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 Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume returning the name of a youkai

    Natsume's Book of Friends is a lively "slice of life" anime that follows Takashi Natsume, a boy with the ability to see youkai, and the high-level youkai, Madara, with whom he makes a pact. Natsume's grandmother, to whom Natsume bares a striking resemblance, left behind the titular Book of Friends for Natsume. His grandmother possessed great spiritual power and used her abilities to subjugate scores of youkai by writing their names in the Book of Friends. Consequently, these youkai target Natsume in order to acquire the book and use it for their own benefit. Madara makes an accord with Natsume to receive the Book after his death. He then serves as Madara's bodyguard and teacher as Natsume interacts with both friendly and hostile youkai in order to restore balance to the world around him. The story is engaging yet light-hearted and relaxing. Natsume is kind-hearted despite some Anthropocene tendencies resulting from his neglect all his life. I have only watched the first few episodes, but I can already see a rich ensemble cast developing. 

Natsume and Madara, in his true form, resting

    

    There is a lot of regional vernacular used in this anime since it takes place in the country. The show does plenty of justice to Japanese lore and its influence on modern culture. The identities and stories of the youkai often act as cautionary tales or provide sage wisdom, giving a window into the priorities of those that passed the tales along over the years.

Madara in the lucky cat form he often takes