Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5

Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 has built a real following on and among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Hiroshi Kamiya sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 is worth clearing space for. Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Blessed with eyes that are able to perceive the otherwise invisible youkai, Takashi Natsume hides his ability from his newfound family and friends to protect everyone's peaceful daily life. Meanwhile, the exorcist clan Matoba still wishes for Natsume to join their ranks due to his overwhelming gift. However, Natsume firmly rejects the clan's invitation since not all exorcists are as reasonable as his friend Shuuichi Natori, and many improperly and indiscriminately seal away every youkai in their way. Hiroshi Kamiya and Kazuhiko Inoue lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Watch for Hiroshi Kamiya in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.

🎬 Natsume's Book of Friends Season 5 — Episode Guide

Unchanging Form

2016-10-04

Natsume continues to spend his days giving back Youkai their names from the book of friends. One day, as he's heading home, he finds himself chased by a giant, rolling pot. The youkai in the pot insists that his grandmother Reiko stole a doll from her. When she threatens to hurt his family, however,...

Mischievous Rain

2016-10-11

On a rainy day, Natsume meets a young girl youkai. Her name isn't in the Book of Friends, but she wants his help anyway: she wants him to find a man she met once. The man couldn't see youkai normally, but a mischievous trick of the weather let him see her for just one day. For the next fifty years s...

The Letter from the Exorcist

2016-10-18

Natsume receives a letter from Matoba, an exorcist whom he's had unpleasant dealings with in the past. The world of exorcists is a dangerous place lately, and Matoba wants Natsume's help. Natsume wants to refuse, but Matoba threatens to reveal Natsume's powers to his adopted family, which would spel...

Shadow Linked Chains

2016-10-26

An inexperienced exorcist tries and fails to completely seal a youkai near Natsume's school. Natsume decides to take the pot the youkai is sealed in to Natori, in hopes that it can be disposed of properly. While he's there, he learns that there is an ongoing feud between exorcists lately, and that o...

It Must Not Be Bound

2016-11-02

Natsume arrives at the exorcist meeting to help smoke out the youkai that Matoba wants to find. But he quickly discovers that the situation is more complicated than it first seemed. The youkai is capable of replicating itself to possess targets, and no one but Natsume is able to see who is possessed...

Soundless Valley

2016-11-09

Natsume's friend Taki lives in a house filled with traps and mazes for youkai. She can't see the youkai herself without the aid of a special circle, but she can hear them when they're trapped in her house. She saves one of them, but it refuses to leave her home. Natsume suspects that there may be da...

Distant Festival Lights

2016-11-23

Natsume and his friends go to a distant hot springs to help with the renovations. When he arrives, he meets an old friend of Tanumas, but he quickly gets caught up in local youkai trouble. Tanuma's old friend is actually a youkai, and she threatens terrible things if Natsume reveals her secret.

A World Unbent

2016-11-30

Natori's family has always been exorcists... until they lost the abililty to see youkai. After generations of fearing the youkai's revenge, Natori is suddenly born with the ability to see them. His family doesnt want anything to do with his powers, though, and he's left to figure out how to live on ...

Following a Narrow Path

2016-12-07

While on the run from a fearsome youkai, Natsume accidently sits on a tiny mushroom youkai. The mushroom youkai is incensed, as it has a meeting with a 'noble person' later in that day. It insists on Natsume helping it prepare for its meeting with this 'noble person', and Natsume finds himself drawn...

E10

Touko and Shigeru

2016-12-14

Touko and Shigeru are the kind elderly couple who took in Natsume when no one else would. But what were they like before they let Natsume move in?

E11

To the Ephemeral Ones

2016-12-21

Natsume has come down with a cold after adventuring in the hills. All of his friends, both human and youkai, do their best to make him feel better. As he lies in bed, he begins to realize how much the people around him care for him, and how valuable the bonds he's established are.