Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 8

Writer	Yuki Midorikawa
Illustrator	Yuki Midorikawa
Published in English	2011
Publisher	Viz Media
Demographic	Shōjo
Age rating	Teen

Stories of Bonding and Belonging

Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 8 had its Japanese and English releases in 2009 and 2011, respectively. It involves Chapters 27–31 and a special episode. Story and art are created by Yuki Midorikawa. The shōjo manga blends slice-of-life genre with mystery and supernatural fantasy.

A yokai is chasing Takashi at school while Nyanko-Sensei needs to recover from being hit by an excorcist’s arrow. Next, a spirit possesses Tanuma, forcing Takashi and Taki to help her collect the pieces of a magic mirror. After a brief intrusion of a strangely familiar creature, Takashi recounts the events that preceded moving to the Fujiwaras.

Friendship and family are the central themes in this comic book while meories are also touched on. The characters show compassion in various relationships. Takashi introduces Tanuma and Taki to each other, prompting an awkward situation at first but it is lovely to see how they connect more later on. Also, Takashi has different chemistry with Tanuma than with Natori (the latter does not show up in this volume). The boys do not want to involve one another in their troubles, however, they just create misunderstanding between each other. Although the protagonist tries to keep his friend unaware of yokai, Tanuma experiences the supernatural world more deeply anyways. Takashi has always felt uncomfortable about communicating with people but participates now in school events. Two touching chapters provide a meaningful backstory for the protagonist’s relation with Mrs. Fujiwara and highlight the feeling of belonging.

While Nyanko-Sensei is sleeping due to his wound, Takashi has a daunting confrontation with a yokai who is able to manipulate with people, making the protagonist suspicious about the other students. Surely, Takashi is challenged a lot in this volume. Excorcising Tanuma does not work out so his friends have to complete a quest for the yokai who in return would release the boy. However, their task is further complicated by an another creature who is after the same object they try to restore. In the episode in Takashi’s life before meeting Nyanko-Sensei, having no knowledge about the supernatural, the protagonist struggled to act against a horrendous threat from a yokai.

On the visual side, the reader can unmistakably recognise the emotions reflected on the faces of the characters, whether they blush or feel fear or exhaustion. There is also a visible distinction for Tanuma in his normal state as opposed to when the yokai inside speaks through him. The artist pays careful attention to details, for instance, when depicting Tanuma’s Western-style bed and Takashi’s lunch.

Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 8 is a beautiful comic book with heartfelt interactions and compelling plot. The artwork effectively expresses the inner life of the characters. All in all, the eighth installment is a must-read for Natsume’s Book of Friends fans.

Characters

Themes

Plot

Artwork

Content advisory

Erotic content: NONE

Violence: SLIGHT

Takashi is knocked out by a yokai.

Takashi falls off a cliff due to a blast.Yokai sends a burst of light out of Tanuma and it appears to hurt the boy.

Profanity: NONE

Scary content: MODERATE

Some peril.

A creepy scene with a yokai at night.

In a dream a yokai says they have eaten everyone at Takashi’s home.

A yokai threatens to eat the people Takashi lives with.

Alcohol, drugs, and smoking: SLIGHT

Hinoe smoking.

Nyanko-Sensei looks for a ‘wine out of this world’. He is sleepy because of drinking later.

Some yokai drinking.