Tooru Taki (多軌透, Taki Tōru) is one of recurring characters of Natsume's Book of Friends series.
She is Natsume's friend and schoolmate. Taki is one of the few humans that know Natsume can see youkai.
She herself cannot see them, but they are visible to her and other humans if a Youkai steps inside her "Youkai circle."
Contents
Appearance
Taki has short dusty blonde hair and light brown eyes like Natsume, along with a gentle expression. She was very quiet and reserved when she first appeared in the series due to a youkai's curse, but later shows her extroverted personality when they seal the youkai.
Personality
Taki is generally a happy, extroverted, optimistic girl. She refrained from speaking due to a youkai's curse, not wanting anyone else to be cursed along with her, making her seem introverted and mysterious at first, but was returned to her former personality when the youkai was sealed away.
She is shown to have a peculiar taste in cuteness, as is shown when she hugs Nyanko-sensei, calling him cute.
Like Tanuma, she tries to help Natsume in any way she can, but is usually prevented from doing so because Natsume worries about their involvement with youkai. In season 4, she expressed interest in learning onmyoji through her grandfather's books, gradually becoming more curious with youkai literature and ancient onmyoji spells while still fearful from her past experience with the curse.
History
Plot
Relationships
Takashi Natsume
- Main article: Takashi Natsume
Taki first met, Takashi in school. But due, to youkai’s curse Taki didn’t talk to anyone (due to now wanting other people, being cursed) and she was introverted and mysterious at first. After accidentally saying his name, she apologizes and runs away. After Nyanko-Sensei trips her, she introduces herself as Tooru Taki. Natsume asks about her, and after telling him about the youkai curse he wants to help her win. At school, he insures Taki that they will win. When finding the youkai, Natsume gets caught and gets into an unknown place, in the next episode, Natsume gets cursed so he can't see youkai. Taki apologizes for dragging him into this mess, and later they find the youkai. Taki gets caught by the youkai and gets stuck, then Natsume reaches out to help her. Nyanko-Sensei goes into his true form, and helps Natsume get the mirror. When in the circle, Natsume chants the ritual and seals the youkai that cursed Taki. Natsume and Taki become great friends after it all ends.
Kaname Tanuma
- Main article: Kaname Tanuma
She first meet Kaname Tanuma due to youkai who she want fight against. She and Kaname are good friend and always help Takashi which involve youkai, In other episode, she with Kaname Tanuma take care Takashi who turn into children. They end up becoming good friends after a while.
Nyanko-sensei/Madara
- Main article: Madara
Taki first meets Nyanko-Sensei after he trips her. Nyanko-Sensei/Madara helps Taki get free of the curse, and their bond goes as close to "helpers" or "friends."
Sasada
- Main article: Jun Sasada
Atsushi Kitamoto
- Main article: Atsushi Kitamoto
Satoru Nishimura
- Main article: Satoru Nishimura
Shin'ichiro
- Main article: Shin'ichiro
Isamu Taki
- Main article: Isamu Taki
Powers & Abilities

Taki's Youkai circle in episode 6, season 2.
Youkai Circles
Even though Taki herself has too little spirit energy to see youkai, she does have the knowledge of drawing youkai circles, discovered by her grandfather.
The circle, once drawn, gives any human the ability to see youkai who step within the radius of the circle. The circle does not require any spirit energy to create and activate, so anyone could possible draw it if they know how to. But due to it being complicated in looks, Taki is presumably the only one able to draw it without the need of a guide.
Other Spells
Taki's grandfather created or attempted many other "spells" related to Youkai, but was unsuccessful in seeing one. In the present, some still remains, such as the seals on dangerous Youkai, (Kakura), around Taki's house, and the circle mentioned above. Taki does not know much of them, but knows the purpose of some of them.
Trivia
- In English translation published by Viz Media, her first name is given as Tohru.