Hozuki’s Coolheadedness Season 1: A Hellishly Good Time

Let’s cut to the chase—Hozuki’s Coolheadedness isn’t your average anime. No shonen power-ups, no high school drama, no “save the world” plots. Instead, it’s a wild ride through Japanese Hell, where the most overworked demon in the underworld keeps the bureaucracy running smoother than a well-oiled torture machine. And honestly? It’s one of the funniest, most unique shows I’ve binged all year.

First off, let’s get the basics straight. This 2014 series (from Studio Pierrot, the folks behind Naruto) adapts Natsumi Eguchi’s manga about Hozuki—Lord Enma’s right-hand demon, who’s basically the underworld’s version of a micromanaging CEO with a penchant for goldfish plants and deadpan snark. Hell here isn’t just fire and brimstone; it’s 272 subdivisions of chaos, from the “Blazing Colosseum” to the “River of Three Crossings,” and Hozuki’s job is to make sure all of it doesn’t collapse. Think The Office but with demons, and instead of TPS reports, they’re handling rogue spirits and diplomatic meetings with Heaven.

What makes Season 1 so addictive is how it balances absurd humor with tiny, human (well, demon) moments. Take Episode 13, for example—the one where we meet kid Hozuki. Fans on MyAnimeList went nuts for this: “Kid Hozuki is so adorable xD” one user gushed, while another added, “I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him.” And yeah, tiny Hozuki in a little kimono, scheming like a mini-adult? Chef’s kiss. The episode’s B-plot about “Child’s Limbo”—where ghost kids beg for DS games and pull pranks—had me cackling. Imagine being a dead kid and still wanting to play Animal Crossing. Relatable.

But it’s not all jokes. The show sneaks in heart without being cheesy. Hozuki might be a stone-cold demon who threatens to turn people into goldfish snacks, but he’s also weirdly good with kids. In one episode, he helps a group of ghostly toddlers find peace by setting up a “reincarnation gacha” (yes, like those mobile game loot boxes). The twist? One tough kid gets reincarnated as a girl, and the end scene of his friends reacting had fans rolling: “Imagine if the other kids found out their leader was turned into a girl,” someone joked. It’s silly, but it’s also kind—Hozuki’s way of saying, “Even in Hell, everyone deserves a second chance (or a good laugh).”

The humor here is dry—like, Sahara-level dry. Hozuki’s one-liners are so deadpan, you’ll miss them if you blink. When a monk tries to perform a “miracle” to calm a哭闹 baby, Hozuki deadpans, “Magic tricks won’t work that… but miracles do the tricks tho.” Fans ate that up: “5/5 Perfect magic tricks,” one user rated it. Another loved his “weirdo scheme” whenever trouble strikes—because Hozuki doesn’t just solve problems; he solves them with style (and maybe a little psychological torture).

What’s also cool is how the show dives into Japanese folklore without feeling like a textbook. You’ll see characters from Momotarou (the Peach Boy) bickering with demons, or the Ox-King from Journey to the West popping in for a diplomatic visit. It’s like a crash course in mythology, but with jokes about Hell’s HR department. And the art? Studio Pierrot kills it—bright, colorful, and full of tiny details (like Hozuki’s goldfish plant collection) that make Hell feel weirdly… homey.

Now, let’s talk about the fan love. MyAnimeList is full of people raving about how “this episode was definitely one of my favorites yet” and “I do love your dry sense of humour and wit :’)” (talking to Hozuki, obviously). Even the complaints are minor—“Damn, it sucks to be all caught up with this anime,” one user moaned, which is basically the highest praise you can give a show.

If I had to sum up Hozuki’s Coolheadedness Season 1 in one sentence? It’s like if The Devil Wears Prada met The Muppets in Hell—and everyone brought their A-game. It’s smart, it’s silly, and it’s the kind of show that makes you laugh so hard you snort, then pause and go, “Wait, did I just learn about Japanese folklore?”

So, if you’re a 20-something who’s tired of the same old shonen tropes or just wants something to watch while you eat ramen, give this a shot. Just don’t be surprised if you start quoting Hozuki’s deadpan lines (“I will seriously hurt you”) to your friends. Trust me—they’ll get it.

Hell has never been this much fun. 🔥🐠