Book of Friends | ||
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Information | ||
Type | Journal Notebook Medium-Sized Ledger | |
Effects | Yokai Ayakashi Temporarily saps a direct descendant of Reiko Natsume of their spiritual energy and strength with every name returned Memory Perception Resonate With the Yokai Whose Names Are Written Within | |
Source | Reiko Natsume (late maker) Takashi Natsume (inheritor) | |
Usage | Gives one of the Natsume family the ability to call upon the yokai or ayakashi whose names are written in its pages Spiritual link with its rightful owner and yokai whose names it holds | |
List of Items |
Book of Friends (友人帳, Yuujin-chou) is a decades-old journal/notebook of supreme spiritual power made by the late immensely powerful exorcist Reiko Natsume. It contains the names of the hundreds of ayakashi and youkai she had defeated in games or duels, and serves as a book of unbinding supernatural/spiritual contracts, which is considered a forbidden contract or even a myth among the hidden world of exorcists, and dangerously powerful as it is enticing to those in the youkai world, as most contracts are considerably less powerful and require a false name as binding their true name means that one's everyday words become words that must be obeyed.
Being Reiko Natsume's one and only grandchild and descendant left, Takashi is the only one who is capable of calling forth such powerful spirits for assistance and advice if needed, and render their contract with his late maternal grandmother null-and-void by returning their name to them. With every name returned, his strength is weakened for a time, and the memories of the late Reiko it contains flow into Takashi, which gives him a glimpse of how she was whenever she encountered those she had beaten to kill time and relieve her boredom and loneliness fellow humans always gave her for being "creepy and weird" due to being capable of perceiving what others could not.
History[]
Reiko had created the Book of Friends in order to express her frustrations and hatred of spirits, prompted by her innate spiritual ability to see and react to such supernatural, demonic beings that would cause the constant contempt and mistreatment from humans who'd shunned her and cause her to feel lonely.
She would challenge Youkai she encounters to various types of competitions, such as dueling. As proof that they had become her followers, they were forced to write their name on a slip of paper, therefore bound to their master's every whim and command.
The book contains the names of both weak and powerful youkai, making it a common target for those seeking further power. Just by having their names in the Book of Friends, the spirits' can easily be commanded to do anything the Book's owner wishes, or be killed by crushing the page of said name. Owning the Yuujinchou is said to be like holding the youkai's very existence in the master's hands. Hence, certain youkai seek to have their names returned to them to finally do as their please.
Ownership[]
After Reiko peacefully passed away as a young adult underneath a tree, her supernatural notebook was inherited by her one and only grandchild, Natsume Takashi, being her only offspring since the equally early death of her illegitimate daughter sixteen years ago who seemed not to be interested in her mother's keepsakes. Takashi preserved the book without knowing it's true history, leaving it idle with his own belongings as it is the only thing he has left of her.
It is currently unknown whether Reiko's illegitimate daughter knew of the book's magical abilities or that her mother possessed extraordinarily strong spiritual powers, which was why she had such a lonely and troubled young life.
Rediscovery[]
After Reiko had suddenly passed away in her young adult years (either in her twenties or thirties) underneath a tree, Takashi Natsume, her only grandchild and descendant inherited her magic book, which people naturally mistook as containing scribbles. After coming to live in Reiko's hometown with the main goal of returning all of the false names of the youkai in its pages.
To return the names, Reiko's saliva and breath are needed. This feat is possible for Takashi because he is directly related to her, being her grandson. Firstly, the youkai's image or name is pictured. The Book of Friends will automatically turn to page with the youkai's name. Then, the paper is placed deep in the mouth. Concentrate, then exhale at once and the name flies out from the paper and returned to the owner.
The book at the start of the series had dozens of false names, reaching probably above one hundred, but this number decreases over time as Natsume returns each name, much to Madara's dismay and leaves Natsume feeling exhausted from the effort.
So far the names of the youkai in the Book of Friends are shown to be readable to only the Natsume and youkai. They cannot be read by normal humans, instead they look like scribbles to them. It is unknown whether or not they can be read by humans who can see youkai, like Natori Shuuichi and Matoba Seiji, as neither of them have ever been shown reading the Book of Friends.
As mentioned by Natori, when making a contract between master and servant, the master has to give the youkai another name. The master must never bind the youkai by their real name, or the youkai would have to obey their master's every command, and their lives can even be taken easily. This act is forbidden by the exorcist association, as it is cruel and dangerous. Therefore, the Book of Friends is actually deemed forbidden. Natori also mentioned that making a contract this way needs a supreme amount of spiritual power and skill, so it is nearly impossible, but not for the late Reiko Natsume, who possessed infinitely limitless spiritual powers that her only grandchild has inherited in full.[1]
There are also many'youkai who are fully aware of the Book of Friends existence and just how dangerous and very powerful it is, but do not have their alias written inside, such as the human-looking ayakashi boy Kai. Natori reveals that he was researching a way to set Natsume free from its heavy burden. He refers to an object of such spiritual power as one of the many "forbidden paper spells."[2]
Supernatural Properties[]
- Memory Preservation & Perception: It contains the memories of said youkai who remember their encounter with Reiko Natsume, which they had lost every time. With every name he returns, Natsume is able to see what his late grandmother had looked like when she was his age.
- Spiritual Power Drainage: With every name returned, it drains Natsume of his supremely powerful spiritual energies for a time. However, when he returned Momonbo and Honokage's names, he did not faint from the effort. This indicating his various spiritual abilities are gradually growing much stronger, if not as dangerously powerful as his grandmother was rumored to be.
- Spiritual Link: Whenever it is near a yokai whose name e is written within its dozens of pages, it suddenly resonates, letting its owner know that said yokai had indeed lost to Reiko all those decades ago.
- Pain & Death Inducement: Tampering and even ripping/burning the page that has a spirit's name written on it sends said physical agony to the corresponding spirit intense physical agony, and even death if the page is burned regardless of the distance.
- True Name Manipulation: Being a forbidden contract, it gives Natsume complete power over spirits' secret true name, allowing him to give them any command to be obeyed unconditionally.
- Curse Inducement: Natori Suichi had told Natsume about the most dangerous contracts can cast evil spells upon all types of youkai and ayakashi, and even 'mere" exorcists that have not been capable of achieving the near-infinite spiritual strength and abilities of Natsume Reiko and her grandson themselves, not directly involved with said forbidden contract or its legendary maker or inheritor.
Japanese Incantation[]
One who would protect me
Show me your name
English Incantation[]
Spirit that acts as my guardian
Reveal thy name onto me
Summoning of Yokai[]
Spirit that acts as my guardian
Hasten to my side
Thou who is named...
One weakness is that, one must know the yokai's face and name otherwise, it is useless.
About the Book of Friends[]
Season One[]
- "Do you know of the Book of Friends?"
- "Was this what that lucky cat meant? What are these? Scribbles?"
- "You should hand that over. an item of such significance is not something for you to possess. Give me the Book of Friends or I'll take it!!"
- "Is this book really so dangerous it warns off a yokai's protection?"
- "That is no ordinary book. Within its pages are the names of every yokai Natsume Reiko defeated."
- "Like a roster?"
- "Whenever Reiko encountered a yokai, she would challenge it to a duel. And thanks to the immense spiritual powers she was born with, the woman won every time. Reiko had her beaten foes inscribe their names, which bound them to her following her victory. Reiko then collected the names of her obedient servants and put them in that book."
- There are two types of yokai who come to me about the Book of Friends, so far at least. As for the second type, they come to me so they reclaim their own name from the book. And every name I return leaves me drained.
- "Deplete your strength giving back another name? I swear that book gets thinner by the day becasue of you, Boy."
- "Give me the Book of Friends!!"
- "I would like you to return my name from the Book you come to possess."
- "So the infamous tome is in there!?"
- Ever since I inherited my grandmother's Book of Friends, yokai have been coming to have their names returned regardless of what time it is.
- "He's holding the Book of Friends!!"
- The Book of Friends? I think I've heard of that. If your name is written inside, you have to be the owner's servant.
- "I have it on good authority you abandoned the human who has the Book of Friends."
- "Does the Book of Friends no longer interest you?"
- "I meant call them with the Book of Friends, you doofus."
- "I have that kind of power at my disposal?"
- "Reiko would boast about it every chance she got."
Season Two[]
- "This book of squiggles caught my eye for some reason. You can toss it if you want, Takashi. No sense wasting time with literal trash."
- "You are Lord Natsume, are you not? Which means that you currently possess the Book of Friends."
- "Give me the Book!!"
- "I'm just waiting for you to croak so I can take the Book of Friends and be on my merry way."
- "The Book better be secure."
- "It's right here."
- "I have to get it back; I'm responsible for the names of those yokai."
- "I'm not happy of it being stolen either, but it's better not to yell that the Book of Friends is missing and is now up for grabs."
- "There have been rumors of a Reiko lookalike accompanied by his animal familiar and how he has inherited the coveted Book of Friends."
- "His name must be in the Book of Friends."
- "She won't pose a threat to you without your name, so I'm gonna give it back."
- "You can keep your little book, Child."
- "The Book of Friends?"
- "Since you tricked me, I'll hide this so you won't ever be able to find it again."
Season Three[]
- "The Book of Friends keeper!"
- Now I know why the Book of Friends has been giving off a faint warmth.
- "I wrote my name on a piece of paper like she asked."
- "You went back giving back another name behind my back! You fool! Stop doing that! It isn't fair! By the time I get it, it'll be empty! The whole point is to mess with yokai!!"
- "She doesn't want to command all the yokai in it."
- "Your name is in the Book of Friends, isn't it?"
- "You're Natsume, the Book of Friends keeper?"
- No way can that guy ever learn about the Book of Friends.
Season Four[]
- "Are you Natsume of the Book of Friends?"
- "Please return my name."
- "That must the genuine Book of Friends."
- "Give us the Book of Friends!! It's of yokai nature, not yours"
- "They assault you becasue of the Book?"
- The Book of Friends was left to me by my grandmother Natsume Reiko. She possessed great spiritual power. She picked fights with every yokai she came across and collected their names, which she put in this book. It allows its owner to control dozens of yokai unconditionally. Many yokai come to me looking for the Book of Friends. Some want their names back, some want more power. I want to return as many names as possible, so I have to make sure no one nefarious ever gets their hands on it.
- "It seems they were after the Book of Friends."
- "Rumors of Reiko's legendary book are spreading even wider."
- "If you want to spare yourself unbearable pain, give us the Book of Friends."
- "What will you use it for once it's yours?"
- "We can make a band of yokai obey our master's every order, of course."
- "Hand it over."
- "I can't believe you'd let a bunch of losers capture him and confiscate the Book of Friends is all smiles!"
- "Seems we are in the clear since Matoba or his cronies didn't see the Book hidden inside your bag."
- "Unless he heard about if from a human, I doubt he recognize what kind of power it holds."
- "He should just let go of the Book of Friends. If you care for him, take it from him, so he can solely live in the world of humans."
- "I can't believe you let those wimps catch you and take the Book of Friends!"
- "If you keep the Book of Friends, you'll keep getting caught up in this nonsense. Just give it to me already. I'll have all kinds of fun with it."
- "I protected the Book of Friends."
- "Give us the Book of Friends!"
- "I just was protecting the Book of Friends."
- "Thank you for not telling your friends about the Book."
- "You could have just given them the Book of Friends."
- I cloud if they'd return the names in my place."
- "The deal is that I get it."
- "Where's the Book of Friends?"
- "Give me the Book of Friends, or I'll snap your arms off."
- "I won't give you the Book of Friends."
- "Give it to me!"
- "Use your famed book and call Karikami."
- "It is common knowledge that whose name is in the Book of Friends cannot disobey your orders."
- "Only if you know their face and name. My grandmother is the one who collected their names."
- "An acquaintance says his name is in the Book of Friends."
- "You returned another name!! I want my Book of Friends to be the size of ancient tome, not a life novel!!"
- "I'm not interested in your memories. I'm staying with you until I take the Book of Friends in the future."
Season Five[]
- Every time I give back a name, I always see the same thing: My grandmother's smile.
- It's resonating. His name is in the Book of Friends.
- "Your name is in the Book of Friends, right? I'll give it back."
- "When humans make a contract with a yokai, they must give a false name. If you manage to bind their real name, even your everyday speech become words they must obey. Although, that technique also takes a whole lot of power and may not actually exist."
- "You're Natsume of the Book of Friends!! He can call lots of yokai and control them!"
- "What happened to the Book of Friends, Reiko?"
- "I can't exactly give names back if I can't talk now, can I?"
- If I gave up the Book of Friends, would I be attacked less often? I wonder if the yokai who saved me has his name in the Book of Friends.
- "My name is in the Book of Friends. I came to get it back."
- Never! I'll never let them have this!
- "If someone like that had the Book of Friends, they'd never believe them."
- "If you want your name back..."
Season Six[]
- I felt like, as the bearer of the Book of Friends, the more I should stay away from exorcists. The more important the Book of Friends became, the more heavier the burden.
- If I told Natori about the Book of Friends, how would be react? The Book of Friends controls many yokai and puts their lives in the owner's hands. Would he say it is like a treasure, just like Taki?
- "Ah, you are the famous Natsume of the Book of Friends."
- The Book of Friends controls the lives of the yokai within it. Just like they once said, it's existence should be kept hidden from humanity. It feels like telling Natori about it simply becasue of his gentle nature would feel like a betrayal of the yokai.
- As the only blood relative of Reiko, only I can release yokai from the Book of Friends.
- "According to Ginroe, it's so dangerous, that mere exorcists cannot even know what it is. Perhaps it's something that kind, reckless Natsume shouldn't be allowed to possess."
- "Have you heard of the Book of Friends?"
- "The Book...of...Friends? No, no! we never heard of it!!"
- It's not just the Book of Friends.
- "So you are Reiko's grandson! Then you must have the Book of Friends! You can take many names, bind them to your will or crush their lives with it; the ever-enticing, dangerous Book of Friends!! It is not something for a child of man to possess."
- He heard of the Book of Friends!
- I remained calm as I told Natori about my grandmother, about the Book of Friends. And that whether by accident or chance it was forbidden magic. And that I was the only one who could return the names.
- "The Book of Friends. Strange name, isn't it?"
- "Something so dangerous; you should just burn it."
- "I thought we'd get into more of a fight about the Book of Friends."
- Grandma, you always were standing tall in every memory the Book has shown me.
- "It's Natsume of the Book of Friends!"
- "Let's go before he calls out our names!"
- "You hold such an interesting item."
- "Does she have something to do with the item you hold?"
- "I apologize for binding your name for so long."
Season Seven[]
- The losers would write down their names for her to keep. Her collection became known as the Book of Friends. I inherited that book from her. So part of the reason why yokai seek me out is because they want their names back, which I gladly give them.
- It was just a game she came up with one day. But it possessed unique powers becasue she possessed unique powers.
- "The Book of Friends, then?"
- "I sear to you: Someday, I will find a way to free you from this Book of Friends."
About the Book of Friends in Movies[]
Tied to the Temporal World[]
- "You have the Book of Friends. I am told that whoever possesses it can control the spirits named in its pages!"
- "I have come to beg you to return my name. I heard rumors that it was possible to have our names returned."
- The Book of Friends was made by my grandmother Natsume Reiko. She possessed vast spiritual power. A bundle of contracts that forces yokai to oblige unconditionally.
- "I return your name, Honokage."
- "I'll just stay until I take the Book of Friends off your hands."
Trivia[]
- Ever since learning of its existence, Suuichi Natori is secretly attempting to release his good fried from its hold on his life, even though it is the only thing Natsume has left of his maternal grandmother.
- The main antagonist, Seiji Matoba has yet to learn of it. however, in Chapter 36, one of the shiki had looked inside and informed Seiji Matoba that there was something like a notebook known as the "Book of something..."
List of Names[]
Anime[]