Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Book of Friends)

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The Natsume Book of Friends, Manabiya no Sumi, Natsu ni wa Tameiki wo Tsuku

Japanese: 夏目友人帳

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: Unknown

Chapters: Unknown

Status: Publishing

Published: Jun 10, 2003 to ?

Genres: Drama, Supernatural

Theme: Iyashikei

Demographic: Shoujo

Serialization: LaLa

Authors: Midorikawa, Yuki (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.67¹ (scored by 12,000 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #73²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #390

Members: 49,676

Favorites: 2,329

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8.67

Ranked #73Popularity #390Members 49,676

MangaLaLaMidorikawa, Yuki (Story & Art)

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Natsume's Book of Friends

Vol. 1
$6.99

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Synopsis

Takashi Natsume is a 15-year-old boy who wants nothing more but to live a normal life like everyone else. But to his dismay, like his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he possesses the ability to see "youkai," or spirits. Natsume eventually discovers that Reiko had bequeathed to him a book of contracts in which she had bound youkai—the "Book of Friends." However, without Reiko ever calling upon the spirits' names, they have been left in a confined state. Now, these spirits continuously pursue Natsume in the hopes of having their contracts dissolved for freedom.

While there may be gentle, harmless spirits which come to Natsume for help, there are also malicious, hostile spirits that threaten him. This is where Madara steps in, a spirit disguised as a rotund cat. Commonly referred to as Nyanko-sensei by Natsume, Madara is a self-proclaimed bodyguard who has his own motives for accompanying Natsume.

Natsume Yuujinchou is a supernatural slice-of-life series about a boy who struggles to live a normal life while balancing the spirit and human worlds and acquiring important life lessons along the way.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Natsume Yuujinchou was nominated for the first Manga Taishou Award in 2008.

The series has been published in English as Natsume's Book of Friends by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint since January 5, 2010.

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Characters

Natsume, Takashi

Main

Madara

Main

Natsume, Reiko

Supporting

Tanuma, Kaname

Supporting

Natori, Shuuichi

Supporting

Matoba, Seiji

Supporting

Kogitsune

Supporting

Taki, Tooru

Supporting

Hinoe

Supporting

Fujiwara, Touko

Supporting

Reviews

Mar 6, 2025

Alice98

Recommended

Preliminary (123/? eps)

Natsume's Book of Friends is an incredibly funny and touching iyashikei (healing manga) about estrangement and friendship, loss and discovery, loneliness and belonging. (Please note that this reviewer has not only read the manga, but also watched the anime, and is as such expressing, for the most part, their views on both.)

Some chapters are hilarious, others bring tears to the eyes, and most mix these two extremes to perfection, expertly combining comedy with emotion in a way that never feels forced nor moralizing. It is without a doubt a masterpiece in its genre, a unique and rewarding experience deserving of greater recognition and praise.

It's not ... always perfect (some stories are better than others, as would be expected from such an episodic narrative), but overall it manages to keep the reader engaged and entertained. If the first few volumes feel uneven, containing several weaker episodes, the later ones more than make up for them, offering greatly improved stories, storytelling and artwork.

The characters and the interactions between them play a large role in holding the reader's attention and care, building a strong foundation that slowly and gratifyingly evolves. There is always more to learn about the human cast, their personal past and family history. The yôkai, their idiosyncrasies, desires and designs bring a lot of diversity, fun and adventure to each chapter’s plot.

Each character is unique, and some, such as Natori, Matoba and Nanase, create an interesting contrast with the protagonist, Natsume Takashi. Others, especially Taki, Tanuma, Nishimura and Kitamoto (as well as Natori), give Takashi a support group and a chance to grow as a person. As an orphan that had until the story’s beginning been regularly shuffled between households, as well as mistreated and shunned by everyone, these new friendships mean a lot to Takashi, as does the couple that takes him in: Tôko and Shigeru-san, distant relatives on his father’s side.

Natsume's Book of Friends begins with Takashi having recently come to stay with them, his new foster parents, in the town in which they live. This town happens to have been one his maternal grandmother, Natsume Reiko, had dwelt in for a while, a coincidence which accounts for the numerous yôkai acquaintances in the area.

While the newly formed bonds of friendship and family ties bring comfort to Takashi-kun, they also become a source of anxiety for him. Not only does he have to try and keep his ability to see and interact with yôkai a secret from most people, but he also has to worry about keeping others safe from the yôkai that pursue him for various reasons (generally to seek and attempt to steal the Book of Friends Reiko left behind). Used to being on his own (and to dealing with problems on his own), Takashi learns little by little to trust his friends more, namely Taki, Tanuma and Natori, those that know of his abilities and of his inheritance. Nevertheless, he still tends to worry about worrying others, especially Tôko and Shigeru.

Enter Nyanko-sensei, Takashi's self-proclaimed bodyguard and, even if he refuses to admit it, closest friend. The relationship between the two is perhaps the manga’s (and the anime’s) strongest point. Though they do help each other, it is Nyanko-sensei’s knowledge and power that allows Takashi-kun to lead a more or less peaceful life.

All in all, both manga and anime feel like home. The world of Natsume's Book of Friends is a reassuring environment, a safe and happy place (despite the dangers involved in dealing with both yôkai and exorcists). Even if some chapters are weaker and the artwork is at times somewhat lacking or confusing to follow, this manga is outstanding and quite memorable (and the anime, devoid of the aforementioned shortfalls, even more so). It is, therefore, a commendable work and a more than worthwhile read.

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Mar 27, 2022

Nailwind

Recommended

Well-written

Preliminary (107/? eps)

Before I start, I have to preface that this is not a detailed breakdown but instead a description of what this manga encompasses emotionally, as I think that's far more fair and appropriate to the story -- as such this might be all over the place, sorry. Applies to both the manga and the anime -- the anime elevating it even further with it's unforgettable soundtrack.
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Natsume Yuujinchou is the only story I can wholeheartedly tell was and can only be created by a truly kind and loving person. I yearn to be able to put that much soul, emotion and love into a story to ... the point that it oozes from the pages.

It never depends on intense drama, shock, bawling, etc. - anything that'd want to force you to feel something from the weight or display of it, instead the story's greatness is in the quiet and subtle moments. The character's very eyes often hold entire slews of information about how they might be feeling or what they are thinking despite the manga's simple art. It's best moments most often delivered from one tiny panel, accompanied at most by a string of few words - but that's all it takes to deliver the most heartfelt of messages.

It's a true masterpiece through and through, among the likes of Mushishi and Aria, and there's not many that would ever be capable of executing it the same way. It's a very underrated style of expression and storytelling because of it's gentle nature, so fickle that'd it slip through your fingertips if you were to hold it. It's truly ephmeral.

People of today want to experience stories and cinema that make it obvious for them when and what to feel instead of truly immersing oneself in the world and lives of said characters. Personally, most often I'm brought to tears outside the ''peak'' moments of Natsume when reading, because a lot of it's impact is experienced in echoes or when your mind is wandering after the scene. It's after things are said and done that it slowly dawns on you, some kind of realization or just your heart opening to the quiet beauty of ''human'' condition.

It's always gentle and gives the reader a choice of what to feel instead of going: ''This is a sad moment, you should feel NOW''. A part of that is thanks to the setting of the story and the episodic nature, there rarely are extremely dire stakes or some great twists/revelations, instead - it's characters trying to make it through another day or parting with regrets, developing in an organic and drifting manner. Even when things are at their most tense, the story always relays an air of ''things don't have to be this way'', encouraging one to get in touch with their own emotions and talk it through - be it with someone else or yourself.

You get to live through dozens of lives and see dozens of resolutions thanks to it's episodic storytelling. Nothing ever overstays it's welcome and you are inevitably bound to find a favorite chapter, perhaps one that would make you realize something about yourself.
These chapters are the embodiment of that feeling of just being on a balcony, reminescing of something dear that might be gone or realizing it too late, quietly ushering yourself into the sentiment and nostalgia of whatever it may be.

It's a manga that exemplifies that to have something great you only need simple ingredients that are well cooked - in Natsume's case, however, they are cooked to perfection.
You don't need anything grand or groundbreaking to leave a mark on people.. Truly a manga that will make you kinder and more peaceful -- a must-read for the soul, the very epitome of a healing story.

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Jun 16, 2020

abystoma2

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (99/? eps)

Natsume Yuujinchou - the poor man's Mushishi.

On a paper, the concept looks good. Youkai are great source of inspiration for a story - their variations can lend to a distinct feel and even their most basic form appeal as something unusual to a western reader. Sadly, it's something you can keep milking only for so long if you don't improve the staleness of the story itself. Yes, the main weakness of Natsume Yuujinchou is that it's going on for way too damn long without much change of variety. Yes, it is episodical, but unlike the forementioned Mushishi that is still highly creative with it's variations ...

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Poll: Natsume Yuujinchou Chapter 12 Discussion removed-user - Sep 12, 2009	2 replies	by szern »» Jan 21, 1:35 PM
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Poll: Natsume Yuujinchou Chapter 98 Discussion Kuma - Dec 31, 2019	2 replies	by subtra3t »» Oct 27, 2024 10:21 AM
Poll: Natsume Yuujinchou Chapter 112 Discussion Ittan_Momen - Jun 3, 2024	0 replies	by Ittan_Momen »» Jun 3, 2024 7:06 PM
Poll: Natsume Yuujinchou Chapter 111 Discussion Kuma - Dec 14, 2022	1 replies	by Ittan_Momen »» Jun 2, 2024 12:06 PM

Natsume Yuujinchou
Natsume's Book of Friends
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Natsume's Book of Friends
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