Natsume Yuujinchou: Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni

This is another neat little story from the Natsume Yuujinchou franchise. The whole series is very episodic, with not many status quo changes per season, so it's not too important the order you watch this episode in relation to the rest of season 4. It can fit in anywhere, really.

The youkai of the week this time is a Yuki-onna or snow woman, another common Japanese folktale. The story tackles themes of nostalgia for lost things. The snow woman, in the form of a snow sculpture, is searching desperately for something it's lost. Natsume of course gets involved helping her. There's a pretty obvious parallel to ... the youkai's story in some old items that Touka finds in storage. In classic Natsume fashion everything gets a happy yet strangely melancholy ending.

It's a nice story but on it's own this special doesn't carry much weight, so I'll give it a nice 7/10.

I'm not really sure why this episode is listed as a sequel to season four, but nonetheless, I've watched it because of that fact.

This episode isn't anything all that special, I will say, however, it does leave a nice feeling in your heart afterwards. Natsume's Book of Friends is brilliant at storytelling through these youkai and through Natsume, both outcasts in a sense. This specific story is a nice metaphor for humanity's ever-long search for something without knowing what it is they're searching for.

Through this little episode, you get to see the creative way that very thing is talked about, and that's what ... makes this anime so great. It takes the most mundane things and adds a fantastical element to them to make it awe-inspiring to watch. Obviously, as this is an OVA, there isn't much by way of character development, but it's calming to just sit back and enjoy these characters in the wonderful environment that's been built for them. If you like the anime, this OVA is a good one to watch.

"Don't humans spend their lives searching for something? They look for something then they forget about it. Humans are so strange!" –Snowdrop

Winter has approached with its harsh, unpleasant cold. While on a short walk to view the falling snow, Natsume encounters a snowball looking Youkai who is in search of a forgotten, lost possession. Natsume being the kind hearted child he is can't help but get involved. The OVA, surprisingly, could easily be an episode of the anime. The tone, mood, and plot are strikingly similar to many other episodes.

The bond between Nyanko Sensei and Natsume remains strong, with Nyanko Sensei staying beside ... Natsume even through his impulsive actions. Nyanko Sensei is hilarious, with his facial expressions accompanied with snarky comments I can't help but burst out in laughter. Although the two don't admit their strong bond; they really do get along quite well.

Natsume seems to have opened up more to Shigeru and Touko. The lovely couple, as expected, are still represented as kind loving parents. Shigeru seems to have no interest in questioning Natsume's odd unexplained—at least to those who don't know about youkai—actions. This lack of interest probably could be attributed to Shigeru understanding Natsume has secrets he'd like to keep to himself. Both Touko and Shigeru try to make Natsume feel welcomed by subtle actions. The OVA just further emphasized that the household is already a family, and they are always continuing to grow.

Sadly, there was no beautiful OP to begin the story. There was a decent piano ED, but I would've much preferred listening to any of the amazing ED's from any of the other seasons. The art is still shows consistent quality, and the sound effects are used wisely.

If you enjoyed all four seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou, then there's no reason to not watch this OVA. Don't miss out on another chance to see your beloved characters again!