10 Manga Like Natsume's Book of Friends — Data-Driven Picks (2026)

If you finished Natsume's Book of Friends and want your next read, these recommendations are not someone's opinion — they are computed from comic-lab's database of every manga published in Japan since 1968, combining three similarity axes (art style, setting, story) with real reader-behavior data.

1. Otogimoyou Ayanishiki (お伽もよう綾にしき)

by ひかわきょうこ · since 2005 · 8 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

2. House of the Sun (たいようのいえ)

by タアモ · since 2010 · 15 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

3. Me & My Brothers (お兄ちゃんと一緒)

by 時計野はり · since 2004 · 11 volumes in Japan · no new volumes in recent years

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

4. Hotarubi no Mori e (蛍火の杜へ)

by 緑川ゆき · since 2003 · 2 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

5. Ouran High School Host Club (桜蘭高校ホスト部)

by 葉鳥ビスコ · since 2003 · 18 volumes in Japan · no new volumes in recent years

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

6. Tokyo Tarareba Girls (東京タラレバ娘)

by 東村アキコ · since 2014 · 9 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

7. Healthy Hairy Scary (へるしーへありーすけありー)

by O仮名だモ · since 2026 · 1 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

8. Atashin'chi (あたしンち)

by けらえいこ · since 1995 · 24 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

9. Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu (春夏秋冬)

by 神坂智子 · since 2009 · 1 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

10. The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko (恋だの愛だの~君は僕の太陽だ~)

by 辻田りり子 · since 2024 · 2 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

Method: similarity is computed over cover-art embeddings, thematic categories and plot descriptions of 133,000+ works, blended with co-reading behavior. Volume counts and dates reflect Japanese editions and update automatically.

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