Seiji and Oko run a rental shop, lending out items (presumably for a fee, though money is never mentioned), in Edo, which was going through a lot of fires at the time, meaning that people didn't like properly owning things.
But it's not just any old things they loan out. As might be guessed by the title, they happen to be Tsukumogami. These are possessions which are sufficiently cherished that over the period of their "lives" as used objects, they become living spirits, and take on a life of their own. They can transform from whatever they actually are (a comb, a hanging picture, a pipe and so on) into a (sometimes vaguely) humanoid shape, which lets them wander about, have a conversation, or fight crime.
Which is where the siblings come in. Ever since Seiki's family took in Oko, they've lived and worked together, looking after the various items. They're one pair of the (very) small number of people who can perceive Tsukumogami in their spirit shape. (I think. There's some ambiguity as to whether people can't see them, or they pretend to be simple objects when in view, similar to Andy's toys.)
This is very handy when it comes to solving mysteries. The small objects can effectively act as spies or listening devices, picking up on gossip or discovering the secrets that torment the clients who come to visit our shop keeping pair. There's an unexpected amount of skulduggery, and it's surprising how much of it can be sorted out by the concerted effort of the spirit avengers.
What was also a pleasant discovery was just how much information this series was going to give me about Edo Period Japan. There's a lot of cultural background and insight into the social structures of the day, along with the more expected stuff about the artifacts that the shop are lending out. This is a little more sneaky about it than Cells at Work, which tends to smack you in the face with the flappy bits, but it's still educating me.
I wasn't sure about this one initially, but it's growing on me. There's a bit of a sneaky plot building with hints of a dark past, and the various spirits have some entertaining dialogue when they meddle in the human's lives, and the informative aspect is pleasing. It also has a lot of value in the interpersonal relationships of the shop's clients, which tend to be interesting when viewed through modern viewpoints. One to stick with, even though I discovered it late in the season.
Tagged: Anime Drama Workplace/Employment Supernatural Slice of life Crunchyroll Subbed