Natsume Yuujinchou
Natsume's Book of Friends, The Natsume Book of Friends, Manabiya no Sumi, Natsu ni wa Tameiki wo Tsuku, 夏目友人帳, Natsume Yuujinchou Novel, The Mysterious Story of Lamp Hall
Takashi Natsume, at 15 years old, yearns for an ordinary existence like others. However, he possesses the ability to see spirits, similar to his deceased grandmother Reiko. Despite this, Reiko had left behind a book of contracts containing bound youkai known as the "Book of Friends." These spirits are trapped due to Reiko's failure to call upon their names and seek freedom from confinement. While some gentle and harmless spirits approach Natsume for aid, others are malicious and hostile, posing threats to him. Madara, a spirit disguised as a rotund cat, steps in as his self-proclaimed bodyguard with personal motivations. "Nyanko-sensei" is how Natsume commonly refers to Madara. The series "Natsume Yuujinchou" follows the life of Natsume as he navigates the supernatural world while striving for a normal existence and acquiring valuable life lessons.
Natsume Yuujinchou was nominated for the first Manga Taishou Award in 2008.The series has been published in English as Natsumes Book of Friends by VIZ Media under the Shojo Beat imprint since January 5, 2010.
Takashi Natsume
ProtagonistIn the anime series "Natsume's Book of Friends," Natsume Takashi serves as the main protagonist. Like his deceased grandmother Reiko, he possesses the ability to see and communicate with ayakashi (spi...
Madara
ProtagonistMadara, a powerful spirit who had been sealed in a shrine for an extended period, assumed the form of a maneki neko (lucky cat) after his release by Natsume. This led Natsume to nickname him Nyanko-se...
Youkai with Axe
Youkai that has been chasing Ishio Kai....
Stitch Mark Youkai
The Youkai who has been terrorizing Taki Tooru is an embodiment of malevolent power that accumulated within a damaged, abandoned mirror. This entity detests people and derives satisfaction from witnes...
Hana
An elderly woman named Hana has been visiting the Tsuyukamis shrine since her youth. On one occasion, while at the shrine, she witnessed Tsuyukami himself stating, "Today is pleasant and warm." Despit...
Akagane
The youkai's responsibility is to serve as an umbrella holder and bodyguard for the deity known as Mibu. Akagane journeys with Asagi in order to hear her play the koto once more. Later, he requests Na...
Mark-Ironer Youkai
The Youkai, known for its strength, was placed under seal in the location of Oosugi. As a consequence, it left behind a mark on Natsume which threatened his life with death within five days. Hinoe ass...
Urihime
Urihime is one of the three loyal youkai who serve under Natori Shuuichi's leadership. Initially, she was seen alongside Sasago when they first appeared together. More recently, Hiiragi has also been ...
Houzuki
Appears in episode 10....
Miya
...
Hishigaki
One of the two youkais pursuing Natsume has been known as Hishigaki. Following his discovery of the Book of Friends, Natsume restored Hishigaki's name....
Kaname Tanuma
A new student has recently relocated to the area. Despite being prone to illnesses, this individual possesses the ability to perceive ghosts, though their perception is limited to detecting shadows an...
Tarusaru
The ghost from Futaba Village, whose home was submerged by a dam, expressed his appreciation for being given back his name by allowing Natsume to examine his reflection. This allowed Natsume to discov...
Atsushi Kitamoto
Natsumes friend from class. He is a sensible and rational person....
Kappa
A kappa Natsume found lying dry on the ground. He helps the kappa by throwing water on him....
Large Three-Eyed Youkai
The Youkai was strong and rescued Natsume and Natori from their failure in exorcising Sumie. As a gesture of gratitude for Natsume's aid earlier, he did this act of kindness. Specifically, Natsume had...
Isozuki no Nezumi
Isozuki no Nezumi is a kind-mannered yokai who transforms into a rat. His master instructed him to obtain the egg of the Tatsumi yokai, whose young form's meat is delectable and whose blood provides e...
Tama
Tama was found as an egg in Episode 4. Tama means eggy....
Sumie
Sumie is a youkai that had been sealed in the pot in the closet of one of the rooms in the onsen inn. She tricked Natsume to return her name, but she had malicious intentions to harm people around onc...
Chobi-hige
Youkai that first appears at episode 6 and 7 of Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou....
Karikage
Hishigaki and Karikage were two youkais who pursued Natsume until they discovered a shrine where Madara was sealed. After learning that the Book of Friends contained Karikage's name, Natsume returned ...
Sasafune
In episode 8 of Sasafune no Honya Yarō wa Yume-Miru Shōjo no Yume o Minai, a mermaid named Sasafune appeared when Takashi and his male friends visited an inn to study. Sasafune had previously met Chiz...
Shigeru Fujiwara
The husband of Touko Fujiwara. Along with Touko, Shigeru took Natsume over and he and his wife raise him as their own child. He is a quiet and considering man. When he was young, he met Natsumes grand...
Riou
He is a Lord of a forest. The Youkais that live in the forest often says that hes foolish for befriending humans because he liked them....
Hinoe
The third rank symbol in the Chinese calendar is referred to as Hinoe. This youkai takes on a human woman's form and possesses immense power, with an unwavering love for Natsume Reiko. Despite this, s...
Benio
An acquaintance of Madara....
Satoru Nishimura
Natsumes friend from class. He is funny and easy-going, with a slightly perverted side. He has a crush on Taki Tooru, but thinks that she and Natsume are going out....
Shigure
The ghost that dwells within an old school structure where natsume and his classmates took their final test of bravery before the building's impending demolition. shigure was once a deity associated w...
Sui
A youkai guardian, partners with Gen. Her statue was destroyed by angry humans which caused her to become evil spirit....
Reiko Natsume
Takashi Natsume's grandmother possessed a high level of spiritual energy, which granted her the ability to perceive and seal yokai. Despite being ostracized for her gift, Reiko created the Book of Fri...
Tamiko
A little girl that fell on a ledge and thought Madara was a pig....
Karime
...
One-Eyed Youkai
The Youkai who assaulted Natsume following school to seize the Book of Friends from him. This enemy was vanquished by Natsume in the manga, while in the anime it was Madara who emerged victorious over...
Aoi
A bird-yokai who takes human form. Natsume fails to realize this upon their first meeting....
Taniozaki
Taniozaki is a man from Futaba village whom Tsubame has been searching for....
Tree Youkai
A Youkai that dwells on a tree situated along Natsume's former school route. When Natsume approaches the tree, it suddenly detaches from its branch and startles him, causing Natsume great annoyance. H...
Tooru Taki
Tohru Taki is a female student at Natsumes school. She was first "discovered" by one of Natsumes friends, Nishimura who had heard rumors of her beauty and became entranced, he still maintains an obvio...
Tsuyukami
Tsuyukami was a roaming spirit that sought refuge in an ancient temple. His abilities were linked to human prayers, which granted him power. However, when he arrived at Natsume's house to reclaim his ...
Hotaru
The story revolves around a spirit named Hotaru who forms a bond with a person who is blind to seeing her. Initially, she was once a firefly that was transformed into an Ayakashi by the deity of the m...
Misuzu
The Bull Youkai is an extremely strong and influential being who recognizes Natsume Takashi's worthiness to possess the Book of Friends. He suggests replacing Madara with himself, stating that he woul...
Kai Ishio
A young boy who Natsume saves when he was locked in a coffin. He has a lot of friends and is a cheerful young boy....
Shuuichi Natori
A man who can see spirits is an actor, exorcist, and possesses a lizard birthmark that changes location on his body. He commands three youkai and has the ability to control paper dolls. Natsume often ...
Susugi
Susugi is a supernatural creature that resides in shadows and visits rural homes to consume any remaining food from dishes left on plates. In exchange for this service, he cleans the plates. Recently,...
Akifumi Sugino
Akifumi could view supernatural beings when he was young. he encountered hotaru and became enamored with her. they spent their days frolicking and playing near the water. despite losing his ability to...
Bride Sugino
Bride of Sugino Akifumi....
Asagi
Lord Mibu invited artists to perform in Isozukis Forest. Asagi was a koto player who served Lord Mibu but fell ill and turned into dust due to the sickness. She left the forest on her own accord and t...
Jun Sasada
In the anime, Takashis class president is named Sasada and she believes that he can see spirits. She frequently asks him about this ability, but he always responds by saying that he doesn't possess it...
Nanase
...
Kaoru Sonokawa
...
Father Tanuma
...
Gen
A youkai guardian, partners with Sui....
Touko Fujiwara
Shigeru Fujiwara's wife, Touko, was unable to bear children in the past. She offered Natsume Takashi to live with them so that he could have a family and a home. Despite not being biologically related...
Seiji Matoba
The leader of a prominent exorcism family, known as the Matoba Clan, is highly ruthless when it comes to hunting down demons. They show no compassion towards both ayakashi and human beings. Despite th...
Yasaka
Despite his affluent background, he suffered from fragility. Frequently, he would sit under a tree and immerse himself in reading. One fateful day, he was discovered by Miya, a youkai. From that momen...
Sasago
One of Natoris familiars....
Tsubame
Tsubame wants to meet Taniozaki again because he helped her before. Natsume agrees and they become friends. When Tsubame finds Taniozaki, she feels bad that she can't talk with him since he is human, ...
Big-Mouthed Water Youkai
The Youkai that dwelled in Lake Hotaru was a massive swamp-dwelling creature. Despite not posing any threat to people, it fed exclusively on fireflies. As a result, due to its consumption of these ins...
Kogitsune
A "young" spirit who befriends Natsume in the seventh episode of the first season, after being rescued from other yokai, who bullies him due to his gentle and shy nature. Because of this, he takes a g...
Hakuhi
The leader of a woodland where they have safeguarded it for quite some time, Hakuhi escorted Tamami back into their domain so that she could give them their lost ring....
Hiiragi
The Yokai named Hiiragi was bound against her will in an ancient shop, which had previously belonged to a distinguished household. Her bonds were so tight that she couldn't escape them, and as punishm...
Natsume's Adoptive Brother
Appears in episode 12....
Chizu Sakanaka
The individual who owns the inn where Natsumi Takashi stays in episode 8 is revealed to have developed feelings for someone named Keiichi when he was young. Despite being sick and eventually needing m...
Gomochi
...