistence that the most frightening ghosts are those we carry within—and that the only way to break the circle is not through sword or prayer, but through the agonizing work of self-recognition. In an age of digital spectacle and externalized terror, Hiroka’s quiet, encircling ghosts remind us of a more ancient horror: the self from which we cannot flee. As the temple priest says, “You are the haunt. And you are the haunted. The circle is you.” This, finally, is the reiyūtan : not a tale of spirits, but a tale of the spirit’s own self-imprisonment.
If I'm not mistaken, this is a Japanese manga and anime series. Here's a feature on it: toudou hiroka no reiyuutan
In a crowded genre, Toudou Hiroka no Reiyuutan distinguishes itself by treating its ghosts as characters rather than just monsters. Hiroka herself is a grounded protagonist; she isn't a fearless warrior, but a vulnerable individual trying to maintain her humanity while dealing with the macabre. Key Characters Tōdō Hiroka no Reiyūtan deserves a place alongside