Japanese ghosts and urban legends are classic, fun-to-explore tropes in anime, and there are plenty of anime with ghostly themes. The main character could be spiritually aware, a ghost, or a monster and the series could be a unique twist on traditional folklore. Some characters could just be surrounded by death itself, cursed with the worst of luck.

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Strange supernatural happenings are sure to follow these characters wherever they go, whether they're scaring friends and family members or being scared themselves. These anime characters hail from shows that are perfect additions to a fan's fall or Halloween-themed anime list.

10 Hanako-kun Adds A Unique Spin To The Hanako Legend (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun)

Images feature Hanako from Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun

Most anime fans know about the Hanako-san of the Toilet ghost story. Knock three times on the third stall door and call out to summon the ghostly girl from her hiding spot. However, Hanako-san will either pull her victim into hell or kill them on the spot upon her summoning. Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun created its own version of this spooky urban legend.

Instead of a girl, the ghost is a young boy with the same name. He's friendly and curious but not without a mischievous streak. Still, he means no harm. Small, white spherical spirits known as Hakujodai accompany him or the person who calls for him. But Hanako isn't without his mysteries. Anyone who's willing to get close to him will learn about his backstory and the world he now resides in.

9 Kazuma Kuwabara's Spiritual Awareness Kept Him On His Toes (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Images feature Kazuma Kuwabara from YuYu Hakusho

Even before he met Yusuke, Kazuma had an intense spiritual awareness that exceeds that of an average human's. He spends most of his life freaking out over ghosts no one else can see, often having nightmares or even sensing their presence at random times.

Kazuma and his sister, Shizuru, share this ability but never revealed it to anyone. It was Genkai that pointed out his spiritual awareness and offered to help him refine his skill. Kazuma's still not at the level of Yusuke and the others, but at least he's no longer afraid of the occasional ghostly visitor.

8 Ghosts And Neighborhood Gangsters Can't Get Enough Of Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Image feature Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach

If he wasn't fighting off daily challengers, Ichigo had one or two ghosts trailing after him. When he was a child, he developed spiritual awareness, so it was almost routine for him to see a local supernatural being here and there. No one else could see what he saw, making him an outcast.

Once he became a Shinigami, Ichigo's spiritual abilities drastically improved. Rukia and other Shinigami in the Soul Society could sense the dormant power, waiting to spill out at a moment's notice. It was a great choice to get him on their side.

7 Hiyori Iki Had A Life-Changing Experience Once She Met Yato (Noragami)

Images feature Hiyori Iki from Noragami

Before she met Yato and Yukine, Hiyori was just a regular middle schooler. On her way to school, she dies after saving Yato from an oncoming truck. In reality, the connection between her spirit and her living body is damaged, allowing her to see the supernatural realm.

Hiyori can now jump between the human and spirit worlds, but not of her own accord, and evil monsters are more than happy to devour her if she's not careful. She's forced to ask Yato for help restoring the connection and for protection from these dangerous beings. He's more than happy to be of assistance, as long as she helps him in return.

6 Hibiki Amani Made Friends With Her Local Ghosts (Re-Kan!)

Images feature Hibiki Amani from Re-Kan!

Hibiki's spiritual abilities were passed down to her from her late mother. Instead of being freaked out, she befriends every spirit she comes in contact with. Her politeness and lack of fear help her strike up a conversation with any of the local ghosts.

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Unfortunately, none of her new classmates can see who she's talking to. One student, Narumi, is willing to look past Hibiki's strange ability and hang out with her. It turns out that Narumi's afraid of any and everything spooky.

5 Takashi Natsume Spends Most Of His Childhood Running From Spirits (Natsume's Book of Friends)

Images feature Takashi Natsume from Natsume's Book of Friends

Unfortunately, Takashi can't get rid of his ability to see spirits. His ties with his late grandmother, Reiko, make him a prime target for any local apparition. Reiko's pranks forced their names into her Book of Friends, a powerful book that allows her to control them whenever she wants.

Since childhood, every spirit imaginable follows Takashi wherever he goes. He panics and runs away, but no one else can see them. He's lost friends, and most family members refuse to adopt him because he's deemed "creepy." As Natsume's Book of Friends progresses, Takeshi learns to accept his strange ability and spends his time learning more about his grandmother and the spirits that follow him.

4 Light Yagami Went From Normal To Spiritually Aware In One Day (Death Note)

Images feature Light Yagami from Death Note

Before he came in contact with the Death Note, Light was just a typical teenager. He had no spiritual abilities or special powers before acquiring the strange notebook.

The book belongs to a terrifying Shinigami named Ryuk, who dropped it into the human realm out of boredom. Light accepted the book, which allows him to see other Shinigami. He's ecstatic to know its true power and that he's one of the only people who can see these spirits. But he doesn't seem to realize that there's a lot more to the Death Note than he first realizes and soon uses it to achieve his deepest ambitions.

3 Horrifying Ghosts Follow Miko Wherever She Goes (Mieruko-chan)

Images feature Miko Yotsuya from Mieruko-chan

Miko Yotsuya is just a regular high schooler until she starts seeing the most gruesome spirits. Monsters with torn limbs, dirt and bloodstains, and dragging entrails make their presence known wherever she goes. They even follow her to school, interfering with her daily life and sending shivers down her spine.

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Miko's only remedy is to try to ignore them despite her growing fears. But staying indifferent only grows more challenging around her friends and classmates.

2 Jinta's Dead Friend's Spirit Still Haunts Him (AnoHana)

Images feature Menma from AnoHana

Since Menma's death, Jinta stayed locked up in his room and never attends school. He's drifted apart from his other friends, feeling guilty about the accident surrounding her death. However, Jinta's not alone in his solitude. He's actually the only one out of his friends who can see Menma.

She follows him around, asking him to grant her a final wish to help her pass on. At first, Jinta believes he's hallucinating Menma to cope with his grief, but her recurring appearance slowly becomes an undeniable reality and the push he needs to reconnect with his childhood friends.

1 Kotoko Iwanaga Is The Spirits' And Humans' Mediator (In/Spectre)

Images feature Kotoko Iwanaga from In/Spectre

At 11, Kotoko was kidnapped by spirits and tasked as their "goddess of wisdom." Her deductive skills are second to none, and they helped her communicate between the living and the dead. Ghosts of all kinds travel from all parts of Japan in hopes of receiving her advice.

As part of her contract, Kotoko traded her right eye and left leg in return for the spirits' obedience. They hold her in high regard, frequently asking her to solve their problems, though a few wayward monsters love to start trouble. Kotoko's accepted her job and does it with pride, even if it freaks out those around her.

NEXT: Toilet-bound Hanako-kun & 9 Other Anime Ghosts You'll Love