Subculture Anime Blog

OP: “Issei no Koe (一斉の声)” by Shūhei Kita – The song is like soft pop/rock. It’s not something I would usually listen to, but it was pretty fitting for this OP. I’m not extremely impressed with the animation, since it’s kind of plain, but there’s nothing particularly bad about it either.

Summary:

A boy named Natsume Takashi runs from a large yokai, who chases after him while asking where a certain woman is. Takashi seems to escape when he meets two of his acquaintances on the road, but he quickly asks if there is a shrine nearby. As Takashi continues to run, the two boys recall that they have never really talked to him properly. Takashi realizes that the boys cannot see the large spirit chasing him, then recalling that he has been able to see these from time to time since he was a child. By running to the shrine, Takashi would be able to stop the trouble. He doesn’t get the chance to this time, however, as the yokai captures him against a tree. The yokai refers to Takashi as Reiko, believing she has caught her, but another yokai appears to make sure they do things properly. By kicking the yokai in its face, Takashi is able to escape in its distraction. While continuing to run, he recalls all of the strange reactions he received from people when he pointed out the spirits around him in the past.

Takashi accidentally trips over and breaks a rope, then angering the nearby deity for breaking his barrier. Natsume panics at his situation, but he suddenly loses his tension when he sees that the deity is actually a small cat. The cat also refers to Takashi as Reiko, but Takashi soon reveals that Reiko was actually the name of his grandmother. The cat mentions that spirits do not see genders the same way humans do, then confirming that he knew Takashi’s grandmother. Reiko was also able to see spirits, but since nobody else could, she was always alone. The cat suddenly wonders if Takashi knows of something called the Yujin-Cho, but before Takashi can confirm this, the cat disappears before him.

As Takashi reaches home, he is greeted by a woman named Fujiwara Toko. She quickly wonders about Takashi’s condition after seeing his clothes, but Takashi is obviously unable to tell her about the yokai that had been chasing him. Reaching his room, Takashi recalls that he had left his parents’ home to live in this area. This was the same area his grandmother lived in, and because of their similar abilities, things began to repeat themselves. While looking through his belongings, Takashi finds the book the cat mentioned earlier. He is not sure what to make of the contents inside, but the cat from earlier soon shows up ordering him to hand over the Yujin-Cho. After a failed attempt at attacking him, the cat is given the name of “Nyanko” by Takashi. Despite Nyanko’s suggestion that his cat appearance is not his true form, Takashi suggests otherwise.

Takashi suggests that Nyanko go home, but because of the Yujin-Cho and the broken barrier, Nyanko suggests he will stay with Takashi as his bodyguard. Takashi wonders if the book is such a dangerous thing, so Nyanko explains that the book has been filled with names of ayakashi by Reiko. Reiko had challenged several spirits in the past, then binding their names to the Yujin-Cho. Because of this, several spirits would go after Takashi who now holds the book. When Takashi guesses the Nyanko’s name is in the book as well, Nyanko refuses to admit it. Despite Takashi’s refusal to take Nyanko seriously, he is warned of how powerful and dangerous the book is. As Natsume then answers the door to visitors, he finds that the two yokai from earlier are there to continue their chase.

Takashi is able to escape the spirits with a bit of Nyanko’s help, but he is further troubled by Nyanko’s desire to have the book as well. Takashi even retaliates against Nyanko when he transforms into his large form, stating that the book was something very important to his grandmother. Reiko had died young, so Takashi wishes that he can at least protect some of her memory. Takashi then suggests that he would like to return the names in the book, allowing Nyanko to have it if he were to die in the process. In exchange, Nyanko would offer his help. Nyanko agrees, so while he engages combat with the smaller yokai later, Takashi follows his orders in preforming the ritual that would return the larger yokai’s name.

As the large yokai’s name returns to her, memories return of how she had met Reiko. It had gone after a small manju at a shrine, but Reiko then appeared to take it before her. Reiko soon offered a challenge, where if the yokai lost, she would become her follower. Reiko easily won, and after taking the yokai’s name, advised her to come to her side if she called out to her. The yokai became attached to the kind Reiko, but after several days of not being called, it began to express how even more lonely she was than before. With this, she wished to have her name returned. In the present time, the yokai can only wonder if Reiko was alright on her own. Takashi assures the yokai that Reiko was not alone, thanking her and calling it by its name Hishigaki. In the aftermath, Nyanko wonders if Takashi is really up to continuing his task. Of course, Takashi confirms this.

ED: “Summer Evening Sky” by Kousuke Atari – The animation is pretty standard stuff, but the slow song combined with it makes for a nice feeling after watching the episode. Definitely fitting for the series, but still, not something I would usually listen to.

Preview: Another spirit tale – Tsuyukami.

Impression:

I guess my high hopes for this show weren’t mistaken, because I really liked the first episode of Natsume. As I suspected, this show reminded me a lot of shows like Mushishi, in its fascinating supernatural nature. There were also a lot of similarities with xxxHolic in its set up, but the direction the show is taking isn’t quite the same. Shows like this easily make it to the top of my favorites list because of their inspiring nature, and as an artist, I love seeing this type of imagination displayed. The kind of slice of life aspects of the show were really appealing to me as well, and I absolutely loved the scene were Takashi returned the spirit’s name. Nyanko (Madara) provides for quite a bit of comic relief too, and I’m sure he will be a perfect companion to Takashi during his adventure. As much as I am now attached to this show though, I’m not sure if I want to cover it. Honestly, as much as I love these types of shows, I typically like to simply absorb them during my own time. This is also one of the more time consuming types of shows to blog, especially with all the references to Japanese spirits in their culture. I’m sure to make my decision within the following days though, and it will probably depend on how much coverage the show is getting by then.