I think I already recommended this to Smith1980, but it's worth repeating: I think lots of girls in Japan love Natsume's Book of Friends. I enjoy it too, although I've only seen the anime. A solitary boy who can see youkai inherits a notepad full of their names, from his dead grandmother. He's educated about this notepad by a powerful spirit in the guise of a lucky cat, who becomes his grudging bodyguard and they go on to have ghost adventures together. It's like Mushishi but more playful and in my (probably unpopular) opinion better, notwithstanding a sprinkling of sappiness which should appeal to young girls.

Spooky elements are there but very mild. Natsume's growing relationship with his foster family is a background theme but it's wholesome. As family friends, they've taken him in in their twilight years, so he has a bit of a personal journey where he learns to appreciate them as parent figures who care about him rather than strangers whom he's inconveniencing.

I think I already recommended this to Smith1980, but it's worth repeating: I think lots of girls in Japan love Natsume's Book of Friends. I enjoy it too, although I've only seen the anime. A solitary boy who can see youkai inherits a notepad full of their names, from his dead grandmother. He's educated about this notepad by a powerful spirit in the guise of a lucky cat, who becomes his grudging bodyguard and they go on to have ghost adventures together. It's like Mushishi but more playful and in my (probably unpopular opinion) better, notwithstanding a sprinkling of sappiness which should appeal to young girls.

Spooky elements are there but very mild. Natsume's growing relationship with his foster family is a background theme but it's wholesome. As family friends, they've taken him in in their twilight years, so he has a bit of a personal journey where he learns to appreciate them as parent figures who care about him rather than strangers whom he's inconveniencing.

I think I already recommended this to Smith1980, but it's worth repeating: I think lots of girls in Japan love Natsume's Book of Friends. I enjoy it too, although I've only seen the anime. A solitary boy who can see yokai inherits a notepad full of their names, from his dead grandmother. He's educated about this notepad by a powerful spirit in the guise of a lucky cat, who becomes his grudging bodyguard and they go on to have ghost adventures together. It's like Mushishi but more playful and in my (probably unpopular opinion) better, notwithstanding a sprinkling of sappiness which should appeal to young girls.

Spooky elements are there but very mild. Natsume's growing relationship with his foster family is a background theme but it's wholesome. As family friends, they've taken him in in their twilight years, so he has a bit of a personal journey where he learns to appreciate them as parent figures who care about him rather than strangers whom he's inconveniencing.