Natsume Yuujinchou Diary: Day 01

What is more painful…

Being alone and devoid of happiness from the very beginning…

Or experiencing an ounce of happiness and then being left alone again?

I have been pondering over this thought from the moment Natsume and Hishigaki met. That youkai has been so lonely for who knows how long. It is quite pitiful indeed but she gets by everyday. Meeting Natsume Reiko changed her life. She added more colors into her world even just for a very brief meeting. She filled her empty jar with happiness and kindness she had never felt before. She believed in her promise to call her name. She waited… and waited… and waited…

Yet, her name was never called.

After Reiko’s death, the contents of that jar were leaking slowly until none was left leaving her lonely heart even lonelier than ever. Of course, having experienced that happiness, she will start to long for it and I felt sad for her even more.

I guess, that’s just how things are. May it be with friendship or in a relationship. I can say that the first choice is less painful. However, aren’t you way more pitiful that way? At least from the second one, yeah its way more painful because you’ll feel more empty, but at least you experienced being happy even from a very brief moment right? I dunno, Hishigaki’s case is just so sad to watch for me.

Overall, I love how this show started.

Episode 1 introduces all of the essential elements that an audience needed to learn about this show. We got little snippets of my dearest Natsume’s past, his grandmother Reiko and her relationship with youkai’s, Madara, the Book of Friends and the likes. The heart-warming, melancholic and creepy atmosphere was already there, giving us a glimpse of what the show holds for us in the future episodes.

Hearing the familiar opening song, Issei no Koe, made all the heart-warming emotions that I’ve felt before to rush back to me. The song is just so calming and watching the opening sequence makes me tear up a little. Swear, I so love this show.

I just want to hug him right now!

Looking back, living with Touko-san and meeting Madara has been the turning point of his life. He felt somewhat lost because he hates ayakashi and the people around him are somewhat creeped by him. At a very young age, he is unfortunate to have lost his parents and moving from home to home, some are relatives and some are strangers, trying to fit in with his environment. Then, the issue with youkai is still something he needs to bother.

He possesses great spiritual prowess. Though it is not that obvious, the fact that he can attract and affect (punched) those two youkais is really something.  Madara has taken an interest with him. He can easily eat Natsume, and he has all the opportunity. I think he’s just that of a good youkai. His relationship with Natsume’s grandmother is still vague, even now, but I believe that Reiko has been a special part of Madara’s life.

I’d like to witness, once again, how Natsume will grow as a person. I have a lot more things to say about Natsume and his past but I might as well reserve them next time, when the episode fits it.