Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 11

Writer	Yuki Midorikawa
Illustrator	Yuki Midorikawa
Published in English	2012
Publisher	Viz Media
Demographic	Shōjo
Age rating	Teen

Retrospective Stories with Yokai

First released in 2011 and in English in 2012, Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 11 collects Chapters 42–46 of the series. The comic book is written and illustrated by Yuki Midorikawa. The shōjo manga combines elements of supernatural fantasy, mystery, and slice-of-life genres.

When Takashi and Tanuma help Taki clean the storehouse, an agressive yokai comes out. The ghost has to be stopped before it gains too much strength. Takashi learns the house where he once lived with his parents will be sold and the news bring forth a lot of memories and strong feelings.

The comic book emphasises the deep meaning and importance of family relationships for the characters. Taki tells Takashi and Tanuma more about her family background. Neither Taki nor her grandfather Shin’ichiro could see yokai, nevertheless, they form a connection with the spirits around them. Takashi is afraid to express his wish and his friends have to encourage him. Childhood is also a central theme in the second story. The protagonist is reminded of his difficult past. In an episode from Takashi’s childhood, the boy unwillingly caused inconvenience for Miyoko, the daughter of the couple who took care of him. Also, Miyoko thinks her parents pay more attention to Takashi than her and the boy feels stressed to stay at them.

A creepy yokai is lurking around Taki’s home. The three school friends undertake the quest to stop the cruel creature but they are challenged by the fact that Taki and Tanuma cannot see anything supernatural. On top of that, Takashi gets captured, so the threat becomes even more imminent for him. The protagonist visits a family with whom he used to live, however, a yokai residing in their house starts to disturb him. During his search for a childhood home, Takashi can only rely on distant and vague memories.

The artist has illustrated in an impactful way how Takashi is overwhelmed and seemingly paralysed under the influence of a yokai. Strong emotions of some characters such as Taki and Miyoko are also very clearly depicted. The artwork effectively conveys the mood in various scenes which can be frightening, tense, or nostalgic.

All in all, Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 11 is touching when exploring both its themes and characters. The plot follows the confrontations Takashi and his friends have with yokai and the artwork makes the feelings more vivid. This volume will be interesting for those curious about Takashi’s and Taki’s past.

Characters

Themes

Plot

Artwork

Content Advisory

Erotic content: NONE

Violence: SLIGHT

Takashi is attacked while laying in the bed.

Takashi is about to be hit by an axe.

Takashi falls and bumps into a desk and falls down while fighting himself free from yokai’s grasp.

Profanity: NONE

Scary content: MODERATE

Yokai’s skeleton-like body parts are scattered around a house. A head in the corner of a room looks scary.

A scene where a yokai is levitating in a dark room with an axe in their hand.

There is a house where a yokai is disturbing Takashi so staying there feels very tense.

Alcohol, drugs, and smoking: SLIGHT

Nyanko-Sensei is drunk, he is holding a bottle of sake.

Takashi says he has seen sake coming out of the ground.

Occult content: MODERATE

Taki uses a spell circle.

Takashi becomes possessed.