Kogitsune

Kogitsune appears as a small, young boy with fox features.

He is usually seen wearing a white hat he found in the forest and loves very much.

When he tries to disguise himself as a human, his fox ears and tail still stick out.

People who lack spiritual power only see him as an ordinary fox.

Kogitsune is gentle and kind-hearted.

He is quite shy and often gets bullied by bigger yokai in the forest.

He is loyal to Takashi Natsume, thankful for being helped, and wishes to spend time with him.

He cares deeply about family, as shown by his love for his mother’s grave.

He is brave in his own small way, willing to go out of his comfort zone for people he cares about.

Kogitsune lives alone in the woods after the death of his mother.

A stone in the forest serves as his mother’s grave, and he calls it “Mother.”

Other yokai sometimes tease him for being an orphan fox who lives near a camphor tree.

His background is closely connected to loneliness, but also to hope and small acts of courage.

Kogitsune is a weaker yokai and cannot change into a human by himself.

He uses a special potion to try to look human, but his fox ears and tail are always visible.

He is skilled at gathering mushrooms in the forest.

To people who cannot see spirits, he just looks like a regular fox.

Takashi Natsume saved Kogitsune from bullies, so he admires and trusts Natsume deeply.

He is not an official member of Natsume’s group or the “Dog Society,” so he does not appear in every group scene.

Other mid-tier yokai in the forest often pick on him, but their anime designs are similar besides their color.

He tries to give his name to Natsume for safekeeping in Natsume’s Book of Friends.

First Encounter and New Friendship

Kogitsune is first introduced when he is saved by Takashi Natsume from being bullied by stronger yokai in the forest.

After that, Kogitsune admires Natsume and wishes to be with him.

When Kogitsune hears about Natsume’s Book of Friends, he even considers giving his own name to Natsume.

The Train Adventure

In the first season, episode 7 of the anime, Kogitsune wants to see Natsume again.

He gets a potion from other yokai to become human-shaped.

Despite his fox ears and tail showing, he bravely takes a train to find Natsume.

His courage stands out because he is willing to face his fears to see his friend.

Joining the Festival

In the last episode of the first season, Kogitsune comes to a summer festival.

He enjoys fireworks with Natsume and his friends.

This becomes one of his happiest moments and shows how much he wants to belong.

Later Appearances and Guest Return

Kogitsune appears again in season 3 of the anime but is not seen much afterward.

He also makes a guest appearance in the novel “Natsume’s Book of Friends: The House of Tamayura.”

His figure was released as merchandise in September 2017, designed by Revolve.

Kogitsune’s first person speech changes: he says “watashi” in the manga and “boku” in the anime.

He earned fourth place in the Natsume’s Book of Friends character popularity poll.

He was created with the image of “something small running around the woods” in the mind of manga creator Yuki Midorikawa.

His cute look, gentle voice, and earnest nature make him a fan favorite.

He is notable for disappearing after the original anime stories in the third season, surfacing rarely in later works.

Fans are often surprised when they realize Kogitsune’s voice actor played other roles during the same period.

Kogitsune’s white hat is his prized possession, and he takes very good care of it.

He is very good at finding mushrooms in the forest.

Even though he is not a regular member of Natsume’s group, his friendship moments are very special and moving.