About “Natsume’s Book of Friends” in a few words:

In calm countryside, ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ tells story of Takashi Natsume, a boy who sees spirits. He gets a strange book from his grandma Reiko and sets out to return names of spirits trapped inside. With his quirky bodyguard Nyanko-sensei, Natsume discovers relationships, forgiveness and who he really is. Series blends touching tales with beautiful visuals, crafting a world full of warmth and emotion. It’s like a hug for your soul.

Meet the characters from Natsume’s Book of Friends

Takashi Natsume

Okay so Natsume is basically the soft-hearted center of everything and you can tell because he’s the one who talks to ghosts and still gets embarrassed about it, like, constantly. He’s painfully empathic — will literally sit and listen to a yokai’s life story while you eat your lunch — but also awkward around people and sometimes loses his patience in the most human way. He has this weirdly calming presence that makes weird creatures trust him, and yet he’s not perfect; he can be stubborn and sulky and will hide snacks in pockets for reasons he won’t explain. Also he keeps the Book of Friends, which is a huge problem and also the plot, and yes he does sometimes sing off-key when no one’s looking.

Madara

Madara (yes, Nyanko-sensei — the fat, grumpy, gloriously arrogant cat-soul) is basically a walking contradiction: an ancient, terrifying yokai stuck in a lucky-cat body who also hoards snacks and naps in sunbeams. He brags, he drinks, he demands respect, and then five minutes later he’s fussing over Natsume like a gruff grandpa — pride and mush all tangled up. Don’t let the round belly fool you; he’s deadly when riled, ridiculously proud of his macho image, and yet he insists on being called “sensei” which is both pretentious and kind of adorable. Also, odd little fact: he collects tiny bowls? I might be misremembering but it feels right.

Reiko Natsume

Reiko was the kind of person who would walk into a teahouse, make friends with the yokai, and then leave with half a dozen mysteries and a terrible joke — she’s loud, charismatic, and gloriously unrepentant about being dramatic. She chartered her own path and treated yokai like troublesome relatives rather than monsters to fear, which gets her both trouble and admiration; she’s adventurous, messy, and very generous with trouble. People remember her for big gestures and even bigger scars, figurative and otherwise, and she had this habit of disappearing into night fogs while smoking cigarettes like some old movie, which you might or might not imagine. Also she apparently loved notebooks and left them everywhere — cluttered genius energy, 10/10.

Hinoe

Hinoe is that elegant, cold-water-yokai energy — reserved but intense — the kind of presence that clears a room and then makes it strangely cozy, like an incense-scented library. She’s powerful and kind of inscrutable; she’ll give you one honest answer and a dozen riddles, and you’ll feel both comforted and slightly unnerved afterward. Protective in her own rules-based way, she looks out for those she considers important but doesn’t do hugs; instead she does really well-timed warnings and cryptic advice. Little weird detail: she likes to arrange pebbles and will judge your taste in plants silently, which is both unnerving and kind of specific.

Seiji Matoba

Matoba is the slick, modern exorcist with a smile that hides a spreadsheet — ambition and tradition wrapped in a very tailored suit, and yes he absolutely keeps a ledger for yokai interactions. He’s ruthless when duty (or family legacy) calls, pragmatic to a fault, and has a real “ends justify the means” streak that makes him compelling and scary depending on the episode. Still, he’s not a cardboard villain; there are hints of loyalty and a weirdly buried affection for his people, and he genuinely believes in his methods even when they clash with Natsume’s softer approach. Oh and he collects business cards like trophies; immaculate pockets, always.

Shuuichi Natori

Natori is the suavely competent exorcist who also has this odd celebrity-vibe — calm on camera, composed in a crisis, but secretly a softie who knows how to be gentle with yokai. He’s professional, very stylish (sunglasses optional, but preferred), and the kind of person who will keep his cool during a supernatural meltdown and then quietly send tea afterward. He tries to balance duty with empathy, which makes him a great contrast to more heavy-handed exorcists, and he can be unexpectedly goofy when he thinks no one is watching. Fun little contradiction: looks like he always has it together but is sometimes the first to forget where he put his hat.

Tooru Taki

Tooru Taki is the low-key dependable one — calm, practical, the kind of friend who fixes your bike and brings soup when you’re sick, but also has this quiet depth that sneaks up on you. He’s steady, a bit more grounded than some of the more dramatic people around him, and surprisingly brave in small ways; doesn’t need the spotlight but will step in without making a fuss. He cares about rules and order, but not rigidly; sometimes he breaks them for the right person, and then acts like it was no big deal. Also a random fact: he likes to fish and hum old songs while doing it, which is either very soothing or suspiciously eerie depending on your mood.