Favorite Slice of Life Manga!

Today on the blog, I’m delving into the wonderful world of Slice of Life Manga! If you’re interested in seeing my previous post on Shonen Manga click here!

The “Slice of Llife” genre claims a large section of the Japanese manga market and usually focuses on school, which is the most dominant force in young people’s lives, including their interpersonal relationships both in and out of their families. A common trait in slice of life anime and manga is their emphasis on seasonality or procedures.

I’ve read so many over the years, but here are some picks of stories that I’ve read and continue to stick with me. Enjoy! 

Synopsis: A grey and white kitten with black stripes wanders away from her mother and siblings one day while enjoying a walk outside with her family. Lost in her surroundings, the kitten struggles to find her family and instead is found by a young boy, Youhei, and his mother. They take the kitten home, but, as pets are not allowed in their housing complex, they try to find her a new home. This proves to be difficult, and the family decides to keep the kitten. Chi then lives with her new family, learning about different things and meeting new people and animals.

Chi is by far one of the cutest kittens I’ve ever seen in a comic strip. This manga is very light-hearted and showcases Chi discovering new things daily. It’s fun to see her interact with her new surroundings and the family she lives with on top of encountering other animals. It’s cute and easy to read, making it a good comic for kids too!

Synopsis: Azumanga Daioh chronicles the everyday life in an unnamed Japanese high school of six girls and two of their teachers. The story covers three years of tests, talking between classes, culture festivals, and athletic events at school, as well as time spent traveling to and from school.

This is one of my favorite series ever! I’ve read the manga and watched the anime (which I highly recommend). It’s very comedic and all of the main cast vibrant personalities and the situations they get into on a daily basis is what makes it so entertaining! I also find that this manga is relatable since it focuses on a coming of age theme, navigating through school life, and friendship. I admire the girls tight-knit friendship in this series. My favorite character is the spacey, but loveable Osaka.

Synopsis: The series is about Oguri’s relationship with Tony László, an American writer of half-Hungarian half-Italian descent who lives in Tokyo.

It’s always interesting to read about different experiences of international couples, which is why I originally sought out this manga. All of the stories are based off of the characters experiences with her husband when dealing with marriage, cultural differences, and even language barriers as well. It’s cute, fun, and it also taught me some things about certain aspects of the Japanese language and cultural norms.

Synopsis:  It depicts the everyday adventures of a young girl named Yotsuba as she learns about the world around her, guided by her father, the neighbors, and their friends.

Yotsuba is one the first manga I read when I started to read that genre. I own a few volumes and I still enjoy reading it today, though it’s aimed at younger audiences. It’s fun and enjoyable to read. I love how Yotsuba takes on each day as a new adventure and her interactions with everyone around her. She may be naive, but she is also very comical due to her outspoken nature. It’s a Slice of Life manga to be enjoyed by all ages.

Synopsis: In Matsumoto, Naho Takamiya, a second year high school student, receives letters sent from herself 10 years into the future. Her future self asks her to prevent her “biggest regrets”, which has something to do with the new transfer student from Tokyo, a boy named Kakeru Naruse.

It’s a really touching, but heartbreaking story at the same time. The main characters go through a lot of tragedy and hardships due to the loss of their friend. They struggle to deal with his passing and try to heal from it. It’s one of the heavier stories on this list, but it has an important narrative about mental health and dealing with grief. The story shows significant character development and it’s a realistic coming of age story (not counting the fantasy element).

Synopsis: A perky girl named Christie who falls in love with a Tall, Dark, and Snarky cosplayer over the course of three volumes, each of which involves one annual three-day anime convention. While the love story is the main focus of the book, in telling it the book deftly tackles the oddities of pop culture conventions, and the fans and people of the industry who attend them.

Dramacon is one of my favorite original English Language manga that I always re-read time and time again. Because I go to conventions every once in a while I could relate to a lot of the things that Christie experiences as con-goer. It’s funny comic, but also highlights some more serious topics too. The story portrays the weird things that happen at cons, but also the sense of community there that brings people together.

That concludes my favorite Slice of Life manga list! What are your favorites or recommendations?