This show is based on a manga by Aki Shimizu, based on the Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s “Hyakki Yakou” novel series of which the author also adapted most of the series into manga. "Chuuzenji-sensei Mononoke Kougiroku: Sensei ga Nazo wo Hodoite Shimau kara" is a prequel to those novels, chronicling the post war years the main character spent as a high school teacher after serving in the army during the war. The prequel is a watered-down version of the novel stories, with less dangerous stakes, and more of a slice of a life bent to the stories. This is intentional because this series was serialized in a shounenmagazine, a more accessible gateway to the “Hyakki Yakou” novels. An original addition to this story is Kanna the high school student who serves as P.O.V. character for those new to Natsuhiko Kyogoku’s characters.

The episodes are mostly standalone stories and sometimes two are adapted in one episode. The milieu is a coed high school, so the stories mostly revolve around Kanna's schoolmates and immediate neighborhood. The mysteries themselves hint of a supernatural origin but are resolved with a succinct explanation by Chuuzenji-sensei. I think mysteries without murder, which contrast with the “Hyakki Yakou” novels that has plenty of it, is an underrated genre.

The weakness of this show is the visual element. The animation is average, and the backgrounds are pretty basic. It doesn't even have that Showa era vibe I associate with shows and movies set in the period. However, it does make the most of its limitations to produce an interesting show that I follow week in and out while it was broadcasting. In fact, I was considering giving this a 6 but I think the last episode was solid enough to push it to 7. It was my favorite episode of the bunch.

I recommend this show for fans Natsuhiko Kyogoku and Aki Shimizu who hunger for more content from these authors. I discovered the “Hyakki Yakou” manga adaptation because of this show, and I find myself wanting more because the manga was never translated officially to English. Some of the novels have English translations, but that's it. Having this anime was like a welcome rain after a long drought. These mystery stories are good, but there are other anime mystery shows with high school protagonists with better production values.