Reading Recommendations: Winter Wonderland Manga

A new month means another batch of reading recommendations! January’s theme is winter-themed manga. I hope you enjoy these picks!

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Snow Fairy

When famous wildlife photographer Narumi comes to Hokkaido to take photos of the elusive “snow fairies,” he ends up stranded in a snow storm. After being rescued, he takes up residence in local farmer Haruki’s house for the winter. As polar opposites, sophisticated and outgoing city slicker Narumi and country boy Haruki have a lot to learn from one another. 

After Haruki shows an interest, Narumi teaches him about photography… and before he realizes it, he finds himself the sole subject of Haruki’s new hobby. After a winter spent so close together, what will the spring thaw bring? 

A wholesome, sweet love story about two very different people brought together by the beauty of winter. This manga felt like a slow-moving cozy read as Narumi and Haruki’s worlds collide. Both bring their city and country perspectives to how they view winter literally and metaphorically. In spending time with each other and bonding over the beauty of nature they create a deep connection with each other. The artwork is detailed and stunning. This manga shows that even in what may seem like a never-ending season of cold, we can still find small doses of happiness.

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Laid Back Camp

Setting up a tent, starting a fire, and eating noodles with Mt. Fuji in view…Rin and Nadeshiko absolutely love to camp! Enjoy their zest for travel and maybe even pick up a tip or two about roughing it in the great outdoors. You might just want to go camping yourself!

If slice-of-life manga is your jam this series is well worth looking into. Its cozy, simplistic, and episodic nature makes it easy to get into the story and themes. The characters are quirky and entertaining. Starting out the series camping in the winter months, Rin and Nadeshiko are opposites but manage to share the joy of camping. Hier experience levels have a wide gap, but they end up learning a lot from each other. The artwork showcases the beautiful landscapes, sights/sounds of the outdoors, and teaches readers about the ins and outs of camping.

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A Zoo In Winter

 Young Hamaguchi is working for a textile manufacturer whilst dreaming of becoming an artist, when an incident at the zoo forces his hand. He moves to Tokyo at the invitation of an old school friend who also arranges an interview at the studios of the famous mangaka, Shiro Kondo. Here he discovers both the long hours of meeting studio deadlines along with the nightlife and artistic haunts of the capital. For the first time ever, Taniguchi recalls his beginnings in manga and his youth spent in Tokyo in the 60’s. It is a magnificent account of his apprenticeship where all the finesse and elegance of the creator are united to illustrate those first emotions of adulthood.

Set in the wintertime, this manga also focuses on the changing of the seasons. This manga is about the mangaka’s journey and struggles in pursuing his passions and figuring them out. The main character has always dreamed of becoming a mangaka but doesn’t know how to get to his end of publishing. This manga captures the fleeting nature of the changing seasons and obstacles that life presents to us. It was touching, emotional, and heartwarming. The artwork is incredibly beautiful and I think the themes of this story can resonate with a larger audience.

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Knight of the Ice

Chitose is a career woman, with a job at a magazine and serious aspirations…except her childhood friend is an international figure skating star who won’t stop distracting her! On the ice, Kokoro Kijinami is a flawless, gallant knight, winning trophies and hearts alike, but behind his glittery costumes and breathtaking spins lies a secret: He’s actually a hopeless romantic otaku who can only land his quad jumps when Chitose is on hand to recite a spell from his favorite magical girl anime! So when a business trip takes her away from Kokoro’s biggest competition yet, what will happen without Chitose there to work her magic?

I’m a huge fan of ice skating so when I saw this series at the bookstore I was instantly hooked. The series follows two childhood from very different worlds, who are connected by the past and ice skating. The banter between the two was cute and I love the natural progression of romance as crushes start to bloom. Appearances can be deceiving in this manga as Chitose is often mistaken for a child but has a fiery passion for her job. Kokoro has a very stoic look on the ice, but in all actuality, he’s a softie. The series gives a deep dive into the competitiveness of the sport and its technicalities.

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That concludes my reading recommendations for winter-themed manga! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!