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{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{wikify|date=June 2008}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox animanga/Header
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Natsume Yūjin Chō
| image = Natsume's Book of Friends 1.png
| caption = First {{Lang|ja-latn|[[tankōbon]]}} volume cover, featuring Takashi Natsume and Madara
| image =
| caption =
| ja_kanji = 夏目友人帳
| ja_kanji = 夏目友人帐
| ja_romaji = Natsume Yūjin-chō
| genre = {{ubl|{{Lang|ja-latn|[[Iyashikei]]}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Season 6 – The Spring 2017 Anime Preview Guide|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2017/spring/natsume-book-of-friends-season-6/.114701|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 22, 2021|date=April 12, 2017|quote=the entertainment value comes from its iyashikei, “healing,” atmosphere—the painterly countryside that's so influenced by the seasons, and the vulnerable emotions shared between characters who have been growing closer over many years. — Lauren Orsini|archive-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725024224/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2017/spring/natsume-book-of-friends-season-6/.114701|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]<ref name="VizOfficial"/>|[[Supernatural fiction|Supernatural]]<ref name="VizOfficial">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/natsume-s-book-of-friends|title=The Official Website for Natsume's Book of Friends|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513151541/https://www.viz.com/natsume-s-book-of-friends|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
| ja_romaji =
| genre = Drama, Supernatural
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Manga
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| title =
| type = manga
| author = [[Yuki Midorikawa]]
| author = [[Yuki Midorikawa]]
| illustrator =
| publisher = [[Hakusensha]]
| publisher = {{flagicon|Japan}}[[Hakusensha]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=[[Viz Media]]}}
| demographic = ''[[Shōjo manga|Shōjo]]''
| publisher_en =
| magazine = {{ubl|[[LaLa DX]] {{noitalic|(2003–2008)}}|[[LaLa]] {{noitalic|(2007–present)}}}}
| publisher_other =
| magazine = [[LaLa DX]]
| first = June 10, 2003
| first =
| last =
| last =
| volumes = 5 (ongoing)
| volumes = 30
| chapter_list =
| volume_list =
| demographic =
| OEM =
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Anime
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| title =
| type = tv series
| director = [[Takahiro Omori]]
| director = {{ubl|[[Takahiro Omori]]{{efn|Credited as Chief Director (総監督) for episodes 53 through present}}|Kotomi Deai (53–74)|Hideki Ito (75–present)}}
| producer = {{ubl|Ayako Yokoyama|Akiko Odawara (1–13)|Masanori Miyake (1–26)|Ikuhide Ichikawa (1–26)|Sayako Muramatsu (14–26, 53–74)|Tomomi Kyōtani (27–52)|Reiko Sasaki (27–52)|Hirofumi Sugawara (27–52)|Fumi Yazaki (53–74)|Kazuya Satō (53–74)}}
| writer =
| writer = {{ubl|Kenichi Kanemaki (1–26)|Sadayuki Murai (27–present)}}
| studio = [[Brain's Base]]
| music = [[Makoto Yoshimori (composer)|Makoto Yoshimori]]
| licensor =
| studio = {{ubl|[[Brain's Base]] (1–52)|[[Shuka (studio)|Shuka]] (53–present)}}
| network =
| network_en =
| licensee = [[Crunchyroll]]
| network_other =
| network = [[TV Tokyo]]
| first = [[July 7]] [[2008]]
| first = July 8, 2008
| last =
| last =
| episodes = 13
| episodes = 74
| episode_list =
| episode_list = List of Natsume's Book of Friends episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = ova
| director = {{ubl|Takahiro Omori {{abbr|(chief)|Chief director}}|Kotomi Deai}}
| producer = {{ubl|Ayako Yokoyama|Tomomi Kyōtani|Tomoko Taneoka|Reiko Sasaki}}
| writer = {{ubl|Takahiro Omori (1)|Aya Yoshinaga (2)}}
| music = Makoto Yoshimori
| studio = Brain's Base
| licensee = Crunchyroll (1)
| first = December 15, 2013
| last = February 1, 2014
| runtime = 22–23 minutes
| episodes = 2
| episode_list = List of Natsume's Book of Friends episodes#OAD and OVA LaLa Specials
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = ova
| director = {{ubl|Takahiro Omori {{abbr|(chief)|Chief director}}|Kotomi Deai}}
| producer =
| writer =
| music = Makoto Yoshimori
| studio = Shuka
| licensee = Crunchyroll
| first = March 22, 2017
| last = October 25, 2017
| runtime = 22–23 minutes
| episodes = 4
| episode_list = List of Natsume's Book of Friends episodes#OAD and OVA LaLa Specials
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = ona
| studio = Shuka
| released = April 21, 2021
| runtime = 2 minutes
| episodes =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title = Anime films
| content =
*''[[Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie|Ephemeral Bond]]''
*''[[Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor|The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor]]''
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''Natsume's Book of Friends'''''|夏目友人帳|Natsume Yūjin-chō|lead=yes}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series by [[Yuki Midorikawa]]. It started in [[Hakusensha]]'s [[Shōjo manga|''shōjo'' manga]] magazine ''[[LaLa DX]]'' in June 2003, where it ran until April 2008; it has been serialized in ''[[LaLa]]'' since July 2007. The chapters and special chapters have been collected in 30 {{Lang|ja-latn|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes as of September 2023. The manga is licensed for English-language release in North America by [[Viz Media]], which released the first volume in January 2010.


The series follows Takashi Natsume, an orphan boy in his late teens who can [[Extrasensory perception|perceive]] and combat {{Lang|ja-latn|[[yōkai]]}}. One day, Takashi finds a very old notebook that his late maternal grandmother, Reiko, an [[exorcist]] who possessed strong spiritual powers, used to bind dozens of powerful demonic [[Japanese deities|spirits]], both good and evil (known as either {{Lang|ja-latn|[[Ayakashi (yōkai)|ayakashi]]}} or {{Lang|ja-latn|yōkai}}), that she defeated to follow her very whim and desire if called upon. Takashi resolves to give back all the names in the age-old notebook, Book of Friends, and in the process joins forces with another feline/wolf-like spirit called Madara (nicknamed "Nyanko-[[sensei]]" in his borrowed [[Maneki-neko|lucky cat]]-like form), who knew Reiko when she was alive. Madara takes the form of an overweight cat and intends to take back the notebook after Takashi dies. Until then, he agreed to protect Takashi from the nefarious spirits who want to harm him for being the grandson of Reiko, who died in her young adult years decades prior to the story.


The series has been adapted into a series [[drama CD]]s. An [[anime]] television series adaptation, produced by [[Brain's Base]] (seasons 1–4) and [[Shuka (studio)|Shuka]] (seasons 5 onwards), have been broadcast on [[TV Tokyo]] in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017. A seventh season was announced in 2023 and will premiere in 2024. Two anime films, ''[[Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie]]'' and ''[[Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor]]'', were released in 2018 and 2021, respectively. The first four seasons of the anime were licensed by [[Nippon Ichi Software|NIS America]] for a North American release in 2012 and released on home video in Japanese with English subtitles. The series has also been streamed by [[Crunchyroll]], who produced an English dub in 2022.
{{Nihongo|'''''Natsume Yūjin-Chō'''''|夏目友人帳}} is a japanese [[manga]] by [[Yuki Midorikawa]] serialized in [[LaLa DX]] ([[Hakusensha]]) from 2005 with 5 volumes (ongoing).


By September 2023, the manga had over 16 million copies in circulation.
An [[anime]] adaptation started airing in Japan on [[July 7]], [[2008]] and is produced by [[Brain's Base]] on [[TV Tokyo]]. A second season will air in [[January 2009]].


== Story ==
==Story==
For as long as he can remember, Takashi Natsume has had the rare ability to see and commune with {{Lang|ja-latn|[[yōkai]]}}, inheriting the power from his late maternal grandmother Reiko. This ability resulted in his having a lonely childhood, because children his age considered him strange. He had also been passed from one paternal relative to another. Upon her death at a young adult age, Reiko bequeathed to her grandson her Book of Friends, a book containing the names of hundreds of spirits she had bullied into servitude.
Natsume's just an ordinary kid, except he can see spirits, just like his grandma Reiko could. Reiko, though, used to bully the spirits, and bound them to her will in the "Book of Friends". Now that Natsume has inherited this book, a never-ending stream of spirits is coming after him. With the help of a spirit "cat" (who really just wants Natsume to die so he can have the book), Natsume spends his days dissolving the contracts that bind the spirits and trying not to get killed.


The Book of Friends is considered a highly prized item in the supernatural world, and spirits—both good and malicious—hunt Takashi constantly because of it. Takashi spends his time dissolving the contracts that Reiko created and releasing the various spirits that come to him. Malicious spirits, on the other hand, try to kill him to obtain possession of the powerful Book of Friends, which is where Madara (called "Nyanko-sensei" by Takashi) comes in. Madara serves as Takashi's bodyguard and spiritual advisor of sorts, even though he is ostensibly motivated by his own desire to possess the Book of Friends once Takashi dies. He later begins to become more attached to Takashi, with the latter forming a similar bond with Madara.
==Characters==
'''Natsume Takashi''' {{anime voices|Hiroshi Kamiya}}
:The main character of the story. Like his grandmother, Natsume Reiko, Takashi has the ability to see spirits. He has inherited the Book of Friends, a book of names that no one but Reiko, Takashi, and other spirits can read. Because of Takashi's strong resemblance to Reiko, he is often mistaken for her, causing spirits who hate Reiko to chase him constantly. He decided to dissolve the Book by giving all the names back to their owners. He is accompanied by the spirit Madara, nicknamed "Cat" because of the spirit's appearance, and has promised that to pass the book on to Cat when he dies.


Takashi also finds a good friend in an [[exorcist]] named Natori Suuichi, who also one of the very few humans who is capable of perceiving and taking down spirits via certain banishing or sealing spells, but also finds a dangerous adversary in Matoba Seiji who has plans for wanting Takashi to join him and his nefarious clan of exorcists. Takashi is determined to release all of the names before the conniving Matoba clan or other malicious spirits attempt to use it for their own gain as he tries to learn whatever he can about his maternal grandmother and the strong spiritual connection they share.
:Takashi is an orphan. When he was younger, his parents died, and he was constantly sent to live with relatives. Because of his ability to see spirits, Takashi would scare his relatives because they didn't understand what he was doing. Eventually, Takashi lived with an old couple from his father's side. He loves them, and does not want to cause them trouble, so he keeps quiet about his problem. Takashi has developed a good punch, since he constantly has to escape from spirits, he punches them (mainly Cat) with enough strength to knock them out or stun them. He also has a bit of a short temper, since he argues with Cat most of the time. In the anime, he is more cheery and good-natured, while in the manga, he is slightly more dismal and short-tempered.


==Characters==
:Takashi is able to return the names inscribed in the Book of Friends by first picturing the spirit in his mind in order to learn the spirit's name. The book flips to the page on which the name is written and Takashi takes the page and places it in his mouth while breathing out. The spell which originally enslaved the spirits used Reiko's saliva and breath, though as Reiko's grandson and one who bears a strong resemblance to Reiko, Takashi is able to use the spell as well. The cost of releasing the name, however, is that Takashi's energy is completely drained in the process.
===Main characters===
; {{nihongo|Takashi Natsume|夏目 貴志|Natsume Takashi}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Hiroshi Kamiya]],<ref name="BTVA">{{cite web|title=Natsume's Book of Friends (2022) Japanese Cast|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Natsumes-Book-of-Friends/japanese-cast/|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=March 21, 2023}}</ref> [[Ayumi Fujimura]] (young)|[[Adam Gibbs]],<ref name=dub>{{cite web|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Season 1 English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/07/22-1/natsumes-book-of-friends-season-1-english-dub-announced-cast-crew-revealed|website=[[Crunchyroll]]|last=Dempsey|first=Liam|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=July 22, 2022|archive-date=July 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722171526/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/07/22-1/natsumes-book-of-friends-season-1-english-dub-announced-cast-crew-revealed|url-status=live}}</ref> Paige Guillory (young)}}
: Takashi Natsume, just like his long deceased maternal grandmother, Reiko, is able to perceive and hear {{Lang|ja-latn|[[yōkai]]}}/{{Lang|ja-latn|[[Ayakashi (yōkai)|ayakashi]]}}. It is from Reiko that Takashi inherited the "Book of Friends"—a ledger of names written by ''ayakashi'' after being bested by Reiko in some type of contest. Because possession of an ''ayakashi'''s false name obliges it to heed any command of the one who has the decades-old magical/spiritual book, the abuse potential of the Book of Friends is vast: and as such, is considered far too dangerous and forbidden to even exist.
: Because of Takashi's strong resemblance to his late maternal grandmother, Reiko (both in appearance and spiritual powers), ''yōkai'' routinely mistake him for her, often pursuing him intensely under the mistaken presumption of shared history and understanding. Accordingly, a regular part of Takashi's daily life is spent trying to cope with the idiosyncrasies, and discern the true intentions of such ''yōkai'': e.g., those who still deeply resent Reiko, but covet the great power of the Book of Friends to bend hundreds of various levels of ''yōkai'' to their will; those who feel perpetually lonely and hurt that Reiko never called upon them anymore as the decades passed until her demise as a young adult underneath a tree; those who simply want their names returned to them; and pretty much anywhere or everywhere in between.
:Upon discovering the Book of Friends he inherited from his late grandmother Natsume Reiko, Takashi, overly kind but detached in demeanor, driven in equal parts by curiousness and conscientiousness—decided to take responsibility on his own terms, to return the names of the dozens of ''ayakashi'' to their owners himself: and in doing so, learn more about his maternal grandmother and the spiritual connection they shared. He is aided in this by the formidable ''yōkai'' Madara (whom he calls "Nyanko-sensei": a nod to both his usual cat-like appearance and his self-proclaimed job-title of "bodyguard"), to whom he has promised the Book of Friends should he die.
: Takashi is an orphan; his mother (Reiko's illegitimate daughter) having died giving birth to him sixteen years ago, and his father died when he was a very young child, leaving him to be passed from distant paternal relative to paternal relative: in large part due to the "odd" or "creepy" behavior one might expect from a young child able to see creatures no one else could see. Behind Takashi's perpetual distant smile hides a childhood spent in constant anxiety and shame: borne in equal parts of the ayakashi and the people who called him a liar and attention-seeker because of them. Takashi is eventually passed on to the Fujiwaras, a middle-aged couple on his late father's side of the family. He loves them, and does not want to cause them trouble, so he keeps this 'alternate landscape' problem to himself. Being the only grandchild and descendant of the infamous Reiko, his innate spiritual powers are quite immense, allowing him to actually incapacitate and/or purify ''yōkai'' with one punch alone, as well figure out if a human is possessed.
: Takashi is described by the series author, Yuki Midorikawa, as "a boy who is trying to be a kind person."<ref name=":0">{{cite book|first=Yuki|last=Midorikawa|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010|orig-year=2005|isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|location=San Francisco|chapter=Afterword|page=195 }}</ref>
: Takashi returns the name inscribed in the Book of Friends by first picturing the ayakashi in his mind. The book flips to the page on which the name is written and Takashi takes the page and places it in his mouth and exhales. Takashi is only able to do this because he is Reiko's only direct descendant. The cost of releasing the name, however, is that Takashi's spiritual energy is drained temporarily. If an ''ayakashi'' becomes emotionally unstable, in the same space, its dreams may flow into Takashi's.
: On the other hand, most of the ''ayakashi'' let Takashi see into their memories, so that he can understand them and his long deceased grandmother better. Takashi can also see their memories when he releases a ''yōkai''{{'}}s name, seeing their last encounter with a teenage Reiko. When Takashi is completely frustrated over a problem and falls asleep in class, he actually sleep-draws in his notebook about whatever is bothering him at the time. When he was being chased by a shadow he called "Mary", he started drawing it in his sleep, making his friends wonder if he was in love with a foreigner. His incredibly strong affinity for exorcist spells and immensely powerful spiritual strength causes him to smell "yummy" to man-eating ''yōkai'', as Madara puts it for Takashi having Reiko's scent as well as her great looks, which draws ordinary humans, ''yōkai'' and exorcists alike to Takashi.
: Takashi's ever developing/increasing spiritual powers and his keen [[Extrasensory perception|sixth sense]] regarding ''yōkai'' leave him targeted by all types of ''yōkai'' and greatly wanted by high-level exorcists; Matoba Seiji in particular. At the beginning, Natori wants him to join his exorcist clan, but later prefers him as a good friend. Seiji Matoba, one of the strongest and most dangerous of exorcists, also tries to recruit Takashi, but for his nefarious intent for being the only descendant of Reiko.
; {{nihongo|Madara|斑|extra2= / }} {{nihongo|"Nyanko-[[sensei]]"|ニャンコ先生||"Master Kitty-Cat"}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Kazuhiko Inoue]],<ref name="BTVA"/> [[Sanae Kobayashi]] (High School Girl)<ref name="BTVA"/>|Christopher Wehkamp,<ref name=dub/> [[Kara Edwards]]<ref name="Instagram-08-09-2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CvtLlYHLm_J/|title=Just today, I asked @jadarade about the cast of Natsume Book of Friends. This covers the first season.|website=[[Instagram]]|access-date=August 9, 2023|date=August 9, 2023}}</ref>}}
: A mysterious [[inugami]]. Madara was sealed in a shrine until he was accidentally released by Takashi. Because Madara was trapped in a material form for so long, Madara ordinarily takes on the shape of a ''[[maneki neko]]'' (lucky cat), leading Takashi to nickname him Nyanko-sensei. In this form, other people can see him, leading for Takashi having to ask his guardians if he could keep him as a pet. He is a powerful ayakashi, who protects Takashi from others and teaches him spells on occasion, in return for Takashi's promise to give him the Book of Friends when he dies, so Madara often complains when Takashi returns other ''yōkai''{{'}}s names, saying that at this rate there will be nothing left in the Book when Takashi dies. They often fight each other, which leads to Takashi punching Madara on the face and knocking him out. But as the story progresses, Madara takes a liking to Takashi. Despite his protests of not being a cat, he likes to play with cat toys. Nyanko's design is based on a lucky cat statue Midorikawa was given as a child.<ref>{{cite book|first=Yuki|last=Midorikawa|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010|orig-year=2005|isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|location=San Francisco|chapter=Afterword|page=198 }}</ref>
:Many times in the manga, other characters call Madara a 'pig' because of his round shape as a {{Lang|ja-latn|maneki-neko}}, which annoys him greatly. Madara is implied to have had a close relationship with Reiko in both her teenage and young adult years til her premature death underneath a tree, which is implied to be one of the reasons he is content to be Takashi's ''yōkai'' companion until the end of his own fleeting human life.
; {{nihongo|Reiko Natsume|夏目 レイコ|Natsume Reiko}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Sanae Kobayashi]]|[[Alexis Tipton]]<ref name=dub/>}}
: Takashi's late maternal grandmother, from whom he inherited the rare spiritual ability to see and hear ''yōkai'' as well as banish or seal them away. When Reiko was a teenager and young adult, she was considered a freak by everyone else because of her ability. Since she believed no human could ever understand her, she turned to the invisible spirits for companionship and killing time. Reiko was extraordinarily powerful, and so she easily bullied hundreds of spirits in to obeying her by playing games with them or even using a mere [[baseball bat]] or [[broom]] to fend them off whenever she chose not to even display her spiritual knowledge and innate prowess either by banishing or sealing them away via sacred sutras or ''[[shikigami]]'', quite similar to exorcist Natori Suuichi. If they lost, she would make them give her their false names as proof of their loyalty to her. Reiko gathered said aliases in her decades-old magical/spiritual Book of Friends, and commanded most spirits to follow her every whim, with the exception of Madara whom she seemed to have been quite close with.
:Madara mentioned that she had sloppy table manners and was very forgetful most times. Reiko died when she was a young adult underneath a tree, either in her twenties or thirties, so no one remembered her, which was what she had wanted. Her legacy and fame throughout the supernatural world still remains strong as her innate spiritual might was feared and greatly intriguing to both ''yōkai'' and exorcists alike, which is why they are so interested in her one-and-only grandchild who possesses the exact same high level of spiritual power she possessed.


===Supporting===
'''Madara/Cat:''' {{anime voices|Kazuhiko Inoue}}
; {{nihongo|Kaname Tanuma|田沼 要|Tanuma Kaname}}
:A mysterious feline spirit. Madara was sealed in to a shrine, before accidentally getting released by Natsume. Because he was trapped for so long, Madara has shaped in to a "fortune cat," leading Natsume to nickname him Cat. In this form, other people could see him, leading for Natsume having to ask his guardians if he could keep him. He is a powerful spirit, who protects Natsume from others, and teaches him spells on occasion. They often fight each other, which leads to Natsume punching Madara on the face and knocking him out. Despite his protests of not being a cat, he likes to play with cat toys. Natsume is more respectful to Madara in the anime, calling him "nyanko-sensei" (master cat). Natsume has promised the Book of Friends to him when he dies.
:{{Voiced by|[[Kazuma Horie]]|Tyson Rinehart<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1608088432936652801|user=MateoBarona5|title=@AttackonTyson in "Natsume's Book of Friends" Are you the voice of Kaname Tanuma?…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
: Another student that had recently moved into the area. He is sickly and quite susceptible to illnesses. Like Takashi, he is able to detect spirits, but to a lesser degree limited to seeing merely shadows and sensing slight presence of spirits. He wants to help Takashi in any way he can, but is afraid that he will just be a burden because of his weak ability. He became a close companion and even knew about Takashi's secret of seeing spirits and always helped him whenever he is in a tight spot.
; {{nihongo|Touru Taki|多軌 透|Taki Tōru}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Rina Satō]]<ref name="vadb">{{cite web|url=http://gph.sakura.ne.jp/va_memo/system/vadb.cgi?action=view_ind&value=00391&namecode=2|title=声優さん出演リスト 個別表示:佐藤利奈(Rina Satou)=朝倉鈴音|trans-title=Voice actor's appearance list individual display: Rina Satou|work=Voice Artist Database|publisher=GamePlaza-HARUKA-|access-date=September 2, 2016|date=July 28, 2016|language=ja|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915220140/http://gph.sakura.ne.jp/va_memo/system/vadb.cgi?action=view_ind&value=00391&namecode=2|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Megan Shipman]]<ref name="Instagram-16-10-2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CycQ5JPLNUu/|title=Found out that the identity of Taki's voice actor is Megan Shipman. Thank you, @jadarade.|website=[[Instagram]]|access-date=October 16, 2023|date=October 16, 2023}}</ref>}}
: A new girl at school who rarely talks because of a curse a spirit has placed on her, which Takashi later helps her to break. She is an onmyouji; she cannot see spirits without drawing a magic circle. Taki, like Tanuma, wants to help Takashi in any way possible. She has an older brother who is staying at university and flatly refuses to believe that ''yōkai'' even exist.
; {{nihongo|Jun Sasada|笹田 純|Sasada Jun}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Miyuki Sawashiro]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|Marisa Duran<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1554172154949894145|user=marisaduran_|title=As of ep2, I've joined the English voice cast of #NatsumesBookofFriends as Jun Sasada! Fun fact: she's basically who I was in high school - oval-shaped glasses and all!…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
: The class president of Takashi's homeroom. Sasada believes that Takashi can see, hear and battle spirits, although he repeatedly denies this to her. To Takashi's chagrin, she frequently tries to accompany him when he is on business involving [[List of Japanese deities|spirits]]. She is a recurring character in the anime; in the manga, she is rarely seen after the encounter with Shigure due to transferring to another school from her stepfather's new job.
; {{nihongo|Shuuichi Natori|名取 周一|Natori Shūichi}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Akira Ishida]],<ref name="BTVA"/> [[Fuyuka Oura]] (young)|Aaron Roberts,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1584585525574668293|user=AaronRobertsYes|title=SUPER-LATE CASTING ANNOUNCEMENTS📣Gigantic thanks to…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=October 25, 2022}}</ref> Macy Anne Johnson<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CtNsDxDseAn/|title=Hi, @jadarade. Finished the first season of Natsume Book of Friends. Would you know who voiced Hotaru/Kiyo, Sasago and Urihime, young Natori, Susugi, Mikuri, Santou, Tamiko, Shigure, and Misuzu? Characters are in their respective square. Thank you!|website=[[Instagram]]|access-date=August 6, 2023|date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> (young)}}
: A man who is also able to see spirits. He is a famous actor and exorcist and has a lizard birthmark that moves around on his body. He has the ability to manipulate paper dolls (Shikigami) and has three spirits under his command. Takashi tends to disapprove of his forceful exorcism methods. When Natori is first introduced, he hated spirits for his horrible childhood. But, after meeting Takashi, he gradually softens even though his ways are not much different. Over the course of meeting Takashi, Natori developed concern for his wellbeing, for he tends to be too softhearted and reckless when it involves fellow exorcists or spirits with malicious intent alike. However, he does acknowledge that Takashi may even be much more powerful than himself or even those strongest of the nefarious Matoba clan. In the sixth season finale, he is finally is told about Reiko and her Book of Friends by Takashi, who thinks that such an old artifact as powerful as it is dangerous would be better off burned, but keeps its existence for Takashi's sake.
; {{nihongo|Hiiragi|柊|}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Satsuki Yukino]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|[[Jill Harris]]<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1656283843500843009|user=Kitsunes96|title=@JillHarrisVO in #NatsumesBookofFriends, Are you the voice …<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2023-05-10}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Seiji Matoba|的場 静司|Matoba Seiji}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Junichi Suwabe]]|Reagan Murdock<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1641222444345176064|user=ReaganMurdockVO|title=Who you gonna call? Hopefully not him~ Excited to share that I'm the English…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-03-29}}</ref>}}
: The head of the Matoba clan who is twenty-two years old. A coldhearted yet levelheaded young man, Seiji is a topmost-level exorcist who does not mind sacrificing innocent ''yōkai'' to reach his goals. Although he wants stronger ''yōkai'' to protect humans, he will not hesitate in hurting anyone who gets in his way. He is mostly seen armed with a bow and arrow, which he uses to eliminate ''yōkai''. There is a scar on his right eye, covered by an eye patch with a certain protection spell on it, due to an ancestor offering his eye to a ''yōkai'' for assistance but ended up breaking his promise. This causes later heads of the clan to have their eye targeted by that ''yōkai'', and the distrust from other clans. After his first encounter with Takashi, he immediately takes great interest in him, and even later asks him to join the Matoba clan since finding out he is the grandson of Reiko herself.
; {{nihongo|Atsushi Kitamoto|北本 篤史|Kitamoto Atsushi|extra2=and}} {{nihongo|Satoru Nishimura|西村 悟|Nishimura Satoru}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Hisayoshi Suganuma]]<ref name="BTVA"/> and [[Ryōhei Kimura]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|Mike Haimoto and Matthew Elkins<ref name="dub" />}}
: Classmates of Takashi. Kitamoto is a sensible and rational person, while Nishimura is funny and easy-going, with a slightly perverted side. Although Takashi initially rejects their overtures of friendship because of his fears of his ability being found out, he eventually becomes friends with them, although they still hang around more with each other than Takashi. Nishimura has a crush on Taki, but thinks that she and Takashi are going out.
; {{nihongo|Touko Fujiwara|藤原 塔子|Fujiwara Tōko|extra2=and}} {{nihongo|Shigeru Fujiwara|藤原 滋|Fujiwara Shigeru}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Miki Itō]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|Jennifer AuBuchon<ref name=dub/> and Seth Magill<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1557072188515258368|user=kitsunes96|title=Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
: A childless middle-aged couple and Takashi's current foster parents. Shigeru is a second cousin of Takashi's dead father, and as a boy once met Reiko without recognizing it was her. Both Touko and Shigeru assure Takashi that they consider him a part of their family. They both worry often about him, wanting him to be as happy as possible. Despite this, Takashi goes to great lengths to hide his ability from them. Slowly, Takashi comes to understand that his keeping the Fujiwaras at a distance, including always addressing them formally (see [[Honorific speech in Japanese]]), is preventing him from forming close human attachments. Despite this, he still fears being rejected because of his ever developing/increasing spiritual abilities.
; {{nihongo|One-Eyed Middle Class Yōkai|一つ目の中級妖怪|extra2=and}} {{nihongo|Ox-Faced Middle Class Yōkai|牛顔の中級妖怪}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takashi Matsuyama (actor)|Takashi Matsuyama]]<ref name="BTVA"/> and Hiroshi Shimozaki<ref name="BTVA"/>|Brian Mathis,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1615764161798996014|user=singactdrum|title=Always fun voicing this little chukyuu…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2023-01-18}}</ref> Greg Dulcie<ref name="Instagram-08-09-2023"/>}}
:
; {{nihongo|Hinoe|ヒノエ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Akemi Okamura]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|Molly Searcy<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1566799965044838401|user=mollysearcy|title=Excited to share this clip of Hinoe in #NatsumesBookofFriends ! …<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-10-11}}</ref>}}
: A powerful ''yōkai'' whose form is a blue-haired human woman. She was madly in love with Reiko. Being knowledgeable, she often acts as Takashi's mentor. Hinoe enjoys teasing Takashi and Madara; mostly the former because of his uncanny resemblance to Reiko.
; {{nihongo|Misuzu|三篠}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takaya Kuroda]]<ref name="BTVA"/>|Chris Ryan<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
:A huge powerful horse ''yōkai'' with many followers. He acknowledges that Takashi is a worthy holder of the Book of Friends and offers himself as Takashi's bodyguard in place of the "useless" Madara.
; {{nihongo|Kappa|カッパ}}
:{{Voiced by|Kyōko Chikiri<ref name="BTVA"/>|Danielle Yoshiko Phillips<ref name=":2">{{cite tweet|number=1561382484520173568|user=danielleyoshiko|title=Hear me as an adorable Kappa im episode 4 of #NatsumeYujinCho…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Kogitsune|子狐|Little Fox}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Akiko Yajima]]|[[Kristen McGuire]]<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1566799965044838401|user=KrisComics|title=I'm delighted to be joining Natsume's Book of Friends as the English voice of Little Fox!…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-09-06}}</ref>}}
: An orphaned fox ''yōkai'' whose form is a boy with fox ears and tail however humans only see him as an infant fox. He becomes friends with Takashi after being rescued from bullying ''yokai''.
; {{nihongo|Chobihige|ちょびひげ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Chō]]}}
: A large-headed spirit with a small mustache and a pale green robe. He wears a comb that he had lost and is replaced by a dragon scale-encrusted comb Natsume had made for him. His true form is that of a dragon.


===''Yōkai''===
'''Natsume Reiko:''' {{anime voices|Sanae Kobayashi}}
; {{nihongo|Hishigaki|ひしがき}}
:Natsume's grandmother, from whom he inherited the ability to see spirits. When Reiko was young, she was considered a freak by everyone else because of her ability. Since she believed no human could ever understand her, she turned to the spirits for companionship. Reiko's power was extraordinarily powerful, and so she bullied spirits in to obeying her by playing games with them. If they lost, she would make them give her their names. Reiko gathered the names in to the Book of Friends, and commanded most spirits, except for Madara, who beat her in a game. Reiko died when she was young, so no one remembered her.
:{{Voiced by|[[Kimiko Saitō]]|Kasi Hollowell<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1552679160421777409|user=kitsunes96|title=Can you confirmed who voices two yokais; Hishigaki and Long-Eared Yokai?…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Tsuyukami|露神}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takeshi Aono]]|Doug Jackson<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1557072188515258368|user=kitsunes96|title=Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Susugi|ススギ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Hiroki Yasumoto]]|Wes Frazier<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Shigure|時雨}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Hiroshi Tsuchida]]|[[John Burgmeier]]<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Santo|さんと}}
:{{Voiced by|Yoshiyuki Hirai|Cris George<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Mikuri|みくり}}
:{{Voiced by|Tetsuya Yanagihara|Mike Haimoto<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Tsubame|燕}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Ryoka Yuzuki]]|Rachel Glass<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1565721329139081216|user=rachelglassVO|title=If you’re keeping up with Natsume’s Book of Friends you can catch me in Ep. 6 as Tsubame, my precious bird demon lady.…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Tarusaru|垂申}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Akimitsu Takase]]|Jerry Habibi<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1566578298892730371|user=JERRYHABIBI|title="..I've decided not to eat you." Anime Debut ~ Thank you @jadbsaxton for bringing me on…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Hotaru|ホタル}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Houko Kuwashima]]|[[Elizabeth Maxwell]]<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Akagane|アカガネ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Atsushi Imaruoka]]|Jack Reeder<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1571907482506727436|user=JakoshiSan|title=It's my honor to announce I play Akagane in Natsume's Book of Friends! This show originally aired in 2008…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Asagi|アサギ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Mamiko Noto]]|[[Natalie Hoover]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Natalie Hoover Resume|url=http://www.nataliehoover.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Natalie-Rose-Hoover-Voice-Over-Credits.pdf|website=Natalie Hoover|access-date=29 December 2022|format=RTF|archive-date=December 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230024708/http://www.nataliehoover.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Natalie-Rose-Hoover-Voice-Over-Credits.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Evil Sealed Yōkai|印使いの邪鬼}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Tadashi Miyazawa]]|[[David Matranga]]<ref name="Instagram-08-09-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Benio|紅峰}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Misa Watanabe]]|Kelsey Maher<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1594861194237857792|user=kelseymaher|title=Happy to announce my role as 🦋Benio🦋 in Natsume's Book of Friends season 2 English dub!…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Riou|リオウ|Riō}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Masaya Matsukaze]]|Oscar Seung<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1594832074703257600|user=OscarSeung|title=Voiced Riou in Natsume’s Book of Friends! Directed by the fabulous…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Gen|玄}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Hiroyuki Yoshino]]}}
; {{nihongo|Sui|翠}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Ayahi Takagaki]]}}
; {{nihongo|Sumie|スミエ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takako Honda]]}}
; {{nihongo|Eggy|タマ|Tama}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Sayaka Aoki (voice actress)|Sayaka Aoki]]|Jalitza Chantel,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1602350583444377607|user=ItsJalitza|title=EGGcited to announce i voice Eggy (in their bby form) in episode 17…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref> [[Alex Hom]] (Enraged form)<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1602348270734528512|user=Ack_its_Alex|title=Was a blast to provide the ghoulish gutteral growls of Eggy (in their enraged form) in episode 17…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Kirinoha|霧葉}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Yuka Terasaki]]|Hannah Alyea<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1604625314277392384|user=HannahAlyea|title=I’m so excited to announce I play Kirinoha in the newest English dub ep of Nats…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Stitch Mark Yōkai|額傷の妖怪}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Takayuki Sugō]]|Alex Hom<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1607796681436958725|user=Ack_its_Alex|title=Ready for some post-holiday nightmare fuel? No? Yeah, that makes sense. But if you are, you can hear me as…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-12-29}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Sasafune|笹舟}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Ryō Hirohashi]]}}
; {{nihongo|Miya|巳弥}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Yū Sugimoto]]}}
; {{nihongo|Karime|カリメ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Ryūsaku Chiziwa]]}}
; {{nihongo|Kai|カイ}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Junko Takeuchi]]}}


===Humans===
'''Tanuma:''' {{anime voices|[[Kazuma Horie]]}}
; {{nihongo|Hana|ハナ}}
:Another student that had recently moved into the area. He is sickly and quite susceptible to illnesses. Like Natsume Takashi, he is able to detect spirits, but to a lesser degree limited to seeing merely shadows and sensing slight presence of spirits.
:{{Voiced by|Michie Kita|Nazia Chaudhry<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1557072188515258368|user=kitsunes96|title=Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|accessdate=2022-08-30}}</ref>}}
; {{nihongo|Taniozaki|谷尾崎}}
:{{Voiced by|Satoshi Tsuruoka}}
; {{nihongo|Akifumi Sugino|杉野 章史}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Kenji Hamada]]}}
; {{nihongo|Tamiko|民子}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Sawa Ishige]]|[[Dani Chambers]]<ref name="Instagram-08-06-2023"/>}}
; {{nihongo|Nanase|七瀬}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Mika Doi]], Yoriko Nagata (young)}}
; {{nihongo|Chizu Sakanaka|坂中千津|Sakanaka Chizu}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Ikuko Tani]]}}
; {{nihongo|Yasaka|八坂}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Kenji Nojima]]}}
; {{nihongo|Katsumi Shibata|柴田 克己|Shibata Katsumi}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Yoshimasa Hosoya]]}}
; {{nihongo|Takashi's Father|夏目の父|}}
:{{Voiced by|[[Katsuyuki Konishi]]}}
: Takashi's biological father who was deceased in his childhood.


==Development==
'''Sasada:''' {{anime voices|[[Miyuki Sawashiro]]}}
Midorikawa created ''Natsume's Book of Friends'' as an episodic [[Serial (literature)|serial]] for a manga magazine published every two months, so that each chapter was a story that could be read on its own.<ref>{{cite book| first=Yuki| last=Midorikawa| title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010| orig-year=2005| isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1| publisher=[[Viz Media]]| location=San Francisco| page=12 }}</ref> As the result of earlier writing a [[ghost story]] that an editor made her revise to include more [[romance novel|romance]] than she initially wanted,<ref name=":3">{{cite book| first=Yuki| last=Midorikawa| title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010| orig-year=2005| isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1| publisher=[[Viz Media]]| location=San Francisco| page=77 }}</ref> Midorikawa specifically created ''Natsume's Book of Friends'' as a [[supernatural]] story with less romance,<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 83">{{cite book| first=Yuki| last=Midorikawa| title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010| orig-year=2005| isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1| publisher=[[Viz Media]]| location=San Francisco| page=83 }}</ref> containing supernatural elements that stir readers' imaginations the way stories about {{Lang|ja-latn|[[yōkai]]}} and [[Kami|local gods]] stirred hers growing up in a rural area.<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 83" /> For the basic story, she wanted to write about a boy and his non-human teacher,<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 25">{{cite book| first=Yuki| last=Midorikawa| title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010| orig-year=2005| isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1| publisher=[[Viz Media]]| location=San Francisco| page=25 }}</ref> and include the incongruous element of the boy's grandmother in a [[School uniform#Japan|school uniform]].<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 196">{{cite book| first=Yuki| last=Midorikawa| title=Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1|date=January 2010| orig-year=2005| isbn=978-1-4215-3243-1| publisher=[[Viz Media]]| location=San Francisco| chapter=Afterword| page=196 }}</ref>
:The class president of Takashi's class. Sasada believes that Takashi can see spirits, and constantly asks him questions about it, to which he replies that he doesn't have such an ability. Much to Takashi's chagrin, she wants to come along with him when he's visiting spirits. She possibly may have a crush on him in the anime, as she blushed in episode 5 when Takashi asked why she wanted to come with him to an abandoned train station (he was going there to see why Reiko had a ticket for that place). Luckily, he was rescued by Tanuma, who distracted Sasada long enough for Takashi to escape on the bus.


This was the first series Midorikawa wrote in which the protagonist was also the central character.<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 196" /> Midorikawa claimed that as a character, Takashi is almost as bad as herself at expressing his thoughts,<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 196" /> which caused her to use more [[Monologue|interior monologue]] than she was comfortable with for a male character.<ref name="Midorikawa 2010 25" />
:The story in the manga differs slightly, as Sasada moves away after the encounter with Shigure, so she has far more spotlight in the anime.


==Media==
'''Natori Shuuichi:'''
===Manga===
:A man who is also able to see spirits. He is a famous actor and a exorcist.
Written and illustrated by Yuki Midorikawa, ''Natsume's Book of Friends'' was first published in [[Hakusensha]]'s [[Shōjo manga|''shōjo'' manga]] magazine ''[[LaLa DX]]'' from June 10, 2003,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:LaLa DX 2003年7月号|url=http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/cgi-bin/mag/magazine.cgi?mode=magazine&magmode=mag04&day=now|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030625105951/http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/cgi-bin/mag/magazine.cgi?mode=magazine&magmode=mag04&day=now|archive-date=June 25, 2003|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:Anime Japan2015 「夏目友人帳」ステージレポート|url=http://www.natsume-anime.jp/report/anime-japan2015-%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%B8%B3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E3%83%AC%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88/|website=natsume-anime.jp|access-date=March 21, 2023|language=ja|date=April 8, 2015|quote={{lang|ja|2003年6月10日に、原作『夏目友人帳』が連載を開始いたしまして}}|archive-date=September 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926054122/http://www.natsume-anime.jp/report/anime-japan2015-%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%B8%B3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E3%83%AC%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88/|url-status=live}}</ref> to April 10, 2008;{{efn|Published until the magazine's May 2008 issue,<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:デジタル大辞泉プラス 「夏目友人帳」の解説|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%B8%B3-727172|website=Kotobank|access-date=March 21, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321073043/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A4%8F%E7%9B%AE%E5%8F%8B%E4%BA%BA%E5%B8%B3-727172|url-status=live}}</ref> released on April 10 of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:2008年04月10日のアーカイブ|url=http://manganohi.jp/2008/04/10/|website=manganohi.jp|access-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927025645/http://manganohi.jp/2008/04/10/|archive-date=September 27, 2008|language=ja|date=April 10, 2008|quote={{lang|ja|【LaLa DX】LaLa DX 5月号 好評発売中!!}}}}</ref>}} it has been serialized in the monthly sister magazine ''[[LaLa]]'' since July 24, 2007.<ref name="akata-midorikawa">{{cite web| url=http://www.akata.fr/auteur.php?id=50| title=Catalogue manga – MIDORIKAWA Yuki| publisher=[[Delcourt (publisher)|Decourt]]| language=fr| access-date=June 19, 2009| archive-date=March 17, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317201934/http://delcourt.akata.fr/auteurs/midorikawa-yuki}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:2007年07月24日のアーカイブ|url=http://manganohi.jp/2007/07/24/|website=manganohi.jp|access-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011165711/http://manganohi.jp/2007/07/24/|archive-date=October 11, 2007|language=ja|date=July 24, 2007|quote={{lang|ja|【LaLa】LaLa ララ 9月号 好評発売中 […] ●大声援感謝! 巻頭カラー50P 集中連載スタート! あやかし契約奇談 緑川ゆき 『夏目友人帳』妖怪が見える夏目少年と用心棒のニャンコ先生。人助けのため人魚を探す事となり、トラブルが!?}}}}</ref> The chapters have been collected in thirty {{Lang|ja-latn|[[tankōbon]]}} volumes.


The series is licensed in English in North America by [[Viz Media]], with the first volume published in January 2010.<ref name="viz-v1" /> It is also licensed in French by [[Delcourt (publisher)|Delcourt]],<ref name="akata">{{cite web| url=http://www.akata.fr/manga.php?id=82| title=Pacte des Yôkai (Le) – Manga Delcourt/Akata| publisher=[[Delcourt (publisher)|Decourt]]| language=fr| access-date=June 19, 2009| archive-date=May 13, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513165810/http://delcourt.akata.fr/series/le-pacte-des-yokai| url-status=live}}</ref> in South Korea by [[Haksan Culture Company|Haksan]],<ref name="haksan-v1">{{cite web| url=http://www.haksanpub.co.kr/comics/comics_prod_view.asp?prod_code=C2000388&vol_code=1| script-title=ko:나츠메 우인장 1권| publisher=[[Haksan Culture Company]]| language=ko| access-date=October 11, 2010| archive-date=April 12, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145746/http://www.haksanpub.co.kr/comics/comics_prod_view.asp?prod_code=C2000388&vol_code=1| url-status=live}}</ref> in Taiwan by [[Tong Li Publishing|Tong Li]],<ref name="tongli">{{cite web| url=http://www.tongli.com.tw/bookslist.aspx?b=hc672| script-title=zh:妖怪連絡簿| publisher=[[Tong Li Publishing]]| language=zh| access-date=June 20, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111032/http://www.tongli.com.tw/bookslist.aspx?b=hc672| archive-date=April 3, 2017| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all }}</ref> in Thailand by [[Bongkoch Publishing]],<ref name="bongkoch">{{cite web| url=http://www.bongkoch.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=5084| script-title=th:นัตซึเมะกับบันทึกพิศวง 1| publisher=Bongkoch Publishing| language=th| access-date=June 20, 2009| archive-date=August 31, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831010706/http://www.bongkoch.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=5084| url-status=live}}</ref> in Germany by [[Egmont Manga & Anime]],<ref name="egmont">{{cite web| url=https://www.egmont-manga.de/buch-buchreihe/pakt-der-yokai/| title=Pakt der Yokai – Egmont Manga| language=de| access-date=March 29, 2009| archive-date=April 8, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408064230/http://www.egmont-manga.de/buch-buchreihe/pakt-der-yokai/| url-status=live}}</ref> in Italy by [[Panini Comics]],<ref name=":0" /> in Vietnam by [[Tre Publishing House]],<ref name=":2" /> in Russia by XL Media<ref name=":3" /> and in Poland by Studio JG.<ref>{{cite web|title=Księga Przyjaciół Natsume|url=http://studiojg.pl/Ksi%C4%99ga_Przyjaci%C3%B3%C5%82_Natsume%2C152678.htm|publisher=Studio JG|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=pl|archive-date=July 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704143037/http://studiojg.pl/Ksi%C4%99ga_Przyjaci%C3%B3%C5%82_Natsume,152678.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Episodes==


Additionally, fanbook was published on January 5, 2009,<ref name="haku-fan1">{{cite web|url=http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_detail?isbn=9784592186960|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳公式ファンブック─夏目と友人たち─|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|language=ja|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121810/http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_detail?isbn=9784592186960 |title=S-book.net }}</ref> and a notebook reproduction of ''Natsume's Book of Friends'' was published on July 3, 2009.<ref name="haku-fan2">{{cite web|url=http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_detail?isbn=9784592186908|script-title=ja:ニャンコ先生友人帳 夏目友人帳公式ニャンブック|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|language=ja|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121807/http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_detail?isbn=9784592186908 |title=S-book.net }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" width="98%"

|- style="border-bottom: 3px solid #CCCCFF"
====Volumes====
! width="30" | # !! Title !! width="150" | Original airdate
{{Graphic novel list/header
|-
|Language = Japanese
{{Japanese episode list
|SecondLanguage = English
| EpisodeNumber = 01
|Width = 100%
| EnglishTitle = The Cat And The Book Of Friends
| JapaneseTitle = Neko to Yūjin-Chō
| KanjiTitle = 猫と友人帳
| OriginalAirDate = [[July 7]], [[2008]]
| ShortSummary = Natsume discovers that the heirloom "Book of Friends" that his grandmother, Reiko, gave him possesses the names of the spirits she defeated and bound to her will. Assisted by a cat whom Natsume addresses as Nyanko-Sensei (lit. Master Little Meow), Natsume aims to return all of the names to their rightful owners.
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 1
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = October 5, 2005<ref name="haku-v1">{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 1|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/40971/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210022430/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/40971/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 02
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-17158-4
| EnglishTitle = The Dew God`s Small Shrine
| LicensedRelDate = January 6, 2010<ref name="viz-v1">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-1/product/2296|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 1|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024154308/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-1/product/2296|url-status=live}}</ref>
| JapaneseTitle = Roshin no hokora
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3243-1
| KanjiTitle = 露神の祠
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[July 14]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume is visited by the village's local god who is currently fading because of the lack of devotees.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 2
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = August 5, 2006<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 2|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/40973/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006092559/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/40973/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 03
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-17159-1
| EnglishTitle = The Mysterious Person at the Eight Fields
| LicensedRelDate = April 6, 2010<ref name="viz-v2">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-2/product/2297|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 2|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207212533/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-2/product/2297|url-status=live}}</ref>
| JapaneseTitle = Hachi tsu hara no kaijin
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3244-8
| KanjiTitle = 八ツ原の怪人
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[July 21]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume is implored to help spirits who are currently being exorcised. He finds a kindred spirit in Tanuma, a boy who also senses spirits although not as powerful as Natsume.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 3
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = February 5, 2007<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 3|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44243/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001062108/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44243/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 04
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18446-1
| EnglishTitle = Shigure and the Girl
| LicensedRelDate = July 6, 2010<ref name="viz-v3">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-3/product/2298|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 3|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207222747/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-3/product/2298|url-status=live}}</ref>
| JapaneseTitle = Shigure to shoujo
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3245-5
| KanjiTitle = 時雨と少女
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[July 28]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume's secret is found out by Sasada, the class president, during the "Trial of Courage." She asks for his help to find the spirit that lives in the abandoned school. Natsume denies the fact that he can see anything, but she won't take no for an answer. Meanwhile, the spirit, Shigure, captures the rest of their school mates, in fury of the school being torn down...
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 4
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = August 4, 2007<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 4|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44245/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001113049/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44245/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 05
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18447-8
| EnglishTitle = Heart-Colored Ticket
| LicensedRelDate = October 5, 2010<ref name="viz-v4">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-4/product/2299|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 4|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930092655/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-4/product/2299|url-status=live}}</ref>
| JapaneseTitle = Kokoro shoku (kokoro iro) no kippu
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3246-2
| KanjiTitle = 心によって色を塗られたチケット
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[August 4]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume comes across an old ticket in Reiko's belongings and decides to go to the abandoned train station to see why she kept it. There, he meets a slow witted spirit named Santo, who was waiting for Reiko the entire time to go Kiriganuma, to see and make up with his friend, Mikuri, but the trip isn't as easy as it first seems...
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 5
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = March 5, 2008<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 5|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44247/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001135029/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44247/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 06
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18448-5
| EnglishTitle = Swallow at the Lake Bottom
| LicensedRelDate = January 4, 2011<ref name="viz-v5">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-5/product/2300|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 5|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930101227/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-5/product/2300|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title = Suitei no tsubame
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3247-9
| KanjiTitle = 湖底のつばめ
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[August 11]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume gets possessed by a swallow spirit, who wishes to meet a human that helped her before. Natsume agrees to help her and the two grow attached. When Swallow finds the human, Natsume feels bad that she can't actually meet him, but when of he hears of a kimono that can turn a spirit human for a day, he strives to find it...
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 6
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = July 5, 2008<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 6|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44249/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006180140/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44249/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 07
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18449-2
| EnglishTitle = The Little Fox's Hat
| LicensedRelDate = April 5, 2011<ref name="viz-v6">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-6/product/2301|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 6|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930090518/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-6/product/2301|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title = Kokitsune no boushi
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3248-6
| KanjiTitle = 子狐のぼうし
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[August 18]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume goes to a hot spring for a school trip, with an errand from Shigeru to pick up [[Teacup]]s from a near by pottery. While there he meets and helps a little fox spirit, who quickly grows attached to him.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 7
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = January 5, 2009<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 7|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44631/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001113041/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44631/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 08
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18667-0
| EnglishTitle = Fleeting Light
| LicensedRelDate = June 7, 2011<ref name="viz-v7">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-7/product/2302|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 7|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930101035/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-7/product/2302|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title =
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3274-5
| KanjiTitle =
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[August 25]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume meets a spirit who used to be friends with a man who could also see spirits, but one day lost this ability.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 8
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = July 3, 2009<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 8|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44633/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930141300/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44633/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 09
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18668-7
| EnglishTitle = Ayakashi Exorcism
| LicensedRelDate = August 2, 2011<ref name="viz-v8">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-8/product/2492|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 8|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124041348/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-8/product/2492|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title =
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3592-0
| KanjiTitle =
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[September 1]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume meets a popular actor named Natori Shuuichi who can also see spirits, and has a side job as an exorcist.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 9
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2010<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 9|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44635/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322100911/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44635/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18669-4
| EnglishTitle = Asagi's Koto
| LicensedRelDate = October 4, 2011<ref name="viz-v9">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-9/product/2669|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 9|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124043201/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-9/product/2669|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title =
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3887-7
| KanjiTitle =
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[September 8]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = Natsume is possessed by a sick koto player, whose friend wants her to be able to play one last time.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|-
| VolumeNumber = 10
{{Japanese episode list
| OriginalRelDate = July 5, 2010<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 10|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44637/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930121046/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/44637/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-18670-0
| EnglishTitle = Nyanko's Book of Boredom
| LicensedRelDate = December 6, 2011<ref name="viz-v10">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-10/product/2670|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 10|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=May 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528072712/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-10/product/2670|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Japanese Title =
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-3939-3
| KanjiTitle =
| ChapterList =
| OriginalAirDate = [[September 15]], [[2008]]
| VolumeExtras =
| ShortSummary = When Natsume finally has enough of Nyanko's behavior Nyanko leaves, wandering about by himself and causing trouble.
| Summary =
}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|}
| VolumeNumber = 11
| OriginalRelDate = March 4, 2011<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 11|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45527/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=July 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707094618/http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45527/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19361-6
| LicensedRelDate = February 7, 2012<ref name="viz-v11">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-11/product/2884|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 11|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=May 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528012909/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-11/product/2884|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-4122-8
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 12
| OriginalRelDate = July 5, 2011<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 12|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45529/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929173528/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45529/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19362-3
| LicensedRelDate = July 3, 2012<ref name="viz-v12">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-12/product/2882|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 12|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521001014/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-12/product/2882|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-4231-7
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 13
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2012<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 13|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45531/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708113306/http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45531/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19363-0
| LicensedRelDate = December 4, 2012<ref name="viz-v13">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-13/product/2883|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 13|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-4923-1
| ChapterList =
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| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 14
| OriginalRelDate = July 5, 2012<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 14|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45533/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001120039/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45533/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19364-7
| LicensedRelDate = July 2, 2013<ref name="viz-v14">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-14/product/3092|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 14|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-5375-7
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 15
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2013<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 15|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45535/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001062051/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45535/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19365-4
| LicensedRelDate = January 7, 2014<ref name="viz-v15">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-15/product/3300|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 15|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-5967-4
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 16
| OriginalRelDate = July 5, 2013<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 16|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45537/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001215017/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45537/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19366-1
| LicensedRelDate = June 3, 2014<ref name="viz-v16">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-16/product/3301|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 16|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321073044/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-16/product/3301|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-6782-2
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 17
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2014<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 17|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45539/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001120045/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45539/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19367-8
| LicensedRelDate = October 7, 2014<ref name="viz-v17">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-17/product/3529|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 17|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925105731/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-17/product/3529|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-7524-7
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 18
| OriginalRelDate = September 5, 2014<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 18|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45541/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930141302/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45541/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19368-5
| LicensedRelDate = June 2, 2015<ref name="viz-v18">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-18/product/3530|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 18|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-8024-1
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 19
| OriginalRelDate = May 1, 2015<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 19|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45543/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001113055/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45543/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19369-2
| LicensedRelDate = January 5, 2016<ref name="viz-v19">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-19/product/3730|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 19|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018082139/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-19/product/3730|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-8248-1
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 20
| OriginalRelDate = April 5, 2016<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 20|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45545/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001085617/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/45545/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19370-8
| LicensedRelDate = March 7, 2017<ref name="viz-v20">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-20/product/5064|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 20|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018113837/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-20/product/5064|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-9162-9
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 21
| OriginalRelDate = October 10, 2016<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 21|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/48466/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001113047/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/48466/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19371-5
| LicensedRelDate = January 2, 2018<ref name="viz-v21">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-21/product/5372|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 21|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020114810/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-21/product/5372|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-9587-0
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 22
| OriginalRelDate = September 5, 2017<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 22|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/50099/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001062058/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/50099/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19372-2
| LicensedRelDate = October 2, 2018<ref name="viz-v22">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-22/product/5661|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 22|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=August 11, 2018|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811195044/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-22/product/5661|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-9653-2
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 23
| OriginalRelDate = September 5, 2018<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 23|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/52316/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930122603/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/52316/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19373-9
| LicensedRelDate = October 1, 2019<ref name="viz-v23">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-23/product/6050|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 23|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=November 20, 2019|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019112232/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-23/product/6050|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-0769-0
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 24
| OriginalRelDate = May 2, 2019<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 24|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/54388/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001220811/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/54388/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19374-6
| LicensedRelDate = June 2, 2020<ref name="viz-v24">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-24/product/6311|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 24|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021222953/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-24/product/6311|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-1199-4
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 25
| OriginalRelDate = June 5, 2020<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 25|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/57459/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708113306/http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/57459/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19375-3
| LicensedRelDate = April 6, 2021<ref name="viz-v25">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-25/product/6629|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 25|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110071500/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-25/product/6629|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-2119-1
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 26
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2021<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 26|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/59242/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=September 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929161025/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/59242/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19376-0
| LicensedRelDate = December 7, 2021<ref name="viz-v26">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-26/product/7010|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 26|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=December 19, 2021|archive-date=December 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219203349/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-26/product/7010|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-2573-1
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 27
| OriginalRelDate = September 3, 2021<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 27|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/61222/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001135027/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/61222/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19377-7
| LicensedRelDate = November 1, 2022<ref name="viz-v27">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-27/product/7246|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 27|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=August 2, 2022|archive-date=November 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101005137/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-27/product/7246|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-3241-8
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 28
| OriginalRelDate = May 2, 2022<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 28|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/61222/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001135027/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/61222/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19378-4
| LicensedRelDate = May 2, 2023<ref name="viz-v28">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-28/product/7436|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 28|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=January 28, 2023|archive-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128002130/https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-28/product/7436|url-status=live}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-3692-8
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 29
| OriginalRelDate = January 4, 2023<ref name="haku-v29">{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 29|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/65293/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=July 10, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123111543/https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/65293/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19379-1
| LicensedRelDate = February 6, 2024<ref name="viz-v29">{{cite web|url=https://www.viz.com/read/manga/natsumes-book-of-friends-volume-29/product/7730|title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 29|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-4325-4
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 30
| OriginalRelDate = September 5, 2023<ref name="haku-v30">{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 30|url=https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/68206/|publisher=[[Hakusensha]]|access-date=August 13, 2023|language=ja}}</ref>
| OriginalISBN = 978-4-592-19380-7
| LicensedRelDate = November 5, 2024<ref name="s&s-v30">{{cite book|url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Natsumes-Book-of-Friends-Vol-30/Yuki-Midorikawa/Natsumes-Book-of-Friends/9781974749539 |title=Natsume's Book of Friends, Volume 30|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-1-9747-4953-9 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-9747-4953-9
| ChapterList =
| VolumeExtras =
| Summary =
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}

===Drama CDs===
''Natsume's Book of Friends'' has been adapted as a series of three [[drama CD]]s, which were distributed as extras with issues of ''LaLa''. <!-- I can't make out whether the CDs have only NBF, or are compilations of multiple audio dramas -->

# ''LaLa Treasure'' Drama CD (October 2007)
# ''LaLa Excellent'' Drama CD (November 2008)
# ''LaLa Double Premiere'' Drama CD (May 2009)

===Anime===
{{Main|List of Natsume's Book of Friends episodes{{!}}List of ''Natsume's Book of Friends'' episodes}}
''Natsume's Book of Friends'' has been adapted into an [[anime]] television series, directed by [[Takahiro Omori]], and broadcast on [[TV Tokyo]]. [[Brain's Base]] animated the first four seasons, while [[Shuka (studio)|Shuka]] has animated the fifth one onwards. The 13-episode first season was broadcast from July 8 to September 30, 2008;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C11800|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708212742/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C11800|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:00, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:キャスト8人にインタビュー! TVアニメ「夏目友人帳」7月7日放送スタート|url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/085/85073/|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=June 9, 2008|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929104856/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/085/85073/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the second 13-episode season, {{Nihongo||続 夏目友人帳|Zoku Natsume Yūjin-chō|"Natsume's Book of Friends (Continuation)"}}, was broadcast from January 6 to March 31, 2009;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:続夏目友人帳|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C11920|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708213936/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C11920|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:00, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:寒い冬に心温まる物語を――1月開始TVアニメ「続 夏目友人帳」|url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/129/129886/|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=December 25, 2008|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517102334/https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/129/129886/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the third 13-episode season, {{Nihongo||夏目友人帳 参|Natsume Yūjin-chō San}}, was broadcast from July 5 to September 27, 2011;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 参|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C13575|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708215930/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C13575|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:30, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:HOW MERRY MARRY、アニメ『夏目友人帳 参』のオープニングテーマに決定|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/88041/full/|website=[[Oricon|Oricon News]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=May 24, 2011|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708231855/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/88041/full/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the 13-episode fourth season, {{Nihongo||夏目友人帳 肆|Natsume Yūjin-chō Shi}}, was broadcast from January 3 to March 27, 2012;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 肆|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C13925|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708221225/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C13925|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:30, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:2012年冬季(新春)放送開始の新作アニメ一覧|url=https://gigazine.net/news/20111203-anime-2012winter/|website=Gigazine|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=December 3, 2011|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708231908/https://gigazine.net/news/20111203-anime-2012winter/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the fifth 11-episode season, {{Nihongo||夏目友人帳 伍|Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go}}, was broadcast from October 5 to December 21, 2016;<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 伍|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C15976|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708222533/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C15976|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Tuesday at 25:35, which is effectively Wednesday at 1:35 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:【2016秋アニメ】久しぶりに夏目友人帳がアニメ化! 装神少女やナンバカも要チェック|url=https://ascii.jp/elem/000/001/242/1242068/|website=[[ASCII Corporation|ASCII.jp]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=October 3, 2016|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423024328/https://ascii.jp/elem/000/001/242/1242068/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} the sixth 11-episode season, {{Nihongo||夏目友人帳 陸|Natsume Yūjin-chō Roku}}, was broadcast from April 12 to June 21, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:夏目友人帳 陸|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C16162|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708223643/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C16162|archive-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Tuesday at 25:35, which is effectively Wednesday at 1:35 a.m. [[Japan Standard Time|JST]].<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「夏目友人帳 陸」神谷浩史ら出演の記念番組オンエア、アニメの放送日時決定|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/225772|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ja|date=March 24, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002085046/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/225772|url-status=live}}</ref>}} In July 2023, it was announced that the series will receive a seventh season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Anime Gets 7th Season|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-06-30/natsume-book-of-friends-anime-gets-7th-season/.199830|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 1, 2023|date=June 30, 2023|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701040849/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-06-30/natsume-book-of-friends-anime-gets-7th-season/.199830|url-status=live}}</ref> It is set to premiere in Q4 2024 on TV Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Anime's 7th Season Reveals Fall Debut, Full Staff in 1st Teaser Promo Video|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-03-23/natsume-book-of-friends-anime-7th-season-reveals-fall-debut-full-staff-in-1st-teaser-promo-video/.209099|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=March 23, 2024|date=March 23, 2024}}</ref>

In North America, the first four seasons were licensed by [[Nippon Ichi Software|NIS America]] and released on home video in Japanese with English subtitles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-30/nis-america-to-release-natsume-yujin-cho-anime|title=NIS America to Release Natsume Yūjin-Chō Anime|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=2011-12-30|archive-date=January 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114063945/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-30/nis-america-to-release-natsume-yujin-cho-anime|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NIS America Schedules Standard Editions for "kimi ni todoke -From Me to You-" and "Natsume's Book of Friends"|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/14-1/nis-america-schedules-standard-editions-for-kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-you-and-natsumes-book-of-friends|publisher=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=January 14, 2014|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114021947/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/01/14-1/nis-america-schedules-standard-editions-for-kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-you-and-natsumes-book-of-friends|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kimi Ni Todoke –From Me to You- Volumes 1-3 and Natsume's Book of Friends Season 1 & 2 Announced|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2014-01-13/kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-you-volumes-1-3-and-natsume-book-of-friends-season-1-and-2-announced|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 13, 2014|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114025339/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2014-01-13/kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-you-volumes-1-3-and-natsume-book-of-friends-season-1-and-2-announced|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Natsume's Book Of Friends' Anime Gets Standard Edition Release|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/15/natsumes-book-of-friends-anime-gets-standard-edition-release/|publisher=The Fandom Post|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125035555/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/01/15/natsumes-book-of-friends-anime-gets-standard-edition-release/|url-status=live}}</ref> The six seasons have been streamed by [[Crunchyroll]].<ref name="crunchy">{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-01/crunchyroll-to-post-natsume-yujin-cho-anime-on-monday|title=Crunchyroll to Post Natsume Yūjin-Chō Anime on Monday|date=January 1, 2009|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 20, 2009|archive-date=April 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416101224/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-01/crunchyroll-to-post-natsume-yujin-cho-anime-on-monday|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Crunchyroll Streams Natsume 3, Yuruyuri, Kamisama Dolls|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-07-02/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-3-yuruyuri-kamisama-dolls|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|date=July 2, 2011|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207202930/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-07-02/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-3-yuruyuri-kamisama-dolls|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Crunchyroll to Stream Natsume Yūjin-Chō Shi Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-30/crunchyroll-to-stream-natsume-yujin-cho-shi-anime|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|date=December 30, 2012|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209202815/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-30/crunchyroll-to-stream-natsume-yujin-cho-shi-anime|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|title=Crunchyroll Streams Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-10-04/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-yujin-cho-go-anime/.107261|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|date=October 4, 2016|archive-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916152550/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-10-04/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-yujin-cho-go-anime/.107261|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Crunchyroll Streams Natsume's Book of Friends Roku Anime's 1st OVA|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-10-08/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-book-of-friends-roku-anime-1st-ova/.122448|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|date=October 8, 2017|archive-date=May 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525140736/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-10-08/crunchyroll-streams-natsume-book-of-friends-roku-anime-1st-ova/.122448|url-status=live}}</ref> An English dub by Crunchyroll premiered on July 24, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=Liam|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Season 1 English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2022/7/22/natsumes-book-of-friends-season-1-english-dub-announced-cast-crew-revealed|website=[[Crunchyroll|Crunchyroll News]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708232341/https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2022/7/22/natsumes-book-of-friends-season-1-english-dub-announced-cast-crew-revealed|archive-date=July 8, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Films===
{{Main|Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie|Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor}}
''[[Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie|Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond]]'' was released in theaters on September 29, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-10/natsume-book-of-friends-film-earns-more-in-china-in-1st-3-days-than-entire-japanese-theatrical-run/.144381|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Film Earns More in China in 1st 3 Days than Entire Japanese Theatrical Run|website=Anime News Network|language=en|access-date=2019-06-06|archive-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606005558/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-10/natsume-book-of-friends-film-earns-more-in-china-in-1st-3-days-than-entire-japanese-theatrical-run/.144381|url-status=live}}</ref>

A second theatrical anime, titled ''Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor'', premiered on January 16, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Natsume's Book of Friends Anime Opens on January 16 With Hisako Kanemoto Voicing Forest Spirit|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-10-03/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-opens-on-january-16-with-hisako-kanemoto-voicing-forest-spirit/.164837|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 3, 2020|date=October 3, 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126183941/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-10-03/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-opens-on-january-16-with-hisako-kanemoto-voicing-forest-spirit/.164837|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=New Natsume's Book of Friends Anime Film's Trailer Previews Anly's Theme Song|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-04/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-film-trailer-previews-anly-theme-song/.167056|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 8, 2023|date=December 4, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308081322/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-04/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-film-trailer-previews-anly-theme-song/.167056|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is composed of two stories, "Ishi Okoshi" and "Ayashiki Raihōsha". The main staff and cast members from the previous film are returning to reprise their roles with the addition of [[Hisako Kanemoto]] as a guest-star.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-15/natsume-book-of-friends-listed-with-theatrical-anime-in-early-spring-2021/.164063|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Listed With Theatrical Anime in Early Spring 2021|date=September 15, 2020|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916074313/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-15/natsume-book-of-friends-listed-with-theatrical-anime-in-early-spring-2021/.164063|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-18/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-film-reveals-title-staff-cast-story/.164199|title=New Natsume's Book of Friends Anime Film Reveals Title, Staff, Cast, Story|date=September 18, 2020|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113090013/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-18/new-natsume-book-of-friends-anime-film-reveals-title-staff-cast-story/.164199|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other===
An [[original video animation]] (OVA) titled {{nihongo|''Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni''|いつかゆきのひに}} was released on February 5, 2014, with the staff and cast of the previous anime seasons returning. The BD/DVD consisted of two discs, the second containing a clip of the "Sound Theatre x Natsume Yuujinchou ~ Tsudoi Ongeki no Shou~" musical event which was held the previous year on September 28, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-27/natsume-book-of-friends-gets-new-original-video-anime|title=Natsume's Book of Friends Gets New Original Video Anime|date=September 27, 2013|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 21, 2016|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507215511/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-27/natsume-book-of-friends-gets-new-original-video-anime|url-status=live}}</ref>

Separate soundtrack albums for the two seasons were released in Japan by [[Sony Music]] on September 24, 2008 and March 18, 2009, respectively.<ref name="sony-s1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ST/SoundTrack/SVWC-7580/index.html|title=Sony Music Online Japan : サウンドトラック : 夏目友人帳音楽集 おとのけの捧げもの|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831082226/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ST/SoundTrack/SVWC-7580/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sony-s2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ST/SoundTrack/SVWC-7611/index.html|title=Sony Music Online Japan : サウンドトラック : 続 夏目友人帳 音楽集 いとうるわしきもの|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831082233/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ST/SoundTrack/SVWC-7611/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The series opening and closing theme songs were also released by Sony Music.<ref name="sony-op1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SV/shuheikita/SVWC-7575/index.html|title=Sony Music Online Japan : 喜多 修平 : 一斉の声|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831082246/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SV/shuheikita/SVWC-7575/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sony-ep1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.asp?goods=ESCL000003102|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|script-title=ja:絆/夏夕空(通常盤)|access-date=June 26, 2009|title=SonyMusicShop|archive-date=August 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830230939/http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/detail.asp?goods=ESCL000003102|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sony-op2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/DF/longshotparty/DFCL-1523/index.html|title=Sony Music Online Japan : LONG SHOT PARTY : あの日タイムマシン|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=September 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907133018/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/DF/longshotparty/DFCL-1523/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sony-ep2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SR/Callin/SRCL-6979/index.html|title=Sony Music Online Japan : 高鈴 : ヒビノウタ|publisher=[[Sony Music]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831082205/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/SR/Callin/SRCL-6979/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As singles, "Issei no Sei" reached a peak rank of 48th on the [[Oricon]] singles chart,<ref name="oricon-op1">{{cite web|url=http://contents.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/776801/1/|title=喜多修平-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830235631/http://contents.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/776801/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Natsu Yūzora" reached 27th,<ref name="oricon-ep1">{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/776145/1/|title=中孝介-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=August 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830235801/https://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/776145/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> and "Ano Hi Time Machine" reached 38th.<ref name="oricon-op2">{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/c/28314/|title=LONG SHOT PARTY-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016034106/https://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/c/28314/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Aishiteru" was not released as a single, but instead included on an album called Uta no Hibi by Kourin (Also known as Callin').<ref name="sony-ep2" />

==Reception==
Since the fifth volume of the series, the individual volumes have made the best-seller list for manga in Japan. Volume 5 was ranked at number 8 on the charts for the week of March 4–10, 2008;<ref name="ANN-march4-10">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-15/japanese-comic-ranking-march-4-10| title=Japanese Comic Ranking, March 4–10| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=March 15, 2008| access-date=May 3, 2009| archive-date=November 8, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108085810/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-15/japanese-comic-ranking-march-4-10| url-status=live}}</ref> Volume 6 was number 5 for the week of July 8–14, 2008;<ref name="ANN-july8-14">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-18/japanese-comic-ranking-july-8-14| title=Japanese Comic Ranking, July 8–14| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=July 18, 2008| access-date=May 3, 2009| archive-date=September 8, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908114339/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-18/japanese-comic-ranking-july-8-14| url-status=live}}</ref> Volume 13 has done the best so far of the volumes, staying on the chart for three consecutive weeks (number 2 for the week of January 2–8, 2012, number 4 for the week of January 9–15, 2012, then falling to number 19 the following week).<ref name="ANN-Jan2-8">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-11/japanese-comic-ranking-january-2-8| title=Japanese Comic Ranking, January 2–8| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=January 11, 2012| access-date=January 25, 2009| archive-date=January 15, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115021718/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-11/japanese-comic-ranking-january-2-8| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANN-Jan9-15">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-18/japanese-comic-ranking-january-9-15| title=Japanese Comic Ranking, January 9–15| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=January 18, 2012| access-date=January 25, 2012| archive-date=January 22, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122001507/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-18/japanese-comic-ranking-january-9-15| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANN-Jan16-22">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-25/japanese-comic-ranking-january-16-22| title=Japanese Comic Ranking, January 16–22| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=January 25, 2012| access-date=January 25, 2012| archive-date=November 2, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102063156/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-25/japanese-comic-ranking-january-16-22| url-status=live}}</ref> By February 2022, the manga has sold over 16 million copies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japan's Oldest Amusement Park to Host Natsume's Book of Friends x ATFES Collaboration Event|url=https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/554758|website=Moshi Moshi Nippon|access-date=July 18, 2023|date=February 16, 2022}}</ref> By September 2023, the manga had over 17 million copies in circulation.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:祝20周年!『夏目友人帳』最新30巻はニャンコ先生アクリルスタンド付きの特装版も同日発売!『LaLa』10月号の付録と揃えると…?|url=https://news.livedoor.com/lite/article_detail/24927417/|website= livedoor NEWS|access-date=September 5, 2023|date=September 5, 2023|language=ja}}</ref>

''Natsume's Book of Friends'' was one of twelve finalists for the first [[Manga Taishō]] award in 2008.<ref name="MangaTaisho">{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-23/12-titles-nominated-for-1st-ever-manga-taisho-award| title=12 Titles Nominated for 1st Ever Manga Taisho Awards| publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| date=January 23, 2008| access-date=May 3, 2009| archive-date=January 14, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114082754/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-23/12-titles-nominated-for-1st-ever-manga-taisho-award| url-status=live}}</ref>

Both the anime and the manga have been noted for their optimistic themes and presentation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFxZDwAAQBAJ&q=Natsume%27s+Book+of+Friends&pg=PT373|title=Anime Impact: The Movies and Shows that Changed the World of Japanese Animation|last=Stuckmann|first=Chris|date=2018-05-15|publisher=Mango Media Inc.|isbn=978-1-63353-733-0|access-date=March 21, 2023|archive-date=March 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321073045/https://books.google.com/books?id=dFxZDwAAQBAJ&q=Natsume%27s+Book+of+Friends&pg=PT373|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Notes==
{| class="wikitable"
{{notelist}}
|-
! Opening Theme
! Ending Theme


==References==
|-
{{Reflist|30em}}
| "Issei no Sei (一斉の声) Simultaneous Voice" by Shuhei Kita
| (夏夕空) Summer Evening Sky" by Kousuke Atari
|}


== External links ==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Natsume's Book of Friends}}
*[http://www.natsume-anime.jp/ Official website] {{ja}}
*[http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/natsume/ Official website at TV Tokyo] {{ja}}
*[http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/natsume/ Official Hakusensha manga website] {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://www.hakusensha.co.jp/natsume/ Official website at Hakusensha] {{ja}}
*[http://www.natsume-anime.jp/ Official anime website] {{in lang|ja}}
*{{Anime News Network|manga|9232}}
*{{ANN anime|id=9419}}
*{{ANN manga|id=9232}}


{{LaLa}}
[[Category:Anime of 2008]]
{{Brain's Base}}
{{Shuka}}


[[Category:2008 anime television series debuts]]
[[ja:夏目友人帳]]
[[Category:Anime series based on manga]]
[[ko:나츠메_우인장]]
[[Category:Aniplex franchises]]
[[zh:夏目友人帳]]
[[Category:Brain's Base]]
[[es:Natsume Yūjin-Chō]]
[[Category:Exorcism in anime and manga]]
{{anime-stub}}
[[Category:Hakusensha franchises]]
[[Category:Hakusensha manga]]
[[Category:Iyashikei anime and manga]]
[[Category:Mystery anime and manga]]
[[Category:Shōjo manga]]
[[Category:Supernatural anime and manga]]
[[Category:TV Tokyo original programming]]
[[Category:Upcoming anime television series]]
[[Category:Viz Media manga]]
[[Category:Yōkai in anime and manga]]

Latest revision as of 02:50, 22 April 2024

Natsume's Book of Friends
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Takashi Natsume and Madara
夏目友人帳
(Natsume Yūjin-chō)
Genre
Manga
Written byYuki Midorikawa
Published byHakusensha
English publisher
Magazine
  • LaLa DX (2003–2008)
  • LaLa (2007–present)
DemographicShōjo
Original runJune 10, 2003 – present
Volumes30
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by
  • Ayako Yokoyama
  • Akiko Odawara (1–13)
  • Masanori Miyake (1–26)
  • Ikuhide Ichikawa (1–26)
  • Sayako Muramatsu (14–26, 53–74)
  • Tomomi Kyōtani (27–52)
  • Reiko Sasaki (27–52)
  • Hirofumi Sugawara (27–52)
  • Fumi Yazaki (53–74)
  • Kazuya Satō (53–74)
Written by
  • Kenichi Kanemaki (1–26)
  • Sadayuki Murai (27–present)
Music byMakoto Yoshimori
Studio
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run July 8, 2008 – present
Episodes74 (List of episodes)
Original video animation
Directed by
  • Takahiro Omori (chief)
  • Kotomi Deai
Produced by
  • Ayako Yokoyama
  • Tomomi Kyōtani
  • Tomoko Taneoka
  • Reiko Sasaki
Written by
  • Takahiro Omori (1)
  • Aya Yoshinaga (2)
Music byMakoto Yoshimori
StudioBrain's Base
Licensed byCrunchyroll (1)
Released December 15, 2013 February 1, 2014
Runtime22–23 minutes
Episodes2 (List of episodes)
Original video animation
Directed by
  • Takahiro Omori (chief)
  • Kotomi Deai
Music byMakoto Yoshimori
StudioShuka
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Released March 22, 2017 October 25, 2017
Runtime22–23 minutes
Episodes4 (List of episodes)
Original net animation
StudioShuka
ReleasedApril 21, 2021
Runtime2 minutes
Anime films

Natsume's Book of Friends (Japanese: 夏目友人帳, Hepburn: Natsume Yūjin-chō) is a Japanese manga series by Yuki Midorikawa. It started in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa DX in June 2003, where it ran until April 2008; it has been serialized in LaLa since July 2007. The chapters and special chapters have been collected in 30 tankōbon volumes as of September 2023. The manga is licensed for English-language release in North America by Viz Media, which released the first volume in January 2010.

The series follows Takashi Natsume, an orphan boy in his late teens who can perceive and combat yōkai. One day, Takashi finds a very old notebook that his late maternal grandmother, Reiko, an exorcist who possessed strong spiritual powers, used to bind dozens of powerful demonic spirits, both good and evil (known as either ayakashi or yōkai), that she defeated to follow her very whim and desire if called upon. Takashi resolves to give back all the names in the age-old notebook, Book of Friends, and in the process joins forces with another feline/wolf-like spirit called Madara (nicknamed "Nyanko-sensei" in his borrowed lucky cat-like form), who knew Reiko when she was alive. Madara takes the form of an overweight cat and intends to take back the notebook after Takashi dies. Until then, he agreed to protect Takashi from the nefarious spirits who want to harm him for being the grandson of Reiko, who died in her young adult years decades prior to the story.

The series has been adapted into a series drama CDs. An anime television series adaptation, produced by Brain's Base (seasons 1–4) and Shuka (seasons 5 onwards), have been broadcast on TV Tokyo in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017. A seventh season was announced in 2023 and will premiere in 2024. Two anime films, Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie and Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor, were released in 2018 and 2021, respectively. The first four seasons of the anime were licensed by NIS America for a North American release in 2012 and released on home video in Japanese with English subtitles. The series has also been streamed by Crunchyroll, who produced an English dub in 2022.

By September 2023, the manga had over 16 million copies in circulation.

Story[edit]

For as long as he can remember, Takashi Natsume has had the rare ability to see and commune with yōkai, inheriting the power from his late maternal grandmother Reiko. This ability resulted in his having a lonely childhood, because children his age considered him strange. He had also been passed from one paternal relative to another. Upon her death at a young adult age, Reiko bequeathed to her grandson her Book of Friends, a book containing the names of hundreds of spirits she had bullied into servitude.

The Book of Friends is considered a highly prized item in the supernatural world, and spirits—both good and malicious—hunt Takashi constantly because of it. Takashi spends his time dissolving the contracts that Reiko created and releasing the various spirits that come to him. Malicious spirits, on the other hand, try to kill him to obtain possession of the powerful Book of Friends, which is where Madara (called "Nyanko-sensei" by Takashi) comes in. Madara serves as Takashi's bodyguard and spiritual advisor of sorts, even though he is ostensibly motivated by his own desire to possess the Book of Friends once Takashi dies. He later begins to become more attached to Takashi, with the latter forming a similar bond with Madara.

Takashi also finds a good friend in an exorcist named Natori Suuichi, who also one of the very few humans who is capable of perceiving and taking down spirits via certain banishing or sealing spells, but also finds a dangerous adversary in Matoba Seiji who has plans for wanting Takashi to join him and his nefarious clan of exorcists. Takashi is determined to release all of the names before the conniving Matoba clan or other malicious spirits attempt to use it for their own gain as he tries to learn whatever he can about his maternal grandmother and the strong spiritual connection they share.

Characters[edit]

Main characters[edit]

Takashi Natsume (夏目 貴志, Natsume Takashi)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya,[3] Ayumi Fujimura (young) (Japanese); Adam Gibbs,[4] Paige Guillory (young) (English)
Takashi Natsume, just like his long deceased maternal grandmother, Reiko, is able to perceive and hear yōkai/ayakashi. It is from Reiko that Takashi inherited the "Book of Friends"—a ledger of names written by ayakashi after being bested by Reiko in some type of contest. Because possession of an ayakashi's false name obliges it to heed any command of the one who has the decades-old magical/spiritual book, the abuse potential of the Book of Friends is vast: and as such, is considered far too dangerous and forbidden to even exist.
Because of Takashi's strong resemblance to his late maternal grandmother, Reiko (both in appearance and spiritual powers), yōkai routinely mistake him for her, often pursuing him intensely under the mistaken presumption of shared history and understanding. Accordingly, a regular part of Takashi's daily life is spent trying to cope with the idiosyncrasies, and discern the true intentions of such yōkai: e.g., those who still deeply resent Reiko, but covet the great power of the Book of Friends to bend hundreds of various levels of yōkai to their will; those who feel perpetually lonely and hurt that Reiko never called upon them anymore as the decades passed until her demise as a young adult underneath a tree; those who simply want their names returned to them; and pretty much anywhere or everywhere in between.
Upon discovering the Book of Friends he inherited from his late grandmother Natsume Reiko, Takashi, overly kind but detached in demeanor, driven in equal parts by curiousness and conscientiousness—decided to take responsibility on his own terms, to return the names of the dozens of ayakashi to their owners himself: and in doing so, learn more about his maternal grandmother and the spiritual connection they shared. He is aided in this by the formidable yōkai Madara (whom he calls "Nyanko-sensei": a nod to both his usual cat-like appearance and his self-proclaimed job-title of "bodyguard"), to whom he has promised the Book of Friends should he die.
Takashi is an orphan; his mother (Reiko's illegitimate daughter) having died giving birth to him sixteen years ago, and his father died when he was a very young child, leaving him to be passed from distant paternal relative to paternal relative: in large part due to the "odd" or "creepy" behavior one might expect from a young child able to see creatures no one else could see. Behind Takashi's perpetual distant smile hides a childhood spent in constant anxiety and shame: borne in equal parts of the ayakashi and the people who called him a liar and attention-seeker because of them. Takashi is eventually passed on to the Fujiwaras, a middle-aged couple on his late father's side of the family. He loves them, and does not want to cause them trouble, so he keeps this 'alternate landscape' problem to himself. Being the only grandchild and descendant of the infamous Reiko, his innate spiritual powers are quite immense, allowing him to actually incapacitate and/or purify yōkai with one punch alone, as well figure out if a human is possessed.
Takashi is described by the series author, Yuki Midorikawa, as "a boy who is trying to be a kind person."[5]
Takashi returns the name inscribed in the Book of Friends by first picturing the ayakashi in his mind. The book flips to the page on which the name is written and Takashi takes the page and places it in his mouth and exhales. Takashi is only able to do this because he is Reiko's only direct descendant. The cost of releasing the name, however, is that Takashi's spiritual energy is drained temporarily. If an ayakashi becomes emotionally unstable, in the same space, its dreams may flow into Takashi's.
On the other hand, most of the ayakashi let Takashi see into their memories, so that he can understand them and his long deceased grandmother better. Takashi can also see their memories when he releases a yōkai's name, seeing their last encounter with a teenage Reiko. When Takashi is completely frustrated over a problem and falls asleep in class, he actually sleep-draws in his notebook about whatever is bothering him at the time. When he was being chased by a shadow he called "Mary", he started drawing it in his sleep, making his friends wonder if he was in love with a foreigner. His incredibly strong affinity for exorcist spells and immensely powerful spiritual strength causes him to smell "yummy" to man-eating yōkai, as Madara puts it for Takashi having Reiko's scent as well as her great looks, which draws ordinary humans, yōkai and exorcists alike to Takashi.
Takashi's ever developing/increasing spiritual powers and his keen sixth sense regarding yōkai leave him targeted by all types of yōkai and greatly wanted by high-level exorcists; Matoba Seiji in particular. At the beginning, Natori wants him to join his exorcist clan, but later prefers him as a good friend. Seiji Matoba, one of the strongest and most dangerous of exorcists, also tries to recruit Takashi, but for his nefarious intent for being the only descendant of Reiko.
Madara () / "Nyanko-sensei" (ニャンコ先生, "Master Kitty-Cat")
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue,[3] Sanae Kobayashi (High School Girl)[3] (Japanese); Christopher Wehkamp,[4] Kara Edwards[6] (English)
A mysterious inugami. Madara was sealed in a shrine until he was accidentally released by Takashi. Because Madara was trapped in a material form for so long, Madara ordinarily takes on the shape of a maneki neko (lucky cat), leading Takashi to nickname him Nyanko-sensei. In this form, other people can see him, leading for Takashi having to ask his guardians if he could keep him as a pet. He is a powerful ayakashi, who protects Takashi from others and teaches him spells on occasion, in return for Takashi's promise to give him the Book of Friends when he dies, so Madara often complains when Takashi returns other yōkai's names, saying that at this rate there will be nothing left in the Book when Takashi dies. They often fight each other, which leads to Takashi punching Madara on the face and knocking him out. But as the story progresses, Madara takes a liking to Takashi. Despite his protests of not being a cat, he likes to play with cat toys. Nyanko's design is based on a lucky cat statue Midorikawa was given as a child.[7]
Many times in the manga, other characters call Madara a 'pig' because of his round shape as a maneki-neko, which annoys him greatly. Madara is implied to have had a close relationship with Reiko in both her teenage and young adult years til her premature death underneath a tree, which is implied to be one of the reasons he is content to be Takashi's yōkai companion until the end of his own fleeting human life.
Reiko Natsume (夏目 レイコ, Natsume Reiko)
Voiced by: Sanae Kobayashi (Japanese); Alexis Tipton[4] (English)
Takashi's late maternal grandmother, from whom he inherited the rare spiritual ability to see and hear yōkai as well as banish or seal them away. When Reiko was a teenager and young adult, she was considered a freak by everyone else because of her ability. Since she believed no human could ever understand her, she turned to the invisible spirits for companionship and killing time. Reiko was extraordinarily powerful, and so she easily bullied hundreds of spirits in to obeying her by playing games with them or even using a mere baseball bat or broom to fend them off whenever she chose not to even display her spiritual knowledge and innate prowess either by banishing or sealing them away via sacred sutras or shikigami, quite similar to exorcist Natori Suuichi. If they lost, she would make them give her their false names as proof of their loyalty to her. Reiko gathered said aliases in her decades-old magical/spiritual Book of Friends, and commanded most spirits to follow her every whim, with the exception of Madara whom she seemed to have been quite close with.
Madara mentioned that she had sloppy table manners and was very forgetful most times. Reiko died when she was a young adult underneath a tree, either in her twenties or thirties, so no one remembered her, which was what she had wanted. Her legacy and fame throughout the supernatural world still remains strong as her innate spiritual might was feared and greatly intriguing to both yōkai and exorcists alike, which is why they are so interested in her one-and-only grandchild who possesses the exact same high level of spiritual power she possessed.

Supporting[edit]

Kaname Tanuma (田沼 要, Tanuma Kaname)
Voiced by: Kazuma Horie (Japanese); Tyson Rinehart[8] (English)
Another student that had recently moved into the area. He is sickly and quite susceptible to illnesses. Like Takashi, he is able to detect spirits, but to a lesser degree limited to seeing merely shadows and sensing slight presence of spirits. He wants to help Takashi in any way he can, but is afraid that he will just be a burden because of his weak ability. He became a close companion and even knew about Takashi's secret of seeing spirits and always helped him whenever he is in a tight spot.
Touru Taki (多軌 透, Taki Tōru)
Voiced by: Rina Satō[9] (Japanese); Megan Shipman[10] (English)
A new girl at school who rarely talks because of a curse a spirit has placed on her, which Takashi later helps her to break. She is an onmyouji; she cannot see spirits without drawing a magic circle. Taki, like Tanuma, wants to help Takashi in any way possible. She has an older brother who is staying at university and flatly refuses to believe that yōkai even exist.
Jun Sasada (笹田 純, Sasada Jun)
Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro[3] (Japanese); Marisa Duran[11] (English)
The class president of Takashi's homeroom. Sasada believes that Takashi can see, hear and battle spirits, although he repeatedly denies this to her. To Takashi's chagrin, she frequently tries to accompany him when he is on business involving spirits. She is a recurring character in the anime; in the manga, she is rarely seen after the encounter with Shigure due to transferring to another school from her stepfather's new job.
Shuuichi Natori (名取 周一, Natori Shūichi)
Voiced by: Akira Ishida,[3] Fuyuka Oura (young) (Japanese); Aaron Roberts,[12] Macy Anne Johnson[13] (young) (English)
A man who is also able to see spirits. He is a famous actor and exorcist and has a lizard birthmark that moves around on his body. He has the ability to manipulate paper dolls (Shikigami) and has three spirits under his command. Takashi tends to disapprove of his forceful exorcism methods. When Natori is first introduced, he hated spirits for his horrible childhood. But, after meeting Takashi, he gradually softens even though his ways are not much different. Over the course of meeting Takashi, Natori developed concern for his wellbeing, for he tends to be too softhearted and reckless when it involves fellow exorcists or spirits with malicious intent alike. However, he does acknowledge that Takashi may even be much more powerful than himself or even those strongest of the nefarious Matoba clan. In the sixth season finale, he is finally is told about Reiko and her Book of Friends by Takashi, who thinks that such an old artifact as powerful as it is dangerous would be better off burned, but keeps its existence for Takashi's sake.
Hiiragi ()
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino[3] (Japanese); Jill Harris[14] (English)
Seiji Matoba (的場 静司, Matoba Seiji)
Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese); Reagan Murdock[15] (English)
The head of the Matoba clan who is twenty-two years old. A coldhearted yet levelheaded young man, Seiji is a topmost-level exorcist who does not mind sacrificing innocent yōkai to reach his goals. Although he wants stronger yōkai to protect humans, he will not hesitate in hurting anyone who gets in his way. He is mostly seen armed with a bow and arrow, which he uses to eliminate yōkai. There is a scar on his right eye, covered by an eye patch with a certain protection spell on it, due to an ancestor offering his eye to a yōkai for assistance but ended up breaking his promise. This causes later heads of the clan to have their eye targeted by that yōkai, and the distrust from other clans. After his first encounter with Takashi, he immediately takes great interest in him, and even later asks him to join the Matoba clan since finding out he is the grandson of Reiko herself.
Atsushi Kitamoto (北本 篤史, Kitamoto Atsushi) and Satoru Nishimura (西村 悟, Nishimura Satoru)
Voiced by: Hisayoshi Suganuma[3] and Ryōhei Kimura[3] (Japanese); Mike Haimoto and Matthew Elkins[4] (English)
Classmates of Takashi. Kitamoto is a sensible and rational person, while Nishimura is funny and easy-going, with a slightly perverted side. Although Takashi initially rejects their overtures of friendship because of his fears of his ability being found out, he eventually becomes friends with them, although they still hang around more with each other than Takashi. Nishimura has a crush on Taki, but thinks that she and Takashi are going out.
Touko Fujiwara (藤原 塔子, Fujiwara Tōko) and Shigeru Fujiwara (藤原 滋, Fujiwara Shigeru)
Voiced by: Miki Itō[3] (Japanese); Jennifer AuBuchon[4] and Seth Magill[16] (English)
A childless middle-aged couple and Takashi's current foster parents. Shigeru is a second cousin of Takashi's dead father, and as a boy once met Reiko without recognizing it was her. Both Touko and Shigeru assure Takashi that they consider him a part of their family. They both worry often about him, wanting him to be as happy as possible. Despite this, Takashi goes to great lengths to hide his ability from them. Slowly, Takashi comes to understand that his keeping the Fujiwaras at a distance, including always addressing them formally (see Honorific speech in Japanese), is preventing him from forming close human attachments. Despite this, he still fears being rejected because of his ever developing/increasing spiritual abilities.
One-Eyed Middle Class Yōkai (一つ目の中級妖怪) and Ox-Faced Middle Class Yōkai (牛顔の中級妖怪)
Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama[3] and Hiroshi Shimozaki[3] (Japanese); Brian Mathis,[17] Greg Dulcie[6] (English)
Hinoe (ヒノエ)
Voiced by: Akemi Okamura[3] (Japanese); Molly Searcy[18] (English)
A powerful yōkai whose form is a blue-haired human woman. She was madly in love with Reiko. Being knowledgeable, she often acts as Takashi's mentor. Hinoe enjoys teasing Takashi and Madara; mostly the former because of his uncanny resemblance to Reiko.
Misuzu (三篠)
Voiced by: Takaya Kuroda[3] (Japanese); Chris Ryan[13] (English)
A huge powerful horse yōkai with many followers. He acknowledges that Takashi is a worthy holder of the Book of Friends and offers himself as Takashi's bodyguard in place of the "useless" Madara.
Kappa (カッパ)
Voiced by: Kyōko Chikiri[3] (Japanese); Danielle Yoshiko Phillips[19] (English)
Kogitsune (子狐, Little Fox)
Voiced by: Akiko Yajima (Japanese); Kristen McGuire[20] (English)
An orphaned fox yōkai whose form is a boy with fox ears and tail however humans only see him as an infant fox. He becomes friends with Takashi after being rescued from bullying yokai.
Chobihige (ちょびひげ)
Voiced by: Chō
A large-headed spirit with a small mustache and a pale green robe. He wears a comb that he had lost and is replaced by a dragon scale-encrusted comb Natsume had made for him. His true form is that of a dragon.

Yōkai[edit]

Hishigaki (ひしがき)
Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō (Japanese); Kasi Hollowell[21] (English)
Tsuyukami (露神)
Voiced by: Takeshi Aono (Japanese); Doug Jackson[22] (English)
Susugi (ススギ)
Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese); Wes Frazier[13] (English)
Shigure (時雨)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Tsuchida (Japanese); John Burgmeier[13] (English)
Santo (さんと)
Voiced by: Yoshiyuki Hirai (Japanese); Cris George[13] (English)
Mikuri (みくり)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Yanagihara (Japanese); Mike Haimoto[13] (English)
Tsubame ()
Voiced by: Ryoka Yuzuki (Japanese); Rachel Glass[23] (English)
Tarusaru (垂申)
Voiced by: Akimitsu Takase (Japanese); Jerry Habibi[24] (English)
Hotaru (ホタル)
Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Elizabeth Maxwell[13] (English)
Akagane (アカガネ)
Voiced by: Atsushi Imaruoka (Japanese); Jack Reeder[25] (English)
Asagi (アサギ)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese); Natalie Hoover[26] (English)
Evil Sealed Yōkai (印使いの邪鬼)
Voiced by: Tadashi Miyazawa (Japanese); David Matranga[6] (English)
Benio (紅峰)
Voiced by: Misa Watanabe (Japanese); Kelsey Maher[27] (English)
Riou (リオウ, Riō)
Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese); Oscar Seung[28] (English)
Gen ()
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino
Sui ()
Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki
Sumie (スミエ)
Voiced by: Takako Honda
Eggy (タマ, Tama)
Voiced by: Sayaka Aoki (Japanese); Jalitza Chantel,[29] Alex Hom (Enraged form)[30] (English)
Kirinoha (霧葉)
Voiced by: Yuka Terasaki (Japanese); Hannah Alyea[31] (English)
Stitch Mark Yōkai (額傷の妖怪)
Voiced by: Takayuki Sugō (Japanese); Alex Hom[32] (English)
Sasafune (笹舟)
Voiced by: Ryō Hirohashi
Miya (巳弥)
Voiced by: Yū Sugimoto
Karime (カリメ)
Voiced by: Ryūsaku Chiziwa
Kai (カイ)
Voiced by: Junko Takeuchi

Humans[edit]

Hana (ハナ)
Voiced by: Michie Kita (Japanese); Nazia Chaudhry[33] (English)
Taniozaki (谷尾崎)
Voiced by: Satoshi Tsuruoka
Akifumi Sugino (杉野 章史)
Voiced by: Kenji Hamada
Tamiko (民子)
Voiced by: Sawa Ishige (Japanese); Dani Chambers[13] (English)
Nanase (七瀬)
Voiced by: Mika Doi, Yoriko Nagata (young)
Chizu Sakanaka (坂中千津, Sakanaka Chizu)
Voiced by: Ikuko Tani
Yasaka (八坂)
Voiced by: Kenji Nojima
Katsumi Shibata (柴田 克己, Shibata Katsumi)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Takashi's Father (夏目の父)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi
Takashi's biological father who was deceased in his childhood.

Development[edit]

Midorikawa created Natsume's Book of Friends as an episodic serial for a manga magazine published every two months, so that each chapter was a story that could be read on its own.[34] As the result of earlier writing a ghost story that an editor made her revise to include more romance than she initially wanted,[35] Midorikawa specifically created Natsume's Book of Friends as a supernatural story with less romance,[36] containing supernatural elements that stir readers' imaginations the way stories about yōkai and local gods stirred hers growing up in a rural area.[36] For the basic story, she wanted to write about a boy and his non-human teacher,[37] and include the incongruous element of the boy's grandmother in a school uniform.[38]

This was the first series Midorikawa wrote in which the protagonist was also the central character.[38] Midorikawa claimed that as a character, Takashi is almost as bad as herself at expressing his thoughts,[38] which caused her to use more interior monologue than she was comfortable with for a male character.[37]

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Written and illustrated by Yuki Midorikawa, Natsume's Book of Friends was first published in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa DX from June 10, 2003,[39][40] to April 10, 2008;[b] it has been serialized in the monthly sister magazine LaLa since July 24, 2007.[43][44] The chapters have been collected in thirty tankōbon volumes.

The series is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media, with the first volume published in January 2010.[45] It is also licensed in French by Delcourt,[46] in South Korea by Haksan,[47] in Taiwan by Tong Li,[48] in Thailand by Bongkoch Publishing,[49] in Germany by Egmont Manga & Anime,[50] in Italy by Panini Comics,[5] in Vietnam by Tre Publishing House,[19] in Russia by XL Media[35] and in Poland by Studio JG.[51]

Additionally, fanbook was published on January 5, 2009,[52] and a notebook reproduction of Natsume's Book of Friends was published on July 3, 2009.[53]

Volumes[edit]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 October 5, 2005[54]978-4-592-17158-4January 6, 2010[45]978-1-4215-3243-1
2 August 5, 2006[55]978-4-592-17159-1April 6, 2010[56]978-1-4215-3244-8
3 February 5, 2007[57]978-4-592-18446-1July 6, 2010[58]978-1-4215-3245-5
4 August 4, 2007[59]978-4-592-18447-8October 5, 2010[60]978-1-4215-3246-2
5 March 5, 2008[61]978-4-592-18448-5January 4, 2011[62]978-1-4215-3247-9
6 July 5, 2008[63]978-4-592-18449-2April 5, 2011[64]978-1-4215-3248-6
7 January 5, 2009[65]978-4-592-18667-0June 7, 2011[66]978-1-4215-3274-5
8 July 3, 2009[67]978-4-592-18668-7August 2, 2011[68]978-1-4215-3592-0
9 January 4, 2010[69]978-4-592-18669-4October 4, 2011[70]978-1-4215-3887-7
10 July 5, 2010[71]978-4-592-18670-0December 6, 2011[72]978-1-4215-3939-3
11 March 4, 2011[73]978-4-592-19361-6February 7, 2012[74]978-1-4215-4122-8
12 July 5, 2011[75]978-4-592-19362-3July 3, 2012[76]978-1-4215-4231-7
13 January 4, 2012[77]978-4-592-19363-0December 4, 2012[78]978-1-4215-4923-1
14 July 5, 2012[79]978-4-592-19364-7July 2, 2013[80]978-1-4215-5375-7
15 January 4, 2013[81]978-4-592-19365-4January 7, 2014[82]978-1-4215-5967-4
16 July 5, 2013[83]978-4-592-19366-1June 3, 2014[84]978-1-4215-6782-2
17 January 4, 2014[85]978-4-592-19367-8October 7, 2014[86]978-1-4215-7524-7
18 September 5, 2014[87]978-4-592-19368-5June 2, 2015[88]978-1-4215-8024-1
19 May 1, 2015[89]978-4-592-19369-2January 5, 2016[90]978-1-4215-8248-1
20 April 5, 2016[91]978-4-592-19370-8March 7, 2017[92]978-1-4215-9162-9
21 October 10, 2016[93]978-4-592-19371-5January 2, 2018[94]978-1-4215-9587-0
22 September 5, 2017[95]978-4-592-19372-2October 2, 2018[96]978-1-4215-9653-2
23 September 5, 2018[97]978-4-592-19373-9October 1, 2019[98]978-1-9747-0769-0
24 May 2, 2019[99]978-4-592-19374-6June 2, 2020[100]978-1-9747-1199-4
25 June 5, 2020[101]978-4-592-19375-3April 6, 2021[102]978-1-9747-2119-1
26 January 4, 2021[103]978-4-592-19376-0December 7, 2021[104]978-1-9747-2573-1
27 September 3, 2021[105]978-4-592-19377-7November 1, 2022[106]978-1-9747-3241-8
28 May 2, 2022[107]978-4-592-19378-4May 2, 2023[108]978-1-9747-3692-8
29 January 4, 2023[109]978-4-592-19379-1February 6, 2024[110]978-1-9747-4325-4
30 September 5, 2023[111]978-4-592-19380-7November 5, 2024[112]978-1-9747-4953-9

Drama CDs[edit]

Natsume's Book of Friends has been adapted as a series of three drama CDs, which were distributed as extras with issues of LaLa.

  1. LaLa Treasure Drama CD (October 2007)
  2. LaLa Excellent Drama CD (November 2008)
  3. LaLa Double Premiere Drama CD (May 2009)

Anime[edit]

Natsume's Book of Friends has been adapted into an anime television series, directed by Takahiro Omori, and broadcast on TV Tokyo. Brain's Base animated the first four seasons, while Shuka has animated the fifth one onwards. The 13-episode first season was broadcast from July 8 to September 30, 2008;[113][c] the second 13-episode season, Zoku Natsume Yūjin-chō (続 夏目友人帳, "Natsume's Book of Friends (Continuation)"), was broadcast from January 6 to March 31, 2009;[115][d] the third 13-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-chō San (夏目友人帳 参), was broadcast from July 5 to September 27, 2011;[117][e] the 13-episode fourth season, Natsume Yūjin-chō Shi (夏目友人帳 肆), was broadcast from January 3 to March 27, 2012;[119][f] the fifth 11-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go (夏目友人帳 伍), was broadcast from October 5 to December 21, 2016;[121][g] the sixth 11-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-chō Roku (夏目友人帳 陸), was broadcast from April 12 to June 21, 2017.[123][h] In July 2023, it was announced that the series will receive a seventh season.[125] It is set to premiere in Q4 2024 on TV Tokyo.[126]

In North America, the first four seasons were licensed by NIS America and released on home video in Japanese with English subtitles.[127][128][129][130] The six seasons have been streamed by Crunchyroll.[131][132][133][134][135] An English dub by Crunchyroll premiered on July 24, 2022.[136]

Films[edit]

Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond was released in theaters on September 29, 2018.[137]

A second theatrical anime, titled Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor, premiered on January 16, 2021.[138][139] The film is composed of two stories, "Ishi Okoshi" and "Ayashiki Raihōsha". The main staff and cast members from the previous film are returning to reprise their roles with the addition of Hisako Kanemoto as a guest-star.[140][141]

Other[edit]

An original video animation (OVA) titled Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni (いつかゆきのひに) was released on February 5, 2014, with the staff and cast of the previous anime seasons returning. The BD/DVD consisted of two discs, the second containing a clip of the "Sound Theatre x Natsume Yuujinchou ~ Tsudoi Ongeki no Shou~" musical event which was held the previous year on September 28, 2013.[142]

Separate soundtrack albums for the two seasons were released in Japan by Sony Music on September 24, 2008 and March 18, 2009, respectively.[143][144] The series opening and closing theme songs were also released by Sony Music.[145][146][147][148] As singles, "Issei no Sei" reached a peak rank of 48th on the Oricon singles chart,[149] "Natsu Yūzora" reached 27th,[150] and "Ano Hi Time Machine" reached 38th.[151] "Aishiteru" was not released as a single, but instead included on an album called Uta no Hibi by Kourin (Also known as Callin').[148]

Reception[edit]

Since the fifth volume of the series, the individual volumes have made the best-seller list for manga in Japan. Volume 5 was ranked at number 8 on the charts for the week of March 4–10, 2008;[152] Volume 6 was number 5 for the week of July 8–14, 2008;[153] Volume 13 has done the best so far of the volumes, staying on the chart for three consecutive weeks (number 2 for the week of January 2–8, 2012, number 4 for the week of January 9–15, 2012, then falling to number 19 the following week).[154][155][156] By February 2022, the manga has sold over 16 million copies.[157] By September 2023, the manga had over 17 million copies in circulation.[158]

Natsume's Book of Friends was one of twelve finalists for the first Manga Taishō award in 2008.[159]

Both the anime and the manga have been noted for their optimistic themes and presentation.[160]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Credited as Chief Director (総監督) for episodes 53 through present
  2. ^ Published until the magazine's May 2008 issue,[41] released on April 10 of the same year.[42]
  3. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:00, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. JST.[114]
  4. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:00, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:00 a.m. JST.[116]
  5. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:30, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. JST.[118]
  6. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Monday at 25:30, which is effectively Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. JST.[120]
  7. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Tuesday at 25:35, which is effectively Wednesday at 1:35 a.m. JST.[122]
  8. ^ TV Tokyo listed the air dates for the series on Tuesday at 25:35, which is effectively Wednesday at 1:35 a.m. JST.[124]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Natsume's Book of Friends Season 6 – The Spring 2017 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. April 12, 2017. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2021. the entertainment value comes from its iyashikei, "healing," atmosphere—the painterly countryside that's so influenced by the seasons, and the vulnerable emotions shared between characters who have been growing closer over many years. — Lauren Orsini
  2. ^ a b "The Official Website for Natsume's Book of Friends". Viz Media. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Natsume's Book of Friends (2022) Japanese Cast". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Dempsey, Liam (July 22, 2022). "Natsume's Book of Friends Season 1 English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. "Afterword". Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  6. ^ a b c "Just today, I asked @jadarade about the cast of Natsume Book of Friends. This covers the first season". Instagram. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. "Afterword". Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  8. ^ @MateoBarona5 (December 28, 2022). "@AttackonTyson in "Natsume's Book of Friends" Are you the voice of Kaname Tanuma?…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "声優さん出演リスト 個別表示:佐藤利奈(Rina Satou)=朝倉鈴音" [Voice actor's appearance list individual display: Rina Satou]. Voice Artist Database (in Japanese). GamePlaza-HARUKA-. July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  10. ^ "Found out that the identity of Taki's voice actor is Megan Shipman. Thank you, @jadarade". Instagram. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  11. ^ @marisaduran_ (August 1, 2022). "As of ep2, I've joined the English voice cast of #NatsumesBookofFriends as Jun Sasada! Fun fact: she's basically who I was in high school - oval-shaped glasses and all!…" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ @AaronRobertsYes (October 24, 2022). "SUPER-LATE CASTING ANNOUNCEMENTS📣Gigantic thanks to…" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Hi, @jadarade. Finished the first season of Natsume Book of Friends. Would you know who voiced Hotaru/Kiyo, Sasago and Urihime, young Natori, Susugi, Mikuri, Santou, Tamiko, Shigure, and Misuzu? Characters are in their respective square. Thank you!". Instagram. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  14. ^ @Kitsunes96 (May 10, 2023). "@JillHarrisVO in #NatsumesBookofFriends, Are you the voice …" (Tweet). Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ @ReaganMurdockVO (March 29, 2023). "Who you gonna call? Hopefully not him~ Excited to share that I'm the English…" (Tweet). Retrieved March 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ @kitsunes96 (August 9, 2022). "Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ @singactdrum (January 18, 2023). "Always fun voicing this little chukyuu…" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2023 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ @mollysearcy (September 5, 2022). "Excited to share this clip of Hinoe in #NatsumesBookofFriends ! …" (Tweet). Retrieved October 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ a b @danielleyoshiko (August 21, 2022). "Hear me as an adorable Kappa im episode 4 of #NatsumeYujinCho…" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ @KrisComics (September 5, 2022). "I'm delighted to be joining Natsume's Book of Friends as the English voice of Little Fox!…" (Tweet). Retrieved September 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ @kitsunes96 (July 28, 2022). "Can you confirmed who voices two yokais; Hishigaki and Long-Eared Yokai?…" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ @kitsunes96 (August 9, 2022). "Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ @rachelglassVO (September 2, 2022). "If you're keeping up with Natsume's Book of Friends you can catch me in Ep. 6 as Tsubame, my precious bird demon lady.…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ @JERRYHABIBI (September 5, 2022). ""..I've decided not to eat you." Anime Debut ~ Thank you @jadbsaxton for bringing me on…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @JakoshiSan (September 19, 2022). "It's my honor to announce I play Akagane in Natsume's Book of Friends! This show originally aired in 2008…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Natalie Hoover Resume" (RTF). Natalie Hoover. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  27. ^ @kelseymaher (November 22, 2022). "Happy to announce my role as 🦋Benio🦋 in Natsume's Book of Friends season 2 English dub!…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ @OscarSeung (November 21, 2022). "Voiced Riou in Natsume's Book of Friends! Directed by the fabulous…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @ItsJalitza (December 12, 2022). "EGGcited to announce i voice Eggy (in their bby form) in episode 17…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ @Ack_its_Alex (December 12, 2022). "Was a blast to provide the ghoulish gutteral growls of Eggy (in their enraged form) in episode 17…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ @HannahAlyea (December 18, 2022). "I'm so excited to announce I play Kirinoha in the newest English dub ep of Nats…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @Ack_its_Alex (December 27, 2022). "Ready for some post-holiday nightmare fuel? No? Yeah, that makes sense. But if you are, you can hear me as…" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @kitsunes96 (August 9, 2022). "Can you confirmed who voiced characters on ep 2; Shigeru Fujiwara, …" (Tweet). Retrieved August 30, 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  35. ^ a b Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  36. ^ a b Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  37. ^ a b Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
  38. ^ a b c Midorikawa, Yuki (January 2010) [2005]. "Afterword". Natsume's Book of Friends, volume 1. San Francisco: Viz Media. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-4215-3243-1.
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External links[edit]