Natsume Takashi
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
He is the main character of Natsume's Book of Friends. He was born on July 1st and is type B. His favorite things are cats and black kittens. He is Reiko Natsume's grandson and can see spirits. Her parents died when she was young, and because she could see spirits, her invisible relatives passed her around from one relative to another because of her strange behavior, and she was eventually taken in by the current Fujiwara couple. She looks similar to her grandmother Reiko, and spirits often mistake her for her grandmother.
Nyanko Sensei
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends © Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Nyanko Sensei was sealed within a beckoning cat, but was released when Takashi cut the barrier. He is the same height and weight as two dodgeballs, and uses "I" as his first-person pronoun. Because he is within the medium, even those who cannot see him can hear his voice. Because of his appearance, his friendly spirit friends call him various names such as "Pig Cat," "Fat Cat," and "Fake Lucky Cat." Takashi's friend Tanuma also calls him "Ponta" and "Meow Meow Teacher."
Madara
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
This is Nyanko-sensei's true form, a renowned great demon among demons. It takes the form of a gigantic white beast and can fly. As a high-ranking demon, it can sometimes be very intimidating toward mid- and lower-ranking demons.
Natsume Reiko
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Takashi Natsume's grandmother, said to have possessed powerful supernatural powers. She was the creator of the Book of Friends and a beautiful young woman who was renowned among supernatural creatures. She has passed away, but the cause of her death has never been revealed. He was seen as an "eccentric" by those around him, and was used to being disliked by others; even Nyanko-sensei said that he "hated people," but the demons Hinoe and the others adored him.
The Fujiwaras
Toko Fujiwara
Toko Fujiwara is the wife of Shigeru, who adopted Takashi. She has a very gentle personality. When Shigeru told her he wanted to adopt Takashi, she went to check on him, and she cares deeply for him. She loves shopping, is a good cook, and makes Takashi lunches.
Fujiwara Shigeru
A distant relative of Takashi's on his father's side, he saw Takashi at a relative's funeral and took him in. He was a mischievous and active boy when he was young. He had a past relationship with Reiko, but now barely remembers her and only sees her as a neighborhood girl.
Classmates
Kaname Tanuma
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Although they are in different classes, Tanuma is Takashi's classmate and one of the few friends who knows that Takashi can see spirits. Shortly after Takashi transfers to the school, they move into the abandoned temple in Yatsuhara. While Tanuma himself cannot see spirits, he has psychic powers and can see their shadows and sense their presence. He often becomes ill from being exposed to their aura.
Taki Tohru
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Taki is a classmate of Takashi's. While he cannot see spirits himself, his ancestors were onmyoji (exorcists). He can see spirits that have entered the formations using the formations left behind by his grandfather. He loves Nyanko-sensei so much that whenever he sees him, he hugs him, surprising those around him. He is also one of the few friends who knows that Takashi can see spirits.
Nishimura Satoru
Takashi's classmate, he was the first to speak to Takashi after he transferred to the school. He is unaware that Takashi can see spirits. He has a cheerful personality and actually likes Taki. He often hangs out with Kitamoto. After they become friends, the three of them, including Takashi, hang out together.
Kitamoto Atsushi
Takashi's classmate. Like Nishimura, he is unaware that Takashi can see spirits. Unlike Nishimura, he is a reliable person.
Jun Sasada
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Takashi's classmate and class president. Perhaps because of his interest in spirits, he often interferes with Takashi's life, but Tanuma and Taki step in and separate him from Takashi.
Katsumi Shibata
He was a classmate from elementary school, and now attends a different high school. In elementary school, he bullied Takashi, calling him a "liar." After meeting Murazaki in the park, he visits Takashi to find out whether he is human or a spirit.
Exorcism House
Shuichi Natori
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends © Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
He's a popular actor, but he's also an exorcist. The Natori family was a landlord who made a living by exorcising demons. However, they were not blessed with the ability to see, and were notorious for being a "disgraceful family that was forced to go out of business." However, when Shuichi returned to the business, that notoriety faded. Although invisible to ordinary people, he has gecko-shaped birthmarks that move around all over his body.
Matoba Seiji
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends © Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
The current head of the "Matoba Clan," he oversees the 11 major families. Some past heads have had unfortunate encounters with demons, and as head of the Matoba family, he wears an eyepatch because his right eye is targeted by demons. She has a rational and ruthless personality, believing in the importance of "using whatever is available."
Nanase
She is the secretary of the Matoba Clan. She treats youkai ruthlessly, even using her own unusable Shiki as bait to capture them.
Natsume-gumi: Dog Club
Hinoe
Hinoe is a female demon who uses curses and hates men. She is an acquaintance of Misano, is very caring, and wears a kimono. Because he was in love with Reiko, he hates men, but he does like Reiko's grandson, Takashi.
Misuzu
A giant swamp guardian with a horse's right hand and a human's left hand, this one-eyed yokai has both a human and a horse's body. He has previously dueled with Reiko, and his name is written in the Book of Friends.
Intermediate Yokai - Smooth
A one-eyed yokai living in the Yatsuhara Plains. He is Nyanko-sensei's drinking buddy, and calls Takashi "Mr. Natsume," and adores him.
Intermediate Yokai - Cow
Like the one-eyed yokai, this yokai is a cow-shaped yokai in the Yatsuhara Plains. He is Nyanko-sensei's drinking buddy, and adores him, calling him "Mr. Natsume." He has a unique way of speaking, repeating the words of the one-eyed yokai.
Chobi
This demon, with a head larger than its body and a mustache, is nicknamed "Chobi" or "Chobihige." She calls herself a "noble demon" and can pass through the barriers set up by Nyanko-sensei. She also has a distinctive way of speaking, ending her sentences with "~desu desu ka."
Benio
A female demon with a butterfly perched on her right eye. She is an old friend of Nyanko-sensei, and calls him "Madarama." She laments Nyanko-sensei's beckoning cat guise, calling him "tiny and tiny."
Summary
Source: Natsume's Book of Friends ©Yuki Midorikawa, Hakusensha / "Natsume's Book of Friends" Production Committee
Did you enjoy this article? We've introduced the main characters. Guest characters also appear. Enjoy learning about Natsume's relationship with these guest characters.
