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夏目友人帳 [Natsume Yūjinchō] #21
Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 21
Nyanko Sensei hasn’t been home in days, and Natsume is starting to get worried. He knows Sensei left in a party mood, but he has no idea where his friend and bodyguard was headed. And now there are rumors of evil spirits from the east heading to the local forest. Will Natsume have to face this threat all on his own?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2016
About the author
Yuki Midorikawa
66 books300 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 32 reviews
August 21, 2024
I just want to give Natsume a hug. He’s the sweetest human being. ☺️ Also, it was nice to see another story focused on Kitamoto, since he usually stays more in the background.
There were so many cute moments in this, but a special nod goes to mini Nyanko-sensei!
There were so many cute moments in this, but a special nod goes to mini Nyanko-sensei!
June 4, 2022
more peaceful times with natsume. i really liked the mini-nyanko spirit and it was interesting getting more natori backstory
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
May 4, 2018
Love that Natsume isn't so afraid to help and defend his friends anymore because he's grown more confident. And Natsume's and Nyanko-sensei's relationship is so cute. I think if I were a youkai I would like to be like Kaeda and live in a book and defend a bookstore, lol. Also mini sensei was perfect 👌
October 6, 2018
I love this series. So peaceful. This one has a yokai guarding a bookshop. Makes you feel right at home.
March 20, 2018
Series Review:
In SHORT: Magical, personal and quietly brilliant.
In DETAIL:
Themes: Being different, loneliness, creatures from myth and legend, friendship and camaraderie and the meaning of family.
Setting: Rural Japan in all its loveliness! (When it comes to a time period I’d say, roughly the ‘here and now’.)
Atmosphere: At once magical and ordinary. The focus on interpersonal relationships in a world where a vast array of supernatural creatures are never far, is the key to making this story so wonderful. It is almost always less about the being’s strangeness and abilities, but rather its hopes and wishes.
Characters & Relationships: Every character is incredibly unique and loveable in their own way. What I adore the portrayal of the ayakashi is that Natsume always tries to understand the circumstances of a creature first and only if there is no other way will try to bind it or even kill it. Mostly the ayakashi are shown as having different values or being ignorant of human customs.
Plot: Natsume has to cope with his ability to see ayakashi and with the mysterious “Book of Friends” his grandmother left behind. Not to mention this erratic lucky-cat (that is actually something very different) called Nyanko-sensei. At first the chapters are rather episodic in a monster of the week style (but many really touching and never boring), but somewhere along the line more characters, supernatural and human, appear and as Natsume’s friends and acquaintances expand, the plot branches out.
Cover & Artwork: The artwork has a lovely light touch which adds to feeling of otherworldliness and gives it a sense of fragility.
In SHORT: Magical, personal and quietly brilliant.
In DETAIL:
Themes: Being different, loneliness, creatures from myth and legend, friendship and camaraderie and the meaning of family.
Setting: Rural Japan in all its loveliness! (When it comes to a time period I’d say, roughly the ‘here and now’.)
Atmosphere: At once magical and ordinary. The focus on interpersonal relationships in a world where a vast array of supernatural creatures are never far, is the key to making this story so wonderful. It is almost always less about the being’s strangeness and abilities, but rather its hopes and wishes.
Characters & Relationships: Every character is incredibly unique and loveable in their own way. What I adore the portrayal of the ayakashi is that Natsume always tries to understand the circumstances of a creature first and only if there is no other way will try to bind it or even kill it. Mostly the ayakashi are shown as having different values or being ignorant of human customs.
Plot: Natsume has to cope with his ability to see ayakashi and with the mysterious “Book of Friends” his grandmother left behind. Not to mention this erratic lucky-cat (that is actually something very different) called Nyanko-sensei. At first the chapters are rather episodic in a monster of the week style (but many really touching and never boring), but somewhere along the line more characters, supernatural and human, appear and as Natsume’s friends and acquaintances expand, the plot branches out.
Cover & Artwork: The artwork has a lovely light touch which adds to feeling of otherworldliness and gives it a sense of fragility.
January 2, 2018
If you were craving for soothing chapters, you wishes have been granted:
In the first story, while getting involved (as usual) with a weak ayakashi he met in the forest, Natsume come's to understand Nyanko a little bit more. If this was a game, Natume-Nyanko relationship would have gained +1 trust point in this story.
In Second story we get to know more about Kitamoto's personality and family background. This was the blandest story from the volume, but we got from Natsume-Kitamoto's relationship a +1 friendship point.
Third story was my favorite, prepare for some feels. It revolves around an ayakashi who wants to go back home, and ends up in Natsume's house possessing a miniature clay figurine. What kind of clay figurine? Glad you asked, a mini Nyanko sensei figurine! (made by Natsume). That mini Nyanko was adorable. We had a black Nyanko in a previous episode and now we got a mini. If I could name this story, it would be "Mini Nyanko is a cinnamon roll we must protect".
Lastly, the special is about Natori's past told in present tense from Natori's point of view. This special was superb, not only we get to see Natori's life as a student (he feels like Natsume), but we also learn a lot about Matoba. There is a lot of important information in these pages but I wont spoil it for you.
Nothing specially shocking or of great importance plot-wise, but it has all the typical elements from this manga that will make you have fuzzy feelings and will soothe your heart.
I got an eArc from Viz Media via Edelweiss
In the first story, while getting involved (as usual) with a weak ayakashi he met in the forest, Natsume come's to understand Nyanko a little bit more. If this was a game, Natume-Nyanko relationship would have gained +1 trust point in this story.
In Second story we get to know more about Kitamoto's personality and family background. This was the blandest story from the volume, but we got from Natsume-Kitamoto's relationship a +1 friendship point.
Third story was my favorite, prepare for some feels. It revolves around an ayakashi who wants to go back home, and ends up in Natsume's house possessing a miniature clay figurine. What kind of clay figurine? Glad you asked, a mini Nyanko sensei figurine! (made by Natsume). That mini Nyanko was adorable. We had a black Nyanko in a previous episode and now we got a mini. If I could name this story, it would be "Mini Nyanko is a cinnamon roll we must protect".
Lastly, the special is about Natori's past told in present tense from Natori's point of view. This special was superb, not only we get to see Natori's life as a student (he feels like Natsume), but we also learn a lot about Matoba. There is a lot of important information in these pages but I wont spoil it for you.
Nothing specially shocking or of great importance plot-wise, but it has all the typical elements from this manga that will make you have fuzzy feelings and will soothe your heart.
I got an eArc from Viz Media via Edelweiss
October 22, 2020
Another volume, another mix of heartwarming, action, and humor. That mini Sensei was so damn cute, too!
Also, I feel the need to reiterate this: I don't CARE how much backstory you give Matoba, I. STILL. HATE. HIM. But I do like this strange bond he has with Natori. I wonder if we'll get to see the incident that causes a permanent riff in their bizarre friendship?
Anyways, this was another stellar volume, on to the next one!
Also, I feel the need to reiterate this: I don't CARE how much backstory you give Matoba, I. STILL. HATE. HIM. But I do like this strange bond he has with Natori. I wonder if we'll get to see the incident that causes a permanent riff in their bizarre friendship?
Anyways, this was another stellar volume, on to the next one!
June 15, 2021
I love that I’m now reading new stories that haven’t been animated yet, and they’re so good and cute! Up until now I’ve known basically everything that happens, but it’s so nice to see the story progress further and see Natsume in new situations. I especially loved the bookstore chapter in this volume. I liked how we got to see a little more of Kitamoto.
October 30, 2026
Look, I picked up Natsume's Book of Friends, Vol. 21 for the hype and stuck around for the sheer nerve of it. Yuki Midorikawa says things out loud that most writers would sand down to nothing. A few lines are a little too proud of themselves. Great for readers who like a book with a backbone, skip it if you prefer polite.
November 2, 2026
Not gonna lie, Natsume's Book of Friends, Vol. 21 hits different when you're having a rough week. Yuki Midorikawa doesn't fix anything, but the book keeps you company, which sometimes matters more. It's quiet and a little sad. Good for anyone who needs a gentle nudge, skip if you want something that cheers you up.
May 21, 2024
My favorite part of this volume was the Beyond the Page chapter. Ahh to be a yokai whos sole purpose is protecting an old bookstore. What a dream. Loved seeing more of Kitamotos personality. Also, was nice to get another story from Natori and Matobas past.
October 8, 2026
Always good to see a story of Natsume with his human friends! The mini kitty doll was adorable.
A small story about Natori! I feel he has a small camaraderie with Matoba but still doesn't trust him completely, even as an adult.
Some of the yokai are so terrifying.
A small story about Natori! I feel he has a small camaraderie with Matoba but still doesn't trust him completely, even as an adult.
Some of the yokai are so terrifying.
January 5, 2018
As usual, Midorikawa did not disappoint. I loved this latest volume just as much as the others.
January 31, 2018
Good volume.
August 27, 2018
Ah, I really missed reading this series! Excellent chapters, as always.
November 20, 2018
It's gotten quite episodic. Still love the little stories, but I wish it would build to something instead of hinting at various mysteries and storylines.
January 6, 2019
I just love being in this world.
February 24, 2019
I like the characters, but the episodic nature means that there is not a lot here for me to really hold onto -- the sort of story that I forget when it is not right in front of me.
June 7, 2019
Strong story.
Happy and sad momen with ayakashi...
Happy and sad momen with ayakashi...
September 30, 2019
I really loved the story about the old bookstore and the one about mini-sensei!
Read
March 27, 2021As ever, sweet and gently heartwarming, but this volume also has Nyanko-sensei getting washed! And a yokai taking on the form of a mini Nyanko-sensei statue! Very cute.
December 12, 2021
Memorable and heartwarming as usual. I always wish Takashi could meet Reiko, you know, but that is impossible...
The Anxious Fragment is my favourite chapter! I laughed so hard when I read it! LMAO
The Anxious Fragment is my favourite chapter! I laughed so hard when I read it! LMAO
November 12, 2022
Actual Rating: 4.5
August 24, 2023
Natsume helps a bookstore yokai and (my favorite) creates a figurine with magical clay that is a mini-version of his cat.
December 25, 2023
Mini Nyankooooo 😍
January 24, 2025
no tengo mucho que decir, fue un buen volumen pero nada más allá. Lo que si me encantan esos dibujitos miniatura que hace la autora, son muy tiernos
April 16, 2026
The small clay as mini Nyanko Sensei is so funny and cute I’m ngl
April 1, 2018
ミニ先生！！！ちょう可愛い！もう一度たずねに来て！
この巻の古本屋さんの話は結構好きだった。私も小さいからいつも本大好きだったから北本の気持ちとカエダの気持ちもよく分かった。私は小さい時によく図書館に通って遊んだ。図書館は妖精の縄張りのことを心から信じた。可愛いでしょう？
ちょっと落ち込んだけど。次の巻持っていなかったので終わりたくなかった。幸いに学校に着いたときに次の巻はメールに来た！今晩の楽しみ！
この巻の古本屋さんの話は結構好きだった。私も小さいからいつも本大好きだったから北本の気持ちとカエダの気持ちもよく分かった。私は小さい時によく図書館に通って遊んだ。図書館は妖精の縄張りのことを心から信じた。可愛いでしょう？
ちょっと落ち込んだけど。次の巻持っていなかったので終わりたくなかった。幸いに学校に着いたときに次の巻はメールに来た！今晩の楽しみ！
September 23, 2025
I was trying to read other stuff, but I needed more of this rn. It's so nice to read these. Instant fix for anything is read another Natsume chapter or two.
Natsume’s Book of Friends Review
5/5 stars
I ended up down this rabbit hole of trying to find cozy/supernatural stories about yokai, partially because I’d just read Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods, and partially because I watched the movie Mononoke: Phantom in the Rain and was craving literally anything in the same vein.
So of course I ended up reading Natsume’s Book of Friends. This is the quintessential yokai manga. It’s about a teenage boy who can see yokai, which gets him into a lot of situations. Have you ever seen that thing on the internet where people are like, let’s put that character through situations? That’s Natsume. But it’s also sort of cozy, despite being all about ghosts. Not sure how that’s achieved, but it works.
Natsume ends up with this yokai trapped in a lucky cat shrine statue as his bodyguard. His name is Nyanko Sensei and I love him so much. He’s both the most helpful cat around, and also a pain in the butt. He sticks around Natsume mostly because Natsume promises to give him his grandmother’s book if anything were to happen to him.
Natsume’s grandmother’s book is a notebook filled with names of tons of yokai who she tricked into writing their names in the book. All of the yokai in her book have to do the bidding of whoever is holding the book, so all the yokai in the book either want their name released, or want to own the book themselves. Natsume is determined to return all their names, that way he doesn’t have the burden of constantly being attacked by yokai who want the book for themselves, and he doesn’t have to fear someone else getting their hands on it and controlling so many powerful yokai.
It’s a relatively episodic series where in each new chapter, Natsume comes face to face with a new yokai, which may or may not be in the book. There are a lot of fun returning characters who Natsume hangs out with, very little of whom know anything about the book, if they even know he can see yokai.
My favorite is the guy with the weird lizard tattoo. I am very curious to see if in the future we end up getting any clues as to what sort of yokai caused it, and if it can be removed, but I’m also scared that finding out that information would make that character suddenly less mysterious. I also hope this series never ends. It’s very fun, and has been going on for so long that I hope I’ll be able to keep reading it for a very long time.
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
Have a nice day/night everyone!
Natsume’s Book of Friends Review
5/5 stars
I ended up down this rabbit hole of trying to find cozy/supernatural stories about yokai, partially because I’d just read Kusunoki’s Garden of Gods, and partially because I watched the movie Mononoke: Phantom in the Rain and was craving literally anything in the same vein.
So of course I ended up reading Natsume’s Book of Friends. This is the quintessential yokai manga. It’s about a teenage boy who can see yokai, which gets him into a lot of situations. Have you ever seen that thing on the internet where people are like, let’s put that character through situations? That’s Natsume. But it’s also sort of cozy, despite being all about ghosts. Not sure how that’s achieved, but it works.
Natsume ends up with this yokai trapped in a lucky cat shrine statue as his bodyguard. His name is Nyanko Sensei and I love him so much. He’s both the most helpful cat around, and also a pain in the butt. He sticks around Natsume mostly because Natsume promises to give him his grandmother’s book if anything were to happen to him.
Natsume’s grandmother’s book is a notebook filled with names of tons of yokai who she tricked into writing their names in the book. All of the yokai in her book have to do the bidding of whoever is holding the book, so all the yokai in the book either want their name released, or want to own the book themselves. Natsume is determined to return all their names, that way he doesn’t have the burden of constantly being attacked by yokai who want the book for themselves, and he doesn’t have to fear someone else getting their hands on it and controlling so many powerful yokai.
It’s a relatively episodic series where in each new chapter, Natsume comes face to face with a new yokai, which may or may not be in the book. There are a lot of fun returning characters who Natsume hangs out with, very little of whom know anything about the book, if they even know he can see yokai.
My favorite is the guy with the weird lizard tattoo. I am very curious to see if in the future we end up getting any clues as to what sort of yokai caused it, and if it can be removed, but I’m also scared that finding out that information would make that character suddenly less mysterious. I also hope this series never ends. It’s very fun, and has been going on for so long that I hope I’ll be able to keep reading it for a very long time.
This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!
Have a nice day/night everyone!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews