Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 1 by Yuki Midorikawa

But the rumors about the old school being haunted are absolutely true, and the spirit that lives there has a special hatred for humans! So when some of the other kids invite him to a test of courage at the old abandoned high school, he joins in despite his reservations. Much to his surprise, Takashi is settling into his new home. Now Takashi is the owner of the book, and the creatures will do anything to get their names back. When Reiko was Takashi's age, she bound the names of demons and spirits in her Book of Friends, enslaving them to her capricious whim. At first the chapters are rather episodic in a monster of the week style (but many really touching and never boring), but somewhere along the line more characters, supernatural and human, appear and as Natsume’s friends and acquaintances expand, the plot branches out.Ĭover & Artwork: The artwork has a lovely light touch which adds to feeling of otherworldliness and gives it a sense of fragility.This list contains all chapters current in Tankobon format.

Not to mention this erratic lucky-cat (that is actually something very different) called Nyanko-sensei. Plot: Natsume has to cope with his ability to see ayakashi and with the mysterious “Book of Friends” his grandmother left behind.

Mostly the ayakashi are shown as having different values or being ignorant of human customs. What I adore the portrayal of the ayakashi is that Natsume always tries to understand the circumstances of a creature first and only if there is no other way will try to bind it or even kill it. It is almost always less about the being’s strangeness and abilities, but rather its hopes and wishes.Ĭharacters & Relationships: Every character is incredibly unique and loveable in their own way. The focus on interpersonal relationships in a world where a vast array of supernatural creatures are never far, is the key to making this story so wonderful. Setting: Rural Japan in all its loveliness! (When it comes to a time period I’d say, roughly the ‘here and now’.)Ītmosphere: At once magical and ordinary. Themes: Being different, loneliness, creatures from myth and legend, friendship and camaraderie and the meaning of family. In SHORT: Magical, personal and quietly brilliant.

Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 1 by Yuki Midorikawa