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夏目友人帳 [Natsume Yūjinchō] #26
Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 26
The mystery of the missing Nyanko Sensei intensifies as Natsume and the prominent exorcists Natori and Matoba encounter a powerful, malevolent ceramic puppet with an appetite for clay kitties. Natsume and the exorcists must work together to bring it down, but how can Natsume team up with someone he doesn’t trust?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2021
About the author
Yuki Midorikawa
66 books295 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 8, 2021
A really good volume! I loved seeing Mr. Yorishima again and the ending was such a cliffhanger, I can't wait for the next volume!
February 11, 2025
This series is very like Mushi-shi in its art style and storytelling: mostly standalone stories with a tenuous continuity, so I have a hard time remembering things that happened, since it's very often "one and done" in a Monster of the Week style of conflict set-up and resolution. It unfortunately doesn't help that this volume starts in the middle of a story—unlike the first localisations of Oh My Goddess! where the volumes would deliberately rearrange chapters to make a somewhat complete storyline for any single volume (at least as I remember when the updated localisations came over, that those were less edited and closer to the original Japanese collections).
So it's a little hard to follow what's happening without having read the prior volume: there are cats like Nyanko-sensei, but it's not clear whether they're figurines like the vessel Madara possessed or "real" cat puppets or what [that is, I don't know what a "real" cat looks like, since the only "cat" that has appeared is the Nyanko-sensei body]. All that's clear is they can talk to Nyanko-sensei and want to stop the autonomous puppet... and want nothing to do with most people, in fact, since it's in their best interest to not be in the public eye.
It doesn't help that the anime is very pick-and-choose as to what episodes get made; they don't seem to follow the manga chronologically. For instance, the next volume has a chapter that was made into an episode in the latest season, but the stories in this volume and the other stories in the next volume... weren't. That's both interesting, since it's a surprise what each episode will be about, and annoying, since there are a lot of chapters/episodes I would like to see but not a lot of overlap since I've only been able to find a few books, and most of what is in the books I've read is not in the anime or vice versa.
So, I would hang onto this series as a Mushi-shi replacement, but there are SO MANY (where Mushi-shi only has 10 [technically 8, since 8, 9, and 10 were merged into an omnibus]), and I only have so much shelf space that I'm ALREADY regularly managing with every new book I collect (and have to decide what to swap it with or just donate to a free library).
Like, I don't mind the longer, more dramatic stories in this at all, actually. However, I DO prefer to have all of the chapters for any single story in one volume, rather than split up like with the first part-story in this one. I even like that the longer stories are tempered by the more wholesome ones, like Nyanko-sensei finding an abandoned house, Natsume and Tanuma finding him by following the cookies he dropped, and all of them spending more time at the house after starting to find notes from the "owner" addressed to them (first, thanking them for tidying up, then asking them to plant flower seeds). It's such a pleasant ghost story, and I'd still love the series if it were only these kinds of story, but that it switches out to more action-oriented/mystery stories adds some spice to the series.
Recommended *as a series* for fans of youkai/ghost stories, though this volume slightly less so since it really needs the prior volume for more enjoyment.
So it's a little hard to follow what's happening without having read the prior volume: there are cats like Nyanko-sensei, but it's not clear whether they're figurines like the vessel Madara possessed or "real" cat puppets or what [that is, I don't know what a "real" cat looks like, since the only "cat" that has appeared is the Nyanko-sensei body]. All that's clear is they can talk to Nyanko-sensei and want to stop the autonomous puppet... and want nothing to do with most people, in fact, since it's in their best interest to not be in the public eye.
It doesn't help that the anime is very pick-and-choose as to what episodes get made; they don't seem to follow the manga chronologically. For instance, the next volume has a chapter that was made into an episode in the latest season, but the stories in this volume and the other stories in the next volume... weren't. That's both interesting, since it's a surprise what each episode will be about, and annoying, since there are a lot of chapters/episodes I would like to see but not a lot of overlap since I've only been able to find a few books, and most of what is in the books I've read is not in the anime or vice versa.
So, I would hang onto this series as a Mushi-shi replacement, but there are SO MANY (where Mushi-shi only has 10 [technically 8, since 8, 9, and 10 were merged into an omnibus]), and I only have so much shelf space that I'm ALREADY regularly managing with every new book I collect (and have to decide what to swap it with or just donate to a free library).
Like, I don't mind the longer, more dramatic stories in this at all, actually. However, I DO prefer to have all of the chapters for any single story in one volume, rather than split up like with the first part-story in this one. I even like that the longer stories are tempered by the more wholesome ones, like Nyanko-sensei finding an abandoned house, Natsume and Tanuma finding him by following the cookies he dropped, and all of them spending more time at the house after starting to find notes from the "owner" addressed to them (first, thanking them for tidying up, then asking them to plant flower seeds). It's such a pleasant ghost story, and I'd still love the series if it were only these kinds of story, but that it switches out to more action-oriented/mystery stories adds some spice to the series.
Recommended *as a series* for fans of youkai/ghost stories, though this volume slightly less so since it really needs the prior volume for more enjoyment.
April 30, 2022
Well that was fun.
September 13, 2025
This is probably one of my favorite of the series. The beginning was full of action and cats. The other half was a perspective of friendship and maybe regrets.
January 12, 2024
Melancholy stories of animated objects, forgotten and lonely.
December 18, 2021
This was a great volume containing 5 chapters. The cliffhanger from the previous volume is resolved. Mr. Matoba, Mr. Natori, Natsume and Sensei work together to rescue the potter and the village's "ceramic" cats.
In another story, Tanuma, Natsume and Sensei help to restore a cabin that Sensei found in the woods. The last story reintroduces Mr. Yorishima (a retired exorcist from a previous volume).
Natsume has matured so much since the first volume of this manga. He is now able to trust and depend on his friends. This becomes especially evident in his friendship with Mr. Natori.
In another story, Tanuma, Natsume and Sensei help to restore a cabin that Sensei found in the woods. The last story reintroduces Mr. Yorishima (a retired exorcist from a previous volume).
Natsume has matured so much since the first volume of this manga. He is now able to trust and depend on his friends. This becomes especially evident in his friendship with Mr. Natori.
August 3, 2025
Me gustaría saber más de la historia del señor yorishima (una vez leí una teoría de que el podía ser el abuelo de Natsume, lo q veo muy poco probable) me gusta ese personaje , siento que es como Natsume al inicio de la historia y que te muestra un poco como sería Natsume si no hubiera vivido todo lo que ha vivido en estos 26 volúmenes.
Las otras historias del tomo también estuvieron muy bonitas pero en este momento no tengo nada q decir ( qué vivan los novios de tanuma y Natsume JSKDK)
Las otras historias del tomo también estuvieron muy bonitas pero en este momento no tengo nada q decir ( qué vivan los novios de tanuma y Natsume JSKDK)
December 26, 2021
A really good volume. It finishes off the story from that had started in the previous volume, plus two more stories. The middle story is short and sweet and relaxed, like all my favorite Natsume chapters. The last story is complete in this volume, and is creepy and bittersweet.
March 7, 2022
This is another lovely entry in the series. I appreciate how it follows up on the cliffhanger of last volume with more of Natsume reaching out to people, and the tentative conversation about trust between Natsume and Natori was a great moment and shows how far their relationship has come.
March 27, 2022
Natsume 26
The continuing adventures of Natsume into the world of Tokyo beings! Getting more robust and combative encounters as Natsume expands his friendship list. More characters and more stories. Excellent Read!
The continuing adventures of Natsume into the world of Tokyo beings! Getting more robust and combative encounters as Natsume expands his friendship list. More characters and more stories. Excellent Read!
January 17, 2022
The cabin one was so sweet
March 5, 2022
Love the chapter called 'Cookies and the Entrance to the Forest'. It's short stories like those that I love to read about in these volumes. Excited to see what stories come up in the next volume.
July 19, 2022
seperti biasa, bintang 5 buat manga ini. kaget dan ngerasa takut banget tentang fakta anak perempuannya haha
June 22, 2024
A very interesting ending to the vessels lie in slumber chapters. Can't wait to see and find out more about the Matoba family. Also am glad to see more chapters with Mr. Yorishima.
December 3, 2025
only Natsume Yuujinchou can make me cry over a cabin
March 8, 2026
3.5 stars
May 10, 2026
3.5 stars
Love a story with a sentient home, in this case a cabin. The story with the daughters was interesting, too.
Love a story with a sentient home, in this case a cabin. The story with the daughters was interesting, too.
April 5, 2026
I definitely need to watch the anime.
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!
January 28, 2022
With the abandoned village case wrapped up (and wrapped up beautifully, I might add), it's time to head over to the next one. This next case is super interesting and suuuuuper disturbing, and as usual Midorikawa pulls out all the stops in terms of atmosphere and art. I'm so curious to see where this mystery goes and what the outcome will be. Don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it there, but once again Midorikawa proves they are a mangaka legend with their art, writing, and story.
September 6, 2024
The dragon♡
Finally reached the volumes I own physically.
This manga just gets better and I keep forgetting the nuggets of lore she casually drops.
Matoba's sister??
Natsume's ancestors/ grandfather at the end of s6?
I love it all so much. I doubt s7 will reach vol 26, but it depends. They did an OVa based on random chpts from vol 21 and 24 so I have no idea how they will organise s 7.
Finally reached the volumes I own physically.
This manga just gets better and I keep forgetting the nuggets of lore she casually drops.
Matoba's sister??
Natsume's ancestors/ grandfather at the end of s6?
I love it all so much. I doubt s7 will reach vol 26, but it depends. They did an OVa based on random chpts from vol 21 and 24 so I have no idea how they will organise s 7.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews