Natsume's Book of Friends

Main characters

• Takashi Natsume (夏目 貴志)
• High school student Takashi Natsume inherits his grandmother Reiko's ability to see and receives her "Book of Friends," a ledger containing names of she subdued. The book's power to control spirits makes it coveted by both seeking freedom and exorcists pursuing its power. Many spirits confuse Natsume for Reiko, leading to both conflict and unexpected connections. The Madara protects him in exchange for inheriting the book after Natsume's death, while he works to return the spirits' names. Though raised by reluctant relatives due to his spiritual sight, he finds stability with the Fujiwaras while concealing his abilities. Despite his peaceful nature, Natsume possesses strong spiritual power that attracts attention, particularly from exorcist Seiji Matoba. Each name he releases drains his energy but grants him visions of the spirits' pasts, revealing more about Reiko's life.
• Madara (斑) "Nyanko-sensei" (ニャンコ先生)
• Madara is a powerful accidentally released by Natsume from long confinement in a shrine. Normally appearing as a (which Natsume nicknames Nyanko-sensei), this form allows him to be visible to humans, requiring Natsume to pass him off as a pet. Though contracted to protect Natsume in exchange for inheriting the Book of Friends upon the boy's death, Madara frequently complains when names are returned from the book. Their relationship involves frequent quarrels, yet gradually develops mutual affection. Despite his protests about being treated like a cat, Madara exhibits feline behaviors. His connection to Natsume deepens through their shared history with Reiko, whom Madara knew well before her untimely death. Nyanko's design is based on a lucky cat statue Midorikawa was given as a child.[6]
• Reiko Natsume (夏目 レイコ)
• Reiko, Natsume's late maternal grandmother, was a powerful spiritualist who distanced herself from humans and sought companionship among spirits. She collected the false names of defeated in her Book of Friends, compelling their obedience. Though she commanded most spirits, she maintained an unusual rapport with Madara. Described as forgetful with poor manners, Reiko died young beneath a tree, fading from human memory as she desired. Her formidable spiritual power continues to resonate in the supernatural world, attracting both fear and fascination from and exorcists alike—a legacy now inherited by her grandson Natsume, who possesses comparable abilities.

Yowake High School

• Kaname Tanuma (田沼 要)
• An student that had recently moved into the area. He is sickly and quite susceptible to illnesses. Like Natsume, 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 Natsume 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 Natsume's secret of seeing spirits and always helped him whenever he is in a tight spot.
• Touru Taki (多軌 透)
• A new girl at school who rarely talks because of a curse a spirit has placed on her, which Natsume later helps her to break. She is an onmyouji; she cannot see spirits without drawing a magic circle. Taki, like Tanuma, wants to help Natsume in any way possible. She has an older brother who is staying at university and flatly refuses to believe that even exist.
• Jun Sasada (笹田 純)
• The class president of Natsume's homeroom. Sasada believes that Natsume can see, hear and battle spirits, although he repeatedly denies this to her. To Natsume'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.
• Atsushi Kitamoto (北本 篤史) Satoru Nishimura (西村 悟)
• A classmates of Natsume. Kitamoto is a sensible and rational person, while Nishimura is funny and easy-going, with a slightly perverted side. Although Natsume 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 Natsume. Nishimura has a crush on Taki, but thinks that she and Natsume are going out.

Exorcists

• Shuuichi Natori (名取 周一)
• An exorcist and actor who possesses spiritual sight, marked by a moving lizard birthmark. He controls three spirits and employs paper, using harsh methods rooted in childhood trauma that contrast with Natsume's compassion. While maintaining his techniques, he grows concerned about Natsume's merciful nature toward hostile spirits and exorcists, despite recognizing his superior power. Learning of the Book of Friends, he deems it dangerous but accepts Natsume's choice to keep it.
• Seiji Matoba (的場 静司)
• Seiji Matoba leads his clan as a formidable exorcist who prioritizes human protection above all else. His pragmatic approach includes sacrificing innocent when necessary. A distinctive eye patch covers his scarred right eye - a hereditary curse from a broken pact between his ancestor and a powerful . This legacy brings both supernatural targeting and distrust from rival clans. Upon discovering Natsume's lineage as Reiko's grandson, he actively seeks to recruit him, recognizing his exceptional spiritual potential.
• Nanase (七瀬)
• An elder member of the Matoba clan who serves as the current head's secretary and assistant.

Recurring yōkai

• Hiiragi (柊)
• One-Eyed Middle Class Yōkai / "Chukyu A" (一つ目の中級妖怪) Ox-Faced Middle Class Yōkai / "Chukyu B" (牛顔の中級妖怪)
• Hinoe (ヒノエ)
• A powerful whose form is a blue-haired human woman. She was madly in love with Reiko. Being knowledgeable, she often acts as Natsume's mentor. Hinoe enjoys teasing Natsume and Madara; mostly the former because of his uncanny resemblance to Reiko.
• Misuzu (三篠)
• A powerful horse with many followers. He acknowledges that Natsume is a worthy holder of the Book of Friends and offers himself as Natsume's bodyguard in place of Madara.
• Kappa (カッパ)
• Little Fox (子狐)
• An orphaned fox whose form is a boy with fox ears and tail however humans only see him as an infant fox. He becomes friends with Natsume after being rescued from bullying.
• Chobihige (ちょびひげ)
• 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.

Other characters

• Tōko Fujiwara (藤原 塔子) Shigeru Fujiwara (藤原 滋)
• The Fujiwaras, a childless middle-aged couple, become Natsume's foster parents. Shigeru, a second cousin of Natsume's late father, once unknowingly met Reiko in his youth. They wholeheartedly accept Natsume as family and frequently express concern for his wellbeing. Though Natsume consciously maintains emotional distance - addressing them formally and concealing his spiritual abilities - he gradually realizes this prevents deeper bonds. Despite his growing comfort with them, he continues to fear rejection should they discover his supernatural connection to the world.
• Katsumi Shibata (柴田 克己)
• A classmate of Natsume in elementary school. He used to bully Natsume and refused to believe in his spiritual abilities. After falling in love with a, and eventually realizing that she was indeed one thanks to Natsume, he apologizes to him and become friends.

Manga

Written and illustrated by Yuki Midorikawa, Natsume's Book of Friends was first published in Hakusensha's manga magazine LaLa DX from June 10, 2003,[22][23] to April 10, 2008; it has been serialized in the monthly sister magazine LaLa since July 24, 2007.[26][27] The chapters have been collected in 33 volumes.

The series is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media, with the first volume published in January 2010.

Additionally, fanbook was published on January 5, 2009,[28] and a notebook reproduction of Natsume's Book of Friends was published on July 3, 2009.[29]

Volumes

Drama CDs

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

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;[95] the second 13-episode season, Zoku Natsume Yūjin-chō (続 夏目友人帳), was broadcast from January 6 to March 31, 2009;[97] the third 13-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-chō San (夏目友人帳 参), was broadcast from July 5 to September 27, 2011;[99] the 13-episode fourth season, Natsume Yūjin-chō Shi (夏目友人帳 肆), was broadcast from January 3 to March 27, 2012;[101] the fifth 11-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go (夏目友人帳 伍), was broadcast from October 5 to December 21, 2016;[103] the sixth 11-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-chō Roku (夏目友人帳 陸), was broadcast from April 12 to June 21, 2017;[105] the seventh 12-episode season, Natsume Yūjin-chō Shichi (夏目友人帳 漆), aired from October 8 to December 24, 2024.[107][108]

In North America, the first four seasons were licensed by NIS America and released on home video in Japanese with English subtitles.[110][111][112][113] The seven seasons have been streamed by Crunchyroll.[114] An English dub by Crunchyroll premiered on July 24, 2022.[115]

Films

Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond was released in theaters on September 29, 2018.[116]

A second theatrical anime, titled Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor, premiered on January 16, 2021.[117][118] The film is composed of two stories, "Ishi Okoshi" and "Ayashiki Raihōsha". The main staff and cast members from the previous film returned to reprise their roles with the addition of Hisako Kanemoto as a guest-star.[119][120]

Other

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 × Natsume Yuujinchou: Tsudoi Ongeki no Shou" musical event which was held on September 28, 2013.[121]

Separate soundtrack albums for the two seasons were released in Japan by Sony Music on September 24, 2008, and March 18, 2009, respectively.[122][123] The series opening and closing theme songs were also released by Sony Music.[124][125][126][127] As singles, "Issei no Sei" reached a peak rank of 48th on the Oricon singles chart,[128] "Natsu Yūzora" reached 27th,[129] and "Ano Hi Time Machine" reached 38th.[130] "Aishiteru" was not released as a single, but instead included on an album called Uta no Hibi by Kourin (also known as Callin').[127]

A visual novel adaptation of the series, Natsume Yūjin-chō: Hazuki no Shirushi (夏目友人帳 ~葉月の記~), was announced in December 2024 by Bushiroad Games. It was released in Japan for Windows (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch on June 5, 2025.[131]