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夏目友人帳 [Natsume Yūjinchō] #8
Pakt der Yokai, Band 08
Aufregend wird es für Natsume, als ein Splitter eines magischen Spiegels in seinem Auge landet und er von einem Yokai deswegen aufs Korn genommen wird. Der will nämlich sämtliche Splitter des Spiegels einsammeln, um einem Freund zu helfen. Der Yokai bringt Natsume und Tanuma dazu, ihn bei der Suche nach den Splittern zu unterstützen. Dieses schräge Abenteuer schweißt die beiden Freunde weiter zusammen.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2009
12 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Yuki Midorikawa
66 books293 followersYuki 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 17, 2012
I picked this up at the library without having read the previous volumes. The premise is easy to understand and the stories episodic in nature, so I didn't have any trouble following the plot. The character dynamics are also easy to pick up on. Even without having read the earlier stories, it was clear that there has been a lot of character growth and that this is something of a transitional period for Natsume. Obviously it would be better to start at the beginning, but if you can't find the books in the right order I think it is okay to pick up at a later point.
One thing I really liked about this story, and found sadly unusual, was the positive portrayal of school relationships. Even though Natsume is The Weird Kid (he sees supernatural beings that no one else sees, which leads to behavior that makes him look pretty strange and distracted and out of it from other people's point of view) he is not shunned or bullied by his classmates. They are reasonably friendly to him and try to help when he endangers himself. This was a pleasant change from the middle-reader and YA norm, in which kids who are different seem to be almost universally ostracized or tormented. Although that probably is more realistic...
I don't understand why they keep calling the cat "ugly" though -- he's so cute!
One thing I really liked about this story, and found sadly unusual, was the positive portrayal of school relationships. Even though Natsume is The Weird Kid (he sees supernatural beings that no one else sees, which leads to behavior that makes him look pretty strange and distracted and out of it from other people's point of view) he is not shunned or bullied by his classmates. They are reasonably friendly to him and try to help when he endangers himself. This was a pleasant change from the middle-reader and YA norm, in which kids who are different seem to be almost universally ostracized or tormented. Although that probably is more realistic...
I don't understand why they keep calling the cat "ugly" though -- he's so cute!
November 15, 2023
This volume has one of my favorite Natsume stories: the flashback story where he first meets Tohko and Shigeru. (I always think of them in that order. heh.) Just a lovely found family story. Maybe they're too perfect of parents, but that's okay. Still brings a tear to my eye every time. The story where Natsume introduces Tanuma and Taki to each other, and the one about the culture festival, were pretty great, too. I can enjoy adventure or action in other stories, but not in this one, and very much prefer more introspective or sentimental storylines like these. The action stuff in Natsume is a decent break now and then, but too much of it all in a row and I too easily lose momentum.
September 9, 2011
This may be odd to say about a manga that is steeped in the supernatural and Japanese mythology, but this latest volume of Natsume Yuujinchou could be summed up in one word: human. It is achingly human in its focus and its stories, especially when it focuses on the life and history of Takashi Natsume, a boy who has clearly lived a hard and grief-filled life since the start. He did not ask for his special sight but as it is painfully revealed in this book, the things you cannot change are the ones that change your life the hardest. With Nyanko-sensei out of the picture for a percentage of the action, it is nice to see Natsume's growth as a character played out more explicitly on the page. It’s not easy being Takashi Natsume but it is ridiculously easy to see how superbly drawn out his story is.
You can read the rest of my review over at Nagareboshi Reviews!
You can read the rest of my review over at Nagareboshi Reviews!
April 18, 2023
3.75 Nierówny tomik. Pierwsza połowa nie była zbyt ciekawa, ciężko było mi wczuć się w emocje. Druga zaś była niezwykle istotna i poruszająca. Na plus dodatkowy rozdział, który w końcu jest powiązany z fabułą.
January 1, 2026
This was a very strong volume and a good book to end the old year on. There was a new stack of Natsume under my tree, so I’m looking forward to following his adventures in the new year!
January 13, 2012
I really love this series because it's one of the few shoujo I can think that's so strongly thematically structured around friendship. Romance is barely a presence; it's a bit like Diana Wynne Jones that way. And while I have nothing against romance (a comment oft heard from me on anime: great but they should've kissed) getting to see friendship so emphasized is a really lovely change. I have a lot of feelings about Natsume building connections with people! And this entire volume is about that, Natsume and the previously unnamed classmates he hangs out with, Natsume and Tanuma, Natsume and his aunt and uncle. I love how often he feels completely awkward about it; of course he would. Getting close to friends when you haven't before is a skill, it definitely took me awhile to learn it. Still learning it to be honest. 3.5 stars
January 10, 2020
Natsume participates in his school's cultural festival and helps a yokai find a magical mirror.
For me, the author is struggling to regain her stride a bit after switching from more episodic, shorter fare to longer arc stories. I have faith that the sweetness will return. There are bits of it here, with Natsume's back story of how he got together with his current 'family' and the extra episode of big headed Chobi explaining that Natsume is really not scary to a yokai who needs help rescuing a fallen bird nest. I'll definitely continue the series.
For me, the author is struggling to regain her stride a bit after switching from more episodic, shorter fare to longer arc stories. I have faith that the sweetness will return. There are bits of it here, with Natsume's back story of how he got together with his current 'family' and the extra episode of big headed Chobi explaining that Natsume is really not scary to a yokai who needs help rescuing a fallen bird nest. I'll definitely continue the series.
August 18, 2017
In diesem Band geht es mehr um natsumes beziehung zu den Menschen, und wie er sich emotional langsam öffnet. Dazu aber auch noch Yokais, die seine Hilfe benötigen. Die letzte Story war, wie er zu seinem derzeitigem Haus kam, welche gut und traurig und emotional war. Seine Pflegeeltern sind wirklich toll.
March 31, 2026
I’m having attachment issues with this series now. Such a comfort read, always so heartwarming and relatable when it’s about kindness, helping others and love. I really am fond of the story where finally Natsume found somewhere he feels he can belong to. I hope one day he can open up to them transparently about his ability to see yokai.
November 10, 2019
I am addicted! Natsume is deeply touching! He cares so much for yokai and humans alike. He’s a sympathetic character yet he does not feel sorry for himself. I am looking forward to reading the next volume.
January 27, 2021
Wow, this is definitely my favorite volume yet. Every single chapter in it is some of my favorite episodes from the anime, and they are just as good in the manga. Probably some of the more emotional tearjerkers of the chapters in this series.
November 26, 2017
Yes finally some stories about Tanuma.
March 27, 2018
夏目は本当にかわいそうな子だったよね。彼の昔の話を読むときにいつも心の糸が引っ張れる。誰も欲しくないとか誰も待ったないの気持ちはとっても辛いと思う。よかった。藤原夫妻と斑を見つかってよかった。
June 17, 2018
Everytime I read about Natsume's past I cry. What is up with this series???
I love it.
I love it.
September 30, 2018
I like Tanuma.
January 19, 2019
Great stories and illustrations. I love the yokai, how different each of their stories is. I love that Natsume is beginning to make real friends and be appreciated for who he is.
January 9, 2020
So happy for Natsume ^_^ at least he got a place that he can call home with two loving husband and wife whom considered him as a son..
Really enjoy it.
Really enjoy it.
May 28, 2021
I do not like seeing Natsume cry but man. This volume was so good. I love seeing the development of Natsume's trust.
August 6, 2021
brb I won't cry
July 9, 2022
Loved the story recounting Natsume's past, especially leaving his relatives to live with the Fujiwara's.
August 21, 2024
Me gustan mucho las historias en donde aparece tanuna al igual que en el anime y mi sexto sentido dice q ahí también hay algo (eso espero) es tan lindo ver como va desarrollando lazos de a poco
August 12, 2025
Natsume's friends just want to help
November 30, 2025
We see some excellent relationship development in this volume with Natsume's friends gaining a deeper understanding of his experiences with yokai and a look into Natsume's relationship with his foster family. I really enjoy the pacing of this manga. The author has really gotten the hang of balancing a slice-of-life feel and high stakes storylines.
October 16, 2011
After the intense plot in the last volume, with Natsume being confronted with Matoba the exorcist and his abuse of yokai for the first time, this volume does the school festival episode at the start.
But because it's Natsume it has Yokai getting involved as well as Taki and Tanuma (who finally get introduced to each other in this volume), yay, and the two normal guy friends that have always hung around Natsume since the series started are finally given names (or am I just now realising that they had some?): they're Nishimura and Kitamoto and are central to the plot this chapter. I love it when they see Natsume in a yokai situation and take it in stride (this time they even jump into the river, because they don't see that Natsume was pushed into it by a big yokai wanting to annoy him).
There's a lovely bit of interweaving of friends with yokai and the human friends in the know trying to keep an eye on Natsume when a dark yokai tries to go after him during the preparations of the school festival (he possesses a girl). Natsume really gets his the fact that he now has human friends who support him reinforced, so yay for that. Not all humans are like Matoba.
The next chapter however shows that having human friends can become dangerous for them, when Tanuma accidentally gets the splinter of an old mirror in his eye which a yokai has been looking for for years - the reason for the search is entirely benign, but the effects of those mirror splinters are really hard on Tanuma (who gets possessed) and Natsume. Suddenly Tanuma can see exactly like Natsume does and can sympathize with him in an entirely new way. Even if it is only until the mirror is gathered together and the yokai leaves to find and help her old friend.
The last chapter in this volume is the most powerful one and was also animated in the recent third series. I would rank it with the show bunny/guardian dogs story or the firefly yokai story or the sparrow story from the early volumes - Midorikawa draws Natsume's past and how he met the Fujiwara and the yokai that drove him almost over the edge that time (which Nyanko-Sensei gets rid off when it returns after finally having found Natsume again in the present). It's a lovely coda of enduring, taking chances and finding love and companionship making you stronger.
It's so cute to see the excited Mrs. Fujiwara really wooing Natsume to become her son and heart-breaking on the other side to see that the other relatives didn't necessarily abuse Natsume, they just didn't care and didn't believe and had other priorities. I think that is far more believable and scary than truly abusive caretakers.
The bonus manga is about one of the very quiet and reserved yokai Chobi observing a day in the life of Natsume, sort of, and showing what yokai might think about him who aren't necessarily his friends or his enemies.
But because it's Natsume it has Yokai getting involved as well as Taki and Tanuma (who finally get introduced to each other in this volume), yay, and the two normal guy friends that have always hung around Natsume since the series started are finally given names (or am I just now realising that they had some?): they're Nishimura and Kitamoto and are central to the plot this chapter. I love it when they see Natsume in a yokai situation and take it in stride (this time they even jump into the river, because they don't see that Natsume was pushed into it by a big yokai wanting to annoy him).
There's a lovely bit of interweaving of friends with yokai and the human friends in the know trying to keep an eye on Natsume when a dark yokai tries to go after him during the preparations of the school festival (he possesses a girl). Natsume really gets his the fact that he now has human friends who support him reinforced, so yay for that. Not all humans are like Matoba.
The next chapter however shows that having human friends can become dangerous for them, when Tanuma accidentally gets the splinter of an old mirror in his eye which a yokai has been looking for for years - the reason for the search is entirely benign, but the effects of those mirror splinters are really hard on Tanuma (who gets possessed) and Natsume. Suddenly Tanuma can see exactly like Natsume does and can sympathize with him in an entirely new way. Even if it is only until the mirror is gathered together and the yokai leaves to find and help her old friend.
The last chapter in this volume is the most powerful one and was also animated in the recent third series. I would rank it with the show bunny/guardian dogs story or the firefly yokai story or the sparrow story from the early volumes - Midorikawa draws Natsume's past and how he met the Fujiwara and the yokai that drove him almost over the edge that time (which Nyanko-Sensei gets rid off when it returns after finally having found Natsume again in the present). It's a lovely coda of enduring, taking chances and finding love and companionship making you stronger.
It's so cute to see the excited Mrs. Fujiwara really wooing Natsume to become her son and heart-breaking on the other side to see that the other relatives didn't necessarily abuse Natsume, they just didn't care and didn't believe and had other priorities. I think that is far more believable and scary than truly abusive caretakers.
The bonus manga is about one of the very quiet and reserved yokai Chobi observing a day in the life of Natsume, sort of, and showing what yokai might think about him who aren't necessarily his friends or his enemies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2012
The first half of this volume focuses on Natusme's classmates. He's adjusting to the fact that they like him and want him around even though he his still hiding things from them. Then he has Tanuma and Taki who can both get glimpses at his world, but still can't quite understand. They both help him despite his efforts to keep them out of trouble.
The second half is about how the Fujiwaras came and asked him to stay with him. They wanted him even though they had heard all the stories from the rest of the family. He is finally starting to trust them with himself and believe that they won't send him away. He is still hesitant to tell them about youkai though.
The manga includes some violence including evidence of bullying, fights between youkai, Natsume and Nyanko-sensei, but the worst results seem to be cuts, bruises and talk about eating people (very rarely do people actually get eaten in the series). There isn't any cursing. Nyanko-sensei is a drunkard, who spends most of his time in a Lucky Cat form. Hinoe is back in this one with several other drinking buddies.
The second half is about how the Fujiwaras came and asked him to stay with him. They wanted him even though they had heard all the stories from the rest of the family. He is finally starting to trust them with himself and believe that they won't send him away. He is still hesitant to tell them about youkai though.
The manga includes some violence including evidence of bullying, fights between youkai, Natsume and Nyanko-sensei, but the worst results seem to be cuts, bruises and talk about eating people (very rarely do people actually get eaten in the series). There isn't any cursing. Nyanko-sensei is a drunkard, who spends most of his time in a Lucky Cat form. Hinoe is back in this one with several other drinking buddies.
January 24, 2015
This volume has one of my favourite stories so far; the two-parter focussing on Natsume and Tanuma and on the difficulty of getting closer to other people.
This series has definitely found its way into my heart. Usually, when I love something as much as I love this series, I get all excited and bubbly and whatnot. Here, it's more quiet, in a way (at least so far), but I truly love it. These stories are so well told and have a powerful message that's truly heartwarming.
This series has definitely found its way into my heart. Usually, when I love something as much as I love this series, I get all excited and bubbly and whatnot. Here, it's more quiet, in a way (at least so far), but I truly love it. These stories are so well told and have a powerful message that's truly heartwarming.
April 6, 2012
i wish goodreads let you give half stars (or maybe i shouldn't be fixated on rating things), because natsume really is 4 and a half, and it's getting better all the time. a particular reward in this volume, for those who've read from the beginning, is the account of the specific events that led to Natsume coming to live with the Fujiwaras.
November 22, 2016
In this volume, Natsume is stronger due to the power of ~FRIENDSHIP~!!! (The power of ~FRIENDSHIP~ is one of my very favorite things.) Look, all of his human friends get to be on one page here!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤
It's also the first volume with direct continuity from a previous volume, as Nyanko-sensei is still recovering from the events of the last book.
It's also the first volume with direct continuity from a previous volume, as Nyanko-sensei is still recovering from the events of the last book.
October 26, 2011
Amazing volume for the series with a lot more happening now. I enjoyed seeing Natsume interact more with his friends Tanuma and Taki. Tanuma got a much more developed story this time. And we finally see why Natsume chose to come live at the Fujiwaras (his foster home).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews