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It occurred to me that I really don't talk a lot about my favorite anime on here...
So I'm going to make a thread on my favorite arc from the series and how this arc impacted me and placed the series as my favorite anime.
Natsume Yuujinchou: The Door of Memories/ Long Way Home
So I'm going to make a thread on my favorite arc from the series and how this arc impacted me and placed the series as my favorite anime.
Natsume Yuujinchou: The Door of Memories/ Long Way Home
The arc starts with Natsume being informed that the home of his parents, who died when he was too young to remember, will finally be put up for sale.
Of course, Natsume decides he'd like to see the home before he never gets the chance to again. So he takes the train with Nyanko
Of course, Natsume decides he'd like to see the home before he never gets the chance to again. So he takes the train with Nyanko
He has to pick the key up from a family he lived with briefly after the death of his parents. When he first enters the home, it is obvious to the viewers that Natsume had an awkward time here. We then see that there is a rather large yokai residing in their house
As Natsume wanders through the house trying to avoid the yokai, we overhear the family's daughter, who he also used to live with, gossip about Natsume. She clearly still holds resentment towards him, and still believes he's a weirdo or a liar. Natsume decides to leave quickly
Natsume is quickly followed by the yokai from the house, and although Madara thinks he eliminated it, the yokai posses Natsume. It begins searching Natsume's memories and pulling him into the darkness for:
"such sad memories one would want to forget"
"such sad memories one would want to forget"
Then we enter the second part of the arc, probably the most heartwrenching moment of the series and one that has stuck with me since my viewing of it.
We flashback to Natsume when he stayed with the family who held the key to his parent's old house.
We flashback to Natsume when he stayed with the family who held the key to his parent's old house.
They were a kind family, but the daughter Miyoko, who was the same age as Natsume, was not fond of him. She was jealous and felt he was trying to steal her parent's love away from her- a common thing most children would think.
However, this is obviously not Natsume's fault
However, this is obviously not Natsume's fault
but Miyoko would ignore him, refuse dinner, and worried more about herself than his sufferings. He was bullied at school for being "weird" (due to seeing yokai) but she didn't care. She would make him walk far away from her, showing the distance between Natsume and others
One night after she refused dinner, Natsume was left alone in their shared room. We see him view an old picture of his parents he kept hidden in a book.
He hides the picture away because it is too painful for him to look at, and it also feels like happiness he can't remember
He hides the picture away because it is too painful for him to look at, and it also feels like happiness he can't remember
Young Natsume becomes curious after a conversation with Miyoko about his parents and his old house. He asks Miyoko's parents, and her father writes down the location of Natsume's old house. We see him carry it around like a treasure.
It's something that ties him to them
It's something that ties him to them
The day after he receives the address Natsume falls asleep in his secret hide-out fantasizing about seeing his family home.
When he wakes up, he becomes trapped in a terrible storm, and cries until he gets rescued hours later
When he wakes up, he becomes trapped in a terrible storm, and cries until he gets rescued hours later
Once he's finally taken home, Miyoko's parents are forced to apologize to everyone for the trouble it caused, and Miyoko seems to finally snap at Natsume.
While hitting him she cries that he should leave and go home! Why do her parents have to be responsible for him!
While hitting him she cries that he should leave and go home! Why do her parents have to be responsible for him!
And so... Natsume leaves. He runs. Likely riddled with fever he runs repeating the address he was told in his head while crying.
He cries and yells out for his Dad until he can no longer run or cry anymore. He realized no matter how much he called, there would be no answer.
He cries and yells out for his Dad until he can no longer run or cry anymore. He realized no matter how much he called, there would be no answer.
Natsume then wakes up and overpowers the yokai possessing him, saying that even the most painful memories are precious to him and he doesn't wish to forget them.
Madara eliminates the yoaki and Natsume asks if he saw his memories. Madara denies he did saying he has no care
Madara eliminates the yoaki and Natsume asks if he saw his memories. Madara denies he did saying he has no care
Finally, Natsume heads to his old home. It's small and quaint but was filled with love. There were crayon drawings on the walls and small memories came back to Natsume.
In a moment of weakness, we hardly ever see from him in present-day, he cries on the back porch
In a moment of weakness, we hardly ever see from him in present-day, he cries on the back porch
And so why did this arc really become special to me? Well for starters, it solidifies how truly kind Natsume is. We hardly see much his past life, only a few episodes here and there, and none had this same impact.
Natsume has truly lived through loneliness and sadness
Natsume has truly lived through loneliness and sadness
And yet he is one of the kindest souls. This brings me to my second point, no matter how he felt or was treated in the past, he still wanted to help the family and get the yokai out of their house. Natsume unequivocally feels the need to help people, even those who wronged him
I think this arc just really solidified the message of the series, which is one of kindness and understanding. Natsume makes me want to be a better person. He makes us want to understand one another. And he shows that no matter your sufferings, you can still be kind and loving.
