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Fans of Yuki Midorikawa’s beloved supernatural drama Natsume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yūjin-Chō) have reason to celebrate once again! Crunchyroll began streaming a brand-new bonus episode from the anime’s seventh season (Natsume Yūjin-Chō Shichi) on Tuesday, delighting longtime viewers with another glimpse into Takashi Natsume’s gentle, spirit-filled world.
The episode, titled “The Outstretched Hand,” is available both with English subtitles and an English dub, expanding accessibility for fans around the globe. Originally included as a special bonus on the fifth Blu-ray and DVD volume released in Japan on April 23, 2025, this extra story now reaches international audiences via streaming for the first time.
🌙 A Continuing Legacy: Season Seven and Beyond
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Shichi, the seventh chapter in the long-running anime adaptation, first aired in October 2024 on TV Tokyo and affiliated networks. The season continues the tender yet mysterious journey of Natsume and his ever-grumpy feline companion, Madara (better known as Nyanko-sensei).
Crunchyroll simulcasted the series across nearly every corner of the world including North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, the CIS region, and India proving once again the global reach of this tranquil yet emotionally resonant franchise.
📖 From Manga to Masterpiece: The Origins of Natsume’s Story
The Natsume’s Book of Friends saga began with Yuki Midorikawa’s manga, which debuted in Hakusensha’s LaLa DX magazine in June 2003 before moving to the main LaLa magazine in 2007. The series has been celebrated for its delicate storytelling, breathtaking art, and exploration of themes like loneliness, empathy, and the unseen world of yōkai.
In North America, Viz Media continues to publish the manga in English, allowing international fans to experience Midorikawa’s original work in all its heartfelt glory.
👁️ The Heart of the Story
The narrative centers on Takashi Natsume, a boy burdened with the rare ability to see spirits. His gift isolates him from both humans and yōkai alike until he discovers the mysterious Yūjin-Chō, or “Book of Friends,” left behind by his grandmother, Reiko Natsume.
This book contains the names of yōkai bound by Reiko, and as Natsume encounters these spirits, he sets out to return their names and free them sometimes meeting hostility, sometimes forging friendship, and always learning more about the fragile connections between worlds.
🎬 A Journey Through Seasons and Screens
The anime has been a fixture in fans’ hearts since its debut, growing steadily across multiple seasons:
- Season 6 aired in April 2017, featuring 11 episodes and two OVAs, both streamed on Crunchyroll.
- The franchise’s first feature-length film, “Natsume Yūjin-Chō the Movie: Ephemeral Bond” (2018), brought an original story to theaters. Aniplex of America later released the Blu-ray and screened it at Anime NYC 2018.
- In January 2021, the next cinematic chapter, “Natsume’s Book of Friends: The Stone Waker and the Strange Visitor,” premiered in Japan, with Funimation handling international streaming. And in 2025, the magic continues.
🎮 A New Chapter in Gaming
Extending beyond the screen, Natsume’s Book of Friends recently entered the gaming world with its first video game adaptation, Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Hazuki no Shirushi (August Chronicle). The title launched on June 5 for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, offering fans a chance to step directly into Natsume’s tranquil, spirit-laden universe.
🌸 A Gentle Return
With “The Outstretched Hand,” the franchise once again offers what fans love most quiet beauty, introspective storytelling, and emotional depth. Whether you’re a longtime follower of Natsume’s journey or a newcomer discovering its world for the first time, this new episode reminds us why Natsume’s Book of Friends remains one of anime’s most soulful treasures.
Watch “The Outstretched Hand” now on Crunchyroll — and let Natsume’s world of spirits and sincerity wrap around you once more.
