I got this softcover at Barnes and Noble. It's from a manga series based on a novel, about a youth who has become something of a consultant/private investigator for yokai. Since I haven't read the previous volumes and there isn't a story-so-far segment, I had to dive into this one without a lot of context, but all in all it seemed a pretty decent supernatural-investigation tale. This one mainly involves the mass deaths of fish in a small village, where people have cited a wooden figure walking to the beach each night... There are a number of theories as to what the figure is and why it's behaving as it does, and most of the story involves working out the truth behind all of these suggestions - while trying to stop the damage.

There's a bonus story, a short one about a tōfu-kozō, a cute little boy-spirit who serves tofu - and is upset with Kotoko when her reaction is "it's quite well made". Seems he wanted something more effusive, and when she suggests that he diversify his flavors, all is well.

[There's a TV Tropes page on the novel and adaptations, with some entertaining tidbits.]

I'm sending this to BCer HI77 as part of a trade. Enjoy!

*** Released for the 2020 Spooktacular October challenge. ***

Beyond a smelly beach,

there is more tto this
then the swaths of dead fish.