Midorikawa Yuki’s manga “Natsume’s Book of Friends” will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the July 2023 issue of “LaLaDX” scheduled for release on June 5, 2023. In conjunction with this event, a 20th anniversary commemorative illustration newly drawn by Midorikawa will be unveiled. The July issue of “LaLa” and the July issue of “LaLaDX” will be published as the 20th anniversary issue, and will be full of celebratory events such as a cover story, comments and interviews with the voice actors, Kamiya Hiroshi and Inoue Kazuhiko.
“Natsume’s Book of Friends” is an ayakashi (a mysterious and strange story) by Midorikawa Yuki, which first appeared in the July 2003 issue of “LaLaDX” and has since been serialized in “LaLa”.
The story follows Natsume Takashi, a boy who can see ghosts and is hunted by ghosts after he obtains his grandmother’s “Book of Friends.” He and his self-proclaimed bouncer, Nyanko-sensei, are busy with the “contract” that his grandmother made with ghosts.
Starting with the first season of the TV series in 2008, the series has been adapted into an anime, which has been broadcast up to its sixth season. Movie versions have also been produced, with the first film, “Natsume’s Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond,” being released in September 2018 and the second film, “Natsume’s Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor,” being released in January 2021.
The voice actors are Kamiya Hiroshi as the main character Natsume and Inoue Kazuhiko as Nyanko sensei.
To coincide with the 20th anniversary of this work, the July 2023 issue of “LaLa” on sale May 24 and the July 2023 issue of “LaLaDX” on sale June 5, the 20th anniversary issue, will be published with interlinked covers. The two magazines are specially designed to look like a single illustration when placed side by side, so be sure to enjoy them together.
In the July issue of “LaLa,” the results of the “Episode Popularity Poll” held from January 24 to March 10 will be announced. The supplement is an acrylic stand with a 20th anniversary illustration, and the latest episode, “‘Portrait of a Young Woman,’ No. 3”, will also be included.
The July issue of “LaLaDX” will feature a commemorative comment by Midorikawa Yuki, congratulatory illustrations and comments by authors whose works are serialized in “LaLa”, and congratulatory comments and interviews by Kamiya Hiroshi as Natsume Takashi and Inoue Kazuhiko as Nyanko sensei/spot from the anime “Natsume’s Book of Friends.2
The gorgeous comments, illustrations, and interviews are not to be missed.
As a bonus for bookstore purchases, animate will offer a “B6 size illustration card” with the purchase of both magazines, and animate online will offer a “bromide” with the purchase of each magazine. As a bonus for all bookstores, fans should also check out the “bonus paper” featuring the illustration used in the preview cut of the first issue of each magazine.
(c) Yuki Midorikawa / Hakusensha
