Ep 9. The Moon-Splitting Festival

Natsume's Book of Friends is an anime series that follows Natsume Takashi, a high school student who can see yokai, or supernatural creatures. In this episode, titled "The Moon-Splitting Festival," Natsume and his yokai friends attend a festival where a legend about a moon-splitting is said to come true.

The festival takes place at night, and the atmosphere is quite eerie with dim lantern lights and a crescent moon hanging overhead. Natsume is there with his self-proclaimed bodyguard, Nyanko-sensei, who had insisted they attend the festival. Natsume is initially hesitant to attend, but Nyanko-sensei persuades him to come along.

As they walk around, Natsume notices a group of yokai gathered in a corner, whispering among themselves. He becomes curious and walks over to investigate. The yokai immediately recognize him, and they greet him warmly, telling him about the legend of the moon-splitting festival. According to the legend, if a person can break a large bell at the festival with a single strike, the moon will split open, revealing hidden treasures.

After hearing the story, Natsume becomes intrigued, and Nyanko-sensei immediately begins to encourage him to participate. Despite his initial reluctance, Natsume agrees to give it a try. He is handed a large wooden mallet and directed to the bell, which looks huge and intimidating. Natsume tries to strike the bell, but his first attempt fails miserably.

The other yokai start to laugh at him, and they tease him for being weak. Nyanko-sensei is quick to defend his charge, and he promised that the next swing would be amazing. Natsume is embarrassed, but he takes another swing at the bell with all his strength. This time, the bell rings out, and a bright light engulfs the festival grounds.

The light eventually fades, and Natsume is pleased to see a beautiful sight. The moon appears to have split in two, as promised by the legend. Everyone rushes over to take a closer look, and Nyanko-sensei is gleefully shouting "treasures, treasures". However, they soon realize that the hidden treasures are not exactly what they expected. Instead, they find themselves surrounded by cute and cuddly stuffed animals. Natsume is confused but pleased with the outcome, and Nyanko-sensei is delighted with his new toy collection.

As the night goes on and the festival begins to wind down, Natsume decides to take a break and sits down by himself. Suddenly, he is approached by a strange woman who begins to ask him questions about the bell and the festival. Natsume recognizes her as a yokai, and he is hesitant to talk to her. However, the woman seems friendly enough, and she introduces herself as Suzu.

Suzu tells Natsume that she has always loved the moon-splitting festival, and she is happy he was able to experience it as well. She also mentions that she has a favor to ask of him, and Natsume listens intently as she continues. The favor proves to be quite emotional and heartfelt, leading Natsume to reflect on his own life and relationships.

The episode ends with Natsume expressing his gratitude for the experience and his yokai friends, as he watches Suzu leave. He realizes that no matter how strange and unusual his life may be, he is grateful for the experiences he has shared with both yokai and humans alike.

Overall, "The Moon-Splitting Festival" is an emotionally impactful and entertaining episode that provides a glimpse into the world of yokai and Japanese folklore. It showcases Natsume's character growth and his relationship with both yokai and humans, offering a unique and compelling perspective on life and the supernatural world.