Natsume Yuujinchou Shi

Takashi Natsume, the timid youkai expert and master of the Book of Friends, continues his journey towards self-understanding and acceptance with the help of friends both new and old. His most important ally is still his gluttonous and sake-loving bodyguard, the arrogant but fiercely protective wolf spirit Madara—or Nyanko-sensei, as Madara is called when in his usual disguise of an unassuming, pudgy cat.

Natsume, while briefly separated from Nyanko-sensei, is ambushed and kidnapped by a strange group of masked, monkey-like youkai, who have spirited him away to their forest as they desperately search for the Book of Friends. Realizing that his "servant" has been taken out from right under his nose, Nyanko-sensei enlists the help of Natsume's youkai friends and mounts a rescue operation. However, the forest of the monkey spirits holds many dangerous enemies, including the Matoba Clan, Natsume's old nemesis.

Stretching from the formidable hideout of the Matoba to Natsume's own childhood home, Natsume Yuujinchou Shi is a sweeping but familiar return to a world of danger and friendship, where Natsume will finally confront the demons of his own past.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Natsume, Takashi Main

Kamiya, Hiroshi Japanese

Madara Main

Inoue, Kazuhiko Japanese

Natsume, Reiko Supporting

Kobayashi, Sanae Japanese

Tanuma, Kaname Supporting

Horie, Kazuma Japanese

Natori, Shuuichi Supporting

Ishida, Akira Japanese

Matoba, Seiji Supporting

Suwabe, Junichi Japanese

Taki, Tooru Supporting

Satou, Rina Japanese

Hinoe Supporting

Okamura, Akemi Japanese

Fujiwara, Touko Supporting

Itou, Miki Japanese

Hiiragi Supporting

Yukino, Satsuki Japanese

Sasaki, Reiko Producer

Kyoutani, Tomomi Producer

Sugawara, Hirofumi Producer

Yokoyama, Shuko Producer

Reviews

Mar 28, 2014

jawnmewn

Recommended

*This review encompasses all four "seasons" of Natsume's Book of Friends*

There is a wide variety of adjectives you can use to describe an anime series; hilarious, dramatic, romantic, horrific, and the like. Natsume's Book of Friends is best described using the words beautiful, heart-warming, and emotional. It is rare to find a series that evokes such powerful emotions in each episode without dropping the ball for four seasons, but Natsume's Book of Friends makes it seem effortless with masterful storytelling along with a strong cast of characters.

The premise of the story is supernatural: our protagonist Natsume Takashi can see "youkai" or spirits, a trait inheritedfrom ... his late grandmother Reiko, along with inheriting her "Book of Friends", which contains the names of youkai that she had defeated and bound to her by taking their name. He then sets out to return those very names while defending himself from those who would use the book for power or personal gain. Throughout the series, he meets, befriends, and also defeats many different youkai along the way.

While the premise might be supernatural, the underlying themes present are ordinary, yet powerfully represented and explored. Humans are social by nature, but when the opportunities to socialize are made impossible, feelings of loneliness and sadness become overwhelming and consuming. Natsume's peculiar ability has always alienated him from any potential friends or companions, and as a result feels hated and isolated from the human world.

While Natsume's situation is fictional, the problem is all too real. People who have trouble talking to others, or have strange habits or appearances are often shunned and isolated as well, and feelings of loneliness and depression become quite commonplace. Feelings of being left out, of not being wanted, and being misunderstood: everyone in some point in their life have experienced these emotions, and can relate to Natsume in some way, shape, or form, and even if you can't, sympathy is something you will always feel towards him. Such a gentle person put through that kind of mental strain at such a young age can only be sympathized with.

Natsume's Book of Friends depicts Natsume's life as he struggles with these issues, and how genuinely kind and helpful people come into his life and give him the encouragement and support he needs to overcome the adversaries within himself. Through his school friends, both those who know about his ability and those who don't, he is greatly encouraged to seek out the positives in his life and to look forward to a bright future instead of his dark past. Instead of only being able to confide and rely in himself, he has trustworthy and genuine friends that he can turn to for aid. His adoptive guardians are loving and extremely caring for people that are very distant relatives to Natsume, and his relationship with them grows into something very powerful and heart-warming where he only wishes happiness and safety for the couple that he could never possibly repay.

Each episode is unique story(aside from the two episode stories) that ends in a message for both Natsume and the watcher to take to heart. Each episode evokes feelings of happiness, sadness, or suspense and was entrancing to watch beginning to end. The stories are well written and the pacing, while a bit slow, makes you savor the moments even more. There was never a dull moment; from watching Natsume and Nyanko-Sensei go at it and quarrel like two best friends, to his interactions with the youkai and seeing their stories unfold; simply put, it was beautiful and pleasant to watch.

The art is marvelous to look at. The endless creativity of the people who animated this series amazes me. From each individual spirit, to the entrancing landscape and background, to the abilities and interactions of humans and youkai, everything was crisp and well animated. The music often is lighthearted or tugs at the heartstrings. The ED for season 1 is a personal favorite.

Natsume's Book of Friends has taken a common genre and turned it into nothing short of a masterpiece. With characters that will stay in your mind long after the conclusion and stories that leave deep impressions and powerful messages, the tearful and joyful moments that this series presents to the watcher is nothing short of beautiful and compelling.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Jul 12, 2013

ItsPHI

Recommended

What? It's over already?!

Those thoughts never left my head while watching this season. Although I'll have to admit, I was slightly disappointed in the lack of "big events" during this season. However, the anime has always kept a relaxing mood, whilst gently adding action and drama in small amounts. It'd be weird if something completely crazy and big were to happen anyways. I found myself wishing Natsume would say more things, admit more things, yet how realistic is it for him to actually do everything we as the viewers want him to do? In reality, Natsume has always acted in character, even when he ... grew and his ideals changed, he still was realistic and understandable.

Nyanko Sensei was also quite the character. His loyalty was admirable throughout the series, and although slightly boisterous he was undoubtedly intelligent. He managed to subtly enter his way into the family, assisting Natsume's effort to further develop his bonds with not only Youkai, but also humans.

When I took a day or two break from the anime, I lost interest in finishing it. However every time I watched just one episode, I was hooked right back into the anime and my eyes were glued to the television screen.

I'm definitely going to miss this anime and the characters. I do wish there was another season explaining more of the past of Nyanko Sensei and Reiko. The 52 episodes of Natsume Yuujinchou have gone by so quickly as I would have expected. I bid a farewell to this highly enjoyable anime!

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jan 1, 2024

KrenZane

Mixed Feelings

I can’t even begin to understand why this show doesn’t touch me that much at all. It has all the right elements from the get-go with a relationship-related theme absolutely relevant for someone like me and the consistency to carry that theme out in a multitude of storytelling approaches utilizing its format as an episodic story to its maximum advantage. Plenty of facets regarding connection are laid out in every episode. But still, despite it being my cup of tea, why do I not find it beyond the realm of “alright” and “just good”?

If I were to describe what I feel, it would be that ... Natsume Yuujinchou is quite “faint”. Whether it’s the visuals, the characters, and the story itself, they appear much like apparitions that if somehow evolve into a solid figure with promising features burn out all their luster quickly, ephemeral and languid. And no, this isn’t me being overly analytical over a simple show to relax and heal. Even during my vegetative states I did not find any nourishment sticking strongly to fuel my love for the series. Four seasons in and it’s only scratched the surface.

One thing that has bothered me a lot is Reiko’s confusing character writing. She’s painted with reverence and general positivity by a few youkai while hated (deservingly) by most others. We still don’t know yet her complete story, or at least even the reason why she made the ironically titled “Book of Friends” to soothe her loneliness as a societal oddity like Natsume. I say there’s irony in its entitlement due to how she basically cages in the freedom of the youkai mostly minding their own businesses after a duel and subjugation and calls it a “Book of Friends”. Its title only finds appropriate grounds for Natsume, which finds meaningful relationships by the bonding of struggle and the virtue to let go.

I just find Reiko to be such an enigma, but not even with enchanting mystique that mysterious, unknown characters usually radiate with. Her actions still look unjustifiable, even deplorable, when it’s already the 4th season. I think it’s been way past the time to reveal how she’s truly influenced the bedrock of the story and finally clarify where she stands, as someone integral to the movement of the story. The slacking pace is not bad per se, quite the contrary for an iyashikei piece—it’s a jewel of the crown giving shine, and therefore a strength that allures the viewer. But as Reiko, who is involved in pretty much every youkai’s life Natsume has encountered, is still tangled with contradiction and unfavorable mystery, there is a huge portion of adoration sapped from my person.

Additionally, the glue holding everything compact is still as weak as Natsume’s connection to society before the present age. As of now, the series feels rather disjointed in that the whole is comprised of faded individual parts. In other words, most episodes are not too memorable nor do the numbers hold as much proportional augmentation for the theme. No episode has yet evoked within me sweet serenity, heart-gratifying and soul-soothing moments that linger.

As a concrete example to outline the disappointment of these remarks, here’s my fleshed-out thoughts I commented under my Anilist watch activity on episode 3 and 4 of this season, brimming with positive comments.

~~

Episode 3 has been the most packed standalone Natsume Yuujinchou episode in my memory, with a maximally polished narrative that of course holds closeness and relevance to its grand theme of overcoming loneliness through meaningful connections achieved through kindness and understanding.

What's chronicled throughout is Natsume and Fluffball's link. Natsume found him preyed on by crows. He attempted to remedy his wounds only to be inflicted with the youkai's poison as a defense mechanism. Fluffball eventually calmed down, and became a docile little limbless Kuriboh who has established an emotional connection with Natsume, a human.

As with most other episodes of the series, this episode underlines the differences between the the human and the supernatural to paint a vivid picture for a more successful conveyance of message. To enumerate, as Natsume applies an ointment for Fluffball, he states his doubts on the effects as he's unsure if human medicine can do the trick. Despite that, he salves the wound and secures it with band aids. This single statement brings texture and depth when towards the end Natsume monologues about how his desires to be kind to everyone as a way to repay the love he has received. The lack of proper communication that lies deep within human-youkai interactions fosters misunderstanding of intents, which makes acts of kindness and trust mistranslated from one party to another.

And so, kindness does not always work; we've learned that across the four seasons with Natsume. Even the youkai Natsume helped at the beginning of the episode turned its back on him, cursed him without registering his stand. But still, Natsume continues to persevere with a pure heart.

Another noteworthy point is Nyanko-sensei telling Natsume how a lot of youkai aren't good for humans, and that opening up one's heart to them can only lead to ruin. This is a remark to Fluffball's poison which weakened Natsume and gave his hand scars. What he received for helping was this.

Our protagonist's tender heart of course wouldn't yield despite the harsh truth that more often than not, his care won't be reciprocated--even given back in a contrary form. But in the long run, there is merit to having faith in the kindness that hides deep within all of us, which we'll eventually realize later into the episode.

Fluffball is actually part of the Karu, a legendary race of youkai that migrates like birds, according to Hinoe. In the same conversation, the two usual youkai that flock around Natsume laugh at its appearance, perhaps implying the inferiority of such a little youkai. But what makes them special is that it bands together to form a dragon-like creature that helped Natsume from Amana's clutches at the end of the episode. Together, they are powerful. Hinoe says that that's how the weak survive, and doesn't that mirror humanity as a whole?

There is beauty in this episode filled with warmth, like how Fluffball left medicinal berries to counteract the poison, how the camera focuses on Natsume's wounded hand as he uses it specifically to reach for Fluffball and urge him to come closer to him, how Natsume recognized Fluffball among the hundreds to thousands of other Karu most probably through its band aids--the bonds found in pain and healing--and/or through a spiritual connection, the guilt that Fluffball has when it only wanted to help Natsume but instead, in a panic of other youkai's entrance, inflicted another wound on Natsume's face. There is so much realism that this supernatural show brings.

"The Little Ones" presents the miracles only unity through kindness can spring forth and the importance of empathy and active understanding.

~~

Episode 4 further focuses on distance, where separation is the essence of youkai-human relationships. "They could not be together" is most logical and reasonable, but time and time again Natsume breaks barriers, and even some other youkai have close relationships with humans as well (albeit they most likely end tragically).

What I like about Natsume Yuujinchou is that in the conflict that is very much staple between humans and youkai, what with its already-established division into separate universes, is that it also reflects human connection. Here, Yobiko, a youkai, was shocked in first knowing that humans who loved each other could still not build bridges connecting one another, that entities being of the same plane can be separated. This gap between humans struck deep for Natsume, as a friend of solitude all his life. His viewpoint as a human who can perceive and interact with otherworldly spirits makes his position most unique within the story.

Fastforward to this story piece, we learned that the letter contained a message of gratitude for Yobiko. "Thank you, for telling me the truth," it concisely says. The youkai thought Youko resented him all this time since he told her the facts of Takahiko's sudden disappearance, and so we end in this heartwarming note which gives further hope in the unity between humans and youkai.

In the same way, truth can bring humans closer together. This episode presents how empathy and understanding is not a stranger to any creature, and so will help Natsume's character to perhaps accept that the special people in his life can also accept him for all he his. It's been reasoned out that Natsume hides his youkai interactions to avoid his friends and especially his family be less worried about him, but I'm praying that he learns to share his burdens and in exchange receive more love and security, and thanks for telling the truth.

~~

Evidently I don’t hate this series, just sad at how it hasn’t touched even near the inner circle of the dart board, or if it did, it swerved itself away from the area, or if by some fantastical magic shaken off it for every quake a new dart brings. Compare the while-experiencing and the having-experienced and the gap between it yawns wide. Admittedly reviewing every season makes it a bigger deal than it should be, so there’s that to be considered. If the show does grow on me eventually, I’ll look back at the early seasons with a look of endearment tinged with wistfulness as I view from the place where Natsume has reached the places that he’s been.

That expressed, there is still beauty in the 4th season of Natsume Yuujinchou as a standalone season. Each and every episode we find Natsume growing and making use of the lessons he’s received from the previous seasons. Most especially, he’s solidifying the circle confirming his existence in the human world and has faced the memory of his parents he has long since buried. To add, we had an emotional flashback of Natsume’s childhood when he was still hovering between households to-and-to. That package containing resolutions of his past unfolded a covenant that vows a better propitious following seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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