Natsume's Book of Friends, Vol. 7

夏目友人帳 [Natsume Yūjinchō] #7

by Yuki Midorikawa

Takashi Natsume can see the spirits and demons that hide from the rest of humanity. He has always been set apart from other people because of his gift, drifting from relative to relative, never fitting in. Now he's a troubled high school student who has come to live in the small town where his grandmother grew up. And there he discovers that he has inherited more than just the Sight from the mysterious Reiko.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Supernatural, Shojo, Comics, Young Adult, Graphic Novels

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2009

About the author

Yuki Midorikawa (緑川ゆき, Midorikawa Yuki) is a Japanese mangaka (manga artist). Midorikawa is best known for drawing the manga series Natsume Yujin-cho ("Natsume's Book of Friends").

Yuki Midorikawa started writing manga when she was an elementary school girl. When she was a junior high school student, she sent her manga for the first time to "Hana to Yume", a semi-monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Hakusensha. Since then, she had kept drawing manga to become a mangaka.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm curious to see how Natsume thinks about and reacts towards the negative aspects of humanity that he'd like to ignore, like weakness and greed.

I liked this sentence in the author's note, and its implications about the disillusionment that accompanies growing up. The actual story in this volume wasn't all that interesting to me, though, and it took me a couple of days to read since I found it very easy to set aside. I don't think action is Midorikawa's strong suit, and the factional disputes between the Natori and Matoba groups just don't catch my imagination at all.

The bonus short story, while not particularly strong, was a nice look into Midorikawa's early storytelling, with the delicate art and low-key emotion that I so love in Natsume.

[Nikoletta (nikisjournal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfekcyjny comfort read nie istnie... Ach, Natsume, dlaczego te mangi są tak dobre... Uśmiałam się, a dodatek specjalny otulił moje serducho < 3

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

The volume is dominated by the first long story, involving Mr. Natori, the creepy Matoba clan of exorcists, and other newly introduced characters in a complex ethical consideration of the interaction of humans and yokai. Natsume, as always, wants to protect everyone and hurt no one, but what if this isn't possible?

This was an excellent story. Unfortunately the rest of the material is not only mere fluff but doesn't even fit chronologically with the subsequent volume, which picks up directly after the end of the primary story with Sensei recuperating from the arrow wound.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natsume and Natori tangle with Matoba, an exorcist.

I didn't love this first long story but I still adore Natsume and his sensei Madara. The short story of Natsume playing shadow tag with yokai was sweet. I wasn't a fan of the other short story which is apparently one of Yuki Mikorikawa's first work. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.

[Katey Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m still loving Natsume, especially now we’re getting multiple-chapter stories…. This entire volume is mostly one very tense story that I very much enjoyed. Not too fussed on the bonus story at the back that is entirely unrelated to Natsume, though!

[Heather D-G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent volume. This still hasn’t caught up with the anime yet, but it’s lovely to revisit these stories in more detail.
I also enjoyed the inclusion of an early, unrelated story by the author. Good stuff!
This remains one of my very favorite manga series.

[Rereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the snoozefest that was the short story, I'm definitely giving this volume five stars for the tense arc regarding Matoba and the adorable story where Natsume and his yokai friends play tag. It was fucking adorable and yes, I did vomit rainbows afterwards, don't judge me.

Something I really want to discuss is what I think is this series's biggest strength-it's a great introduction to yokai fantasy (if that's a thing) but it's also a great yokai fantasy for seasoned fans of the subgenre (like me). I discovered this after thinking about how, while it's not even close to Noragami's level of worldbuilding or In/Spectre's level of yokai knowledge, it's still a fun and engaging series to read. Hell, Natsume and Nyanko-sensei are characters I hold dear to my heart, and neither are anywhere CLOSE to Yato and Yukine or Kuro and Kotoko in terms of emotional depth and development. But you know what? I. DON'T. FUCKING. CARE. It doesn't matter that I've read series that are better than this with more complex and interesting characters, I still love this series and am excited to read the next volume.

Not only that, but this would easily be my first pick when introducing new readers to yokai fantasy. It has a simple story, easy characters to understand, is fairly episodic, and the artwork is good. Yes, it's repetitive and yes the stakes aren't always high, but I think that's for the best when introducing people to this subgenre. Start'em off small, then introduce them to the heavy stuff.

Obviously, this series isn't going to be for everyone, and I totally get that. I'm not saying everyone should run out and read this now (although I certainly won't stop you), all I'm saying is that from the standpoint of someone who loves yokai fantasy over most other fantasy subgenres, I think it's amazing that this series is so enjoyable but also think it's a great introduction for new fans.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk, have a nice day, and PLEASE give this series a shot.

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

For once I don't have to hear the whole story again at the start of every chapter... I mean I get why the mangaka would put it, because in Japan they're published in magazines. I found that annoying.
I like the story though and how they have those short stories at the end. I guess it's nice but I'm not sure why they threw it in at the end the volume because it has nothing to do with the original. Oh well.
Personally, I preferred the one from vol.6 and I found the vol.7 short story pretty funny lol.

I forgot most of the stuff that happened in the anime but it's pretty fun to read it. I like both, the anime and manga adaptations.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read since I've finally purchased the next volume and anxiously await finally catching up with this series after literal YEARS.

There's just something soft and comforting about the world, characters and art that just puts me at ease... even though this is a story about Yokai and what is usually percieved as scary creatures. Though this volume might be more of a 3.4 that 4 stars for me I just adore this series and the little extra stroy where they're playing tag and it just reminds me so much why I love this series and Natsume and Nyanko sensei's in particular... they just warm my heart so much.

Can't wait to read on into new content 😍 (and then eventually continue with the anime 😂)

[S46354595 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite how similar they are, I like different things about this in comparison to Mushishi. Mushishi is more about the themes, with little to no plot threads that carry over and have a relationship to one another. Natsume's Book of Friends is all about the collective plot. Sure, it's still quite episodic, but we get to see characters return and learn more about the different yokai and their dynamics. I can see exactly why this series was picked out to be such a long animated series. It has a lot of potential to really go somewhere, and that's likely what the animation studio saw.

[Rici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hui, hier kommt Matoba erst einmal so richtig vor; wir erkennen seinen Charakter, und wie er mit den Yokai handelt. Dazwischen müssen sowohl Natsume als auch Natori mit der Moral des jeweils anderen klar kommen und sich der Konsequenzen ihrer Handlungen bewusst werden.
Am Ende noch eine Kurzgeschichte von der Zeichnerin, die nichts mit Natsume zu tun hat. Die war eher mager.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the introduction of the Matoba Clan. It's interesting to see how Natsume deals with the slippery morals of a human with spiritual powers. I also loved the addition of Natsume playing a simple child's game with his yokai friends and admitting it was his first time.
The added story at the end I could take or leave.

[Rebecca J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again it had another story at the end that had nothing to do with Natsume or the book of friends but at least this time there was some supernatural element. I cannot remember if the other works did this or not apart from the one before this because it had been awhile but *sigh* is this a manga thing I am just now noticing or is this not normal?

[Angela Kocheshkova · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this is my favourite volume so far. i love matoba a lot. he's easily my favourite character. and i like the three way dynamic between him, natsume, and natori [can we get a poly pls? pretty pls?].

[Elias Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story. This volume has a lot of action. Poor natsume, always gets himself in trouble.

[Mizuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you don't need to be bothered over them,
people like them exist that's all...
those people do exist..."

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

この巻は楽しかった！

夏目が斑様を守った時に感動した。夏目二とって斑は大切な存在。斑もそんな事理解して夏目もかばう。

でも一つ混乱事ある。斑って足何本？四つ？二つ？斑の姿で数えにくい。この巻の後書きで小さくて可愛い斑が夏目の腕の上で遊んでいる。。。でも足は二つしか見えない。。。？？？？？

[Munch · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, .5 off again for the unrelated story

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! New characters, new problems. I love this manga!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite volume so far.

[τλιϓλ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying this volume as usual, poor Natsume, I wish such thing will be over soon..

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I *really* enjoyed this volume. I think each Natsume volume gets better and better.

[Kasey (Mir) · Rating 5 out of 5]

MATOBAAAAAA!!!
As usual, Natsume always leaves me feeling refreshed.

[Brogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love to see greater intrigue developing and the introduction of more ruthless characters as a contrast to Natsume, it also puts more context to the place Natori is in which I love.

[GlutenFreePixels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the natsume section of this manga! I do wish there wasn't an unrelated side story, though. I'd like the focus to stay on Natsume's journey.

[antito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gusta mucho este tomo, y por fin aparece matoba (segurísima que hay algo aunque sea pequeñito entre natori y el 😼)

[LuvYa Gutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love this and I want to read the entire series. My library only had Vol 7. Great intro to the manga format. Lovely illustration.

[Kadee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this series. Each chapter does not disappoint!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes in this volume feel much higher than other volumes as Natsume draws the attention of a terrifying clan of exorsists. Very interesting developments and setting the stage for later conflict. I adored the bonus chapter where Natsume tries to teach the yokai human games.