The ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ collaboration with the Kyushu Sanko Group, titled ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends in Kumamoto 2026 ~Hitoyoshi・Kuma~’, has revealed additional details including themed gourmet items, limited-edition packaging for local sweets, and traditional crafts. The collaboration menu will be available from July 1, 2026.
Customers who order collaboration menu items will receive a limited-edition original coaster (random).
Based on the manga by Yuki Midorikawa, serialized in Hakusensha’s Monthly LaLa with over 18 million copies in circulation, the TV anime ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends’ follows Takashi Natsume, a boy who can see yokai, as he returns names from his grandmother Reiko’s ‘Book of Friends’ with the help of his self-proclaimed bodyguard Nyanko-sensei. The anime began airing on TV Tokyo in 2008, celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2023, and the seventh season ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends: Shichi’ aired in October 2024.
At restaurants and sweets shops in Kumamoto Prefecture, a total of 15 types of limited-edition gourmet and sweets featuring Nyanko-sensei and motifs from the series will be available. Some menus include an original Nyanko-sensei pick (two types, random). The menu will be available from July 1 to around September 30, 2026.
Service Area Menu
- Nyanko-sensei’s Tartar Shrimp Fry Dog – 800 yen
- Nyanko-sensei also aims! Squid Tempura Curry – 1,300 yen
- Nyanko-sensei’s Satisfying Shrimp Tempura Udon with Yatsushiro Yuzu Pepper Sauce – 1,200 yen
- Nyanko-sensei’s Feast Curry with Kumamoto Akaushi Beef and Shrimp Fry – 1,780 yen
- Kuma Sagara Thousand Year Tea ‘Book of Friends’ Cold Zenzai – 800 yen
- Nyanko-sensei’s Sagara Thousand Year Tea Soft Serve – 800 yen
- Whole Nyanko-sensei’s Nagomi Soft Serve – 800 yen
- Kuro Nyanko’s Reward Black Soft Serve – 800 yen
Sakura-machi Kumamoto Menu
- Nyanko-sensei’s Shrimp Three Ways Dan Dan Noodles – 1,300 yen
- Natsume’s Marron Milk Tea with Tapioca (using Yamae chestnuts) – 900 yen
- Book of Friends Lemon Matcha (using Kuma Sagara Thousand Year Tea) – 800 yen
Sakura no Baba Jōsaien Menu
- Madara’s Golden Salt Shaved Ice – 1,100 yen
- Nyanko-sensei’s Delicious Japanese Parfait – 1,100 yen
Collaborations with Kumamoto’s representative sweets have also been realized. ‘Kumamoto Tayori,’ ‘Pudding Cookie,’ and ‘Hitoyoshi Rashiku’ will appear in limited packaging using newly drawn illustrations. Additionally, ‘Jintaiko’ from Kamei Confectionery will be available in original packaging, scheduled for release from mid-July 2026.
Traditional crafts include ‘Kurumi Shibu Uchiwa’ (persimmon tannin fan) from Kurikawa Shoten and ‘Higo Zōgan’ from Mitsusuke. The Kurumi Shibu Uchiwa faithfully reproduces the fan held by Takashi Natsume in a newly drawn illustration, and a monochrome design limited to the Hitoyoshi・Kuma area is also available. Higo Zōgan uses a traditional technique of inlaying pure gold and silver to express the characters.
Additionally, a special set of original frame stamps and postcards using the newly drawn illustration will be available.
（C）緑川ゆき・白泉社／「夏目友人帳」製作委員会
