Stop and Smell the Roses with Slice of Life Manga

By Amanda Pagan, Children's Librarian

June 18, 2021

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)

Battle manga may be some of the most recognizable mainstream manga out there, but sometimes you need a break from the overpowered foes and never-ending tournaments. For those of you looking for a calmer read, slice of life manga are what you need.

Slice of life manga refers to stories that revolve around (fairly) normal people living their (fairly) normal lives. Whether it’s following a precocious child as they walk around their neighborhood or watching a reclusive artist work through his creative block on an island retreat, slice of life manga are known for their more sedate tone and focus on internal conflict and growth. You would be hard pressed to find intergalactic space battles or down and dirty fights to the death here. However, wacky neighbors and silly shenanigans are commonplace.

Slice of life and romantic comedy are two genres that typically go hand in hand, yet there has been a steady upward trend of fantasy slice of life. Instead of reading about a knight going off to slay a dragon, maybe you’d rather read about the dragon trying to navigate the pitfalls of fantasy world real estate.

So if you need a break from space operas or action adventure, settle down with a hot cup of tea and a slice of life manga!

Slice of Life Manga

Barakamon by Satsuki Yoshino; translation-adaptation by Krista Shipley and Karie Shipley

Seishuu Handa, a handsome young calligrapher, uproots himself and moves to an island on the westernmost edge of Japan. "Sensei," as he comes to be known, is a city boy through and through and has never experienced rural life until now. And by the looks of it, he has much to learn! Luckily (?), he has a willing teacher in Naru, the energetic expert islander, to help show him the ropes. But can Sensei keep up with the plucky first-grader, or will he get schooled?! Settle in for a heartfelt island comedy about a gruff on the outside, soft on the inside urbanite teacher and his new, unfailingly kind island neighbors.

BL Metamorphosis story and art by Kaori Tsurutani

Ichinoi, a 75-year-old woman living a peaceful life, unwittingly buys a Boy’s Love manga one day…and is fascinated by what she finds inside. When she returns to the bookstore to buy the next volume, the high school girl working there–Urara, a seasoned BL fan–notices a budding fangirl when she sees one. When Urara offers to help Ichinoi explore this whole new world of fiction, the two dive into BL fandom together, and form an unlikely friendship along the way.

Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey story and art by Akiko Higashimura; translation by Jenny McKeon; adaptation by Ysabet MacFarlane; lettering and layout by Lys Blakeslee

High schooler Akiko has big plans to become a popular mangaka before she even graduates, but she needs to get much better at drawing if she ever wants to reach her goal. Looking for an easy fix, she signs up for an art class, thinking all her problems will soon be solved. She's in for a surprise: her new instructor is a sword-wielding taskmaster who doesn't care about manga one bit. But maybe this unconventional art teacher is just what she needs to realize her dreams!

Dreamin' Sun story and art by Ichigo Takano; translation by Amber Tamosaitis; adaptation by Shannon Fay; lettering and retouch by Lys Blakeslee

Shimana Kameko feels out of place in her own home. Her mother is dead and her father and step-mom only seem to care about Kameko's six-month-old baby brother. When Kameko decides to skip school and runs away to a nearby park, she stumbles upon a mysterious man in a kimono. The stranger, Fujiwara Taiga, offers Kameko a place to stay...on three conditions. The first condition is that Kameko must tell him why she ran away from home. The second is that she must retrieve his missing house key. The third condition is to have a dream and fall in love. Kameko's never been in love or had a dream of her own before, but to secure her own apartment, she's willing to try!

If I Could Reach You by tMnR; translation: Diana Taylor; lettering: Jennifer Skarupa.

High schooler Uta must navigate living in close quarters with Kaoru: her first crush, her childhood friend...and now, her sister-in-law. After spending a year under the same roof with her brother and Kaoru, Uta witnesses the cracks in their marriage beginning to show. And when Uta becomes Kaoru's sole comfort and ally in their home, she is torn between her duty and her feelings. She just can't get over her...not yet.

I Had That Same Dream Again story by Yoru Sumino ; art by Idumi Kirihara ; translation, Beni Axia Conrad.

An unhappy girl who engages in self-harm, a woman ostracized by society, and an old woman looking to live out her twilight years in peace--what could three such different people have in common? That's what grade schooler Koyanagi Nanoka is trying to find out. Assigned by her teacher to define what "happiness" means to her, Nanoka sets out to get to know these three strangers--and through them, perhaps, to know herself too.

I Want to Eat your Pancreas story by: Yoru Sumino ; art by: Idumi Kirihara ; translation, Beni Axia Conrad ; adaptation, Ysabet R. MacFarlane ; lettering and retouch, Rina Mapa.

A high school boy finds the diary of his classmate - only to discover that she's dying. Yamauchi Sakura has been silently suffering from a pancreatic disease, and now exactly one person outside her family knows. He swears to her that he won't tell anyone what he learned, and the shared secret brings them closer together in this deeply moving, first-person story that traces their developing relationship in Sakura's final months of life.

Laid-back Camp by Afro; translation: Amber Tamosaitis; lettering: Bianca Pistillo.

Rin enjoys camping by the lakeshore, Mt. Fuji in view. Nadeshiko rides her bike to see Mt. Fuji, too. As the two eat cup noodles together, what scenery will they behold? This series will make readers fall in love with camping!

My Androgynous Boyfriend story and art by Tamekou; translation, Jocelyne Allen.

Wako and her androgynous boyfriend don't exactly have the most traditional of relationships. She spends her days working hard in the world of publishing, while he spends his time obsessing over fashion and makeup-- all with the goal of making himself beautiful just for her. This romantic slice-of-life story is about love, relationships, and breaking with tradition!

My Boy by Hitomi Takano; translation, Kumar Sivasubramanian.

Satoko Tawada, a 30-year-old office worker at a sporting goods company, encounters Mashuu Hayami, a 12-year-old boy, playing soccer in a park at night. She was treated cruelly by a former lover, he is dealing with a high-handed and uninvolved family. Both are burdened with loneliness, and they sense that the other has something that they’re searching for…

Saint Young Men Hikaru Nakamura; translation: Alethea & Athena Nibley; lettering: Lys Blakeslee; foreword by Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere.

Jesus, the Son of God. Buddha, the enlightened one. Two of history's most important figures whose sagely deeds have been told and retold. After a few millennia of helping humanity, they have decided to take some time off and rent an apartment together in modern-day Tokyo. But even their saintly status hasn't fully prepared them to navigate the ups and downs of life in 21st century Japan, from theme parks, to shopping for rice cookers, to the wonderful world of manga. Follow this pair on a goofy, light-hearted, and pun-filled adventure in friendship.

Satoko and Nada story and art by Yupechika ; script advisor, Marie Nishimori; translation, Jenny McKeon ; adaptation, Lianne Sentar ; lettering and retouch, Karis Page.

Satoko, who is Japanese, has a new roommate in America: a Saudi Arabian woman named Nada, who practices Islam and wears a hijab. While under the same roof, Satoko and Nada learn how to live together with very different customs and still have all the fun young women crave! Through mutual respect—and the hilarious adventures of their daily life—Satoko and Nada prove that friendship knows no borders.

Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa; translation, Amanda Haley; lettering, Abigail Blackman.

Time for a change of pace. Yuugo Hachiken flees the hustle and bustle of city life to enroll at Oezo Agricultural High School. At first he's just trying to outrun his problems, but instead he finds a place for himself in this quaint rural community. Between the classrooms and cowpatties, the boy becomes a man.

Solanin story & art by Inio Asano ; [translation, JN Productions].

Meiko Inoue is a recent college grad working as an office lady in a job she hates. Her boyfriend Shigeo is permanently crashing at her apartment because his job as a freelance illustrator doesn't pay enough for rent. And her parents in the country keep sending her boxes of veggies that just rot in her fridge. Straddling the line between her years as a student and the rest of her life, Meiko struggles with the feeling that she's just not cut out to be a part of the real world.

Still Sick by Akashi; translator Katie Kimura; retouching and lettering Vibrraant Publishing Studio.

Makoto Shimzu is just and ordinary office worker, blending in seamlessly with her colleagues on the job -- that is, until her coworker Akane Maekawa discovers her well-hidden secret; in her spare time, she draws and sells girls' love comics. Akane is the last person Makoto would think of as a nerd, but as the two draw closer, it starts to seem like Akane may have a secret of her own…

Sunny story and art by Taiyo Matsumoto; translation by Michael Arias; lettering by Deron Bennett; book design by Fawn Lau.

The story of an orphanage, the children who live in it, and the beat-up old Nissan Sunny 1200 which provides a trio of boys with a means of escape from their bleak everyday lives.

Sweetness & Lightning by Gido Amagakure; translated by Adam Lensenmayer

Having lost his wife, math teacher Kouhei Inuzuka is doing his best to raise his young daughter Tsumugi as a single father. He's pretty bad at cooking and doesn't have a huge appetite to begin with, but chance brings his little family and one of his students, Kotori Iida, together for homemade adventures. With those three cooks in the kitchen, it's no wonder this dinner table drama is so delicious.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? by Fumi Yoshinaga; translated by Maya Rosewood

Part comic, part cookbook. In the narrative, a hard-working middle-aged gay couple in Tokyo come to enjoy the finer moments of life through food. After long days at work, Shiro and Kenji will always have down time together by the dinner table, where they can discuss their feelings and enjoy delicately prepared home-cooked meals. Not only is food incorporated into the story, but the frames actually take readers through the process of preparing meals in great detail, with recipes listed at the end of the chapters.

With a Dog and a Cat, Every Day is Fun by Hidekichi Matsumoto; Kumar Sivasubramanian, translator.

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life

Volumes: 5

Welcome to the Menagerie! With both a cat and a dog, there's double the antics, double the fun (and double the kibble!) but while Inu and Neko coexist peacefully, they have their own distinct personalities, which play out in unexpected, charming ways during these short-form stories. Whether you're a dog-person or a cat-person, there's plenty to love about these homegrown sketches of daily life shared with four-legged friends!

Yotsuba &! by Kiyohiko Azuma ; [translation, Amy Forsyth ; lettering, Terri Delgado].

The curious and curiouser Yotsuba moves to a new town with her dad. In the process of moving in, Yotsuba encounters things like swingsets and broken door handles, which all bring about a never-ending torrent of questions and shrieks of amazement.

Slice of Life Comedy

Himouto! Umaru-chan story and art by Sankakuhead ; translation, Amanda Haley ; adaptation, Shanti Whitesides.

Behind closed doors, she's a completely different girl! Taihei's little sister Umaru is the picture of perfection: elegant, poised, and polite-not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, brilliant, and multitalented. She's the perfect high school girl who everybody envies and adores. What nobody knows is that this perfect little sister has a big secret!!

My Senpai is Annoying story & art by Shiromanta ; translation Alethea & Athena Nibley ; lettering & retouch Lys Blakeslee].

Note: Full Color

Igarashi is a hardworking young office lady. Takeda, the senpai above her at work, annoys her constantly–and yet she finds herself growing closer to him. Every day is filled with comic mishaps and romantic moments as Igarashi tries to balance work, life, and love. This full-color manga–which started its life as a webcomic–is sure to charm audiences of workplace comedies like Aggretsuko and The Office!

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san by Honda; translation by Amanda Haley; lettering by Bianca Pistillo

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life

Volumes: 4

Ever wonder what it's like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines! Whether it's handling the store, out-ot-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge!

The Way of the House Husband story and art by Kousuke Oono; translation by Sheldon Drzka; English adaptation by Jennifer LeBlanc; touch-up art and lettering by Bianco Pistillo

He was the fiercest member of the yakuza, a man who left countless underworld legends in his wake. They called him 'the Immortal Dragon'. But one day he walked away from it all to travel another path--the path of the househusband! The curtain rises on this cozy yakuza comedy!

Fantasy Slice of Life

Dragon Goes House-hunting story by Kawo Tanuki; art by Choco Aya; translation by Nan Rymer; adaptation by T. Campbell; lettering by Alexandra Gunawan

When a dragon fails to live up to the fearsome standards set for him, his family kicks him out. He embarks on a quest to find a new home, but soon finds that life on the road is no place for a cowardly beast of legend. In a fantasy world full of elves, dwarves, and other mythical creatures, where everyone wants a piece of him—literally!—the frustrations of house-hunting reach a whole new level.

Drifting Dragons by Taku Kuwabara; translation by Adam Hirsch; lettering by Thea Willis

Take to the skies with the scrappy crew of the airship Quin Zaza, as they hunt the fantastical giants that rule the skies of their world... DRAGONS! The daily routine aboard an airborne draking vessel springs to vivid life in this exquisitely crafted tale in the tradition of the lush, transporting fantasy of Hayao Miyazaki. Part travelogue, part imaginary cookbook, and part otherworldly slice of life, Drifting Dragons tells the stories of the Quin Zaza and the colorful band of misfits that makes up her crew.

Hakumei & Mikochi: Tiny Little Life in the Woods by Takuto Kashiki; translation by Taylor Engel; lettering by Abigail Blackman

Deep within a lush, green forest live Hakumei and Mikochi. Making their home in trees, using leaves for umbrellas, and riding bugs for transportation is just part of everyday life for these tiny pals!

School-Based Slice of Life

Bakuman story by Tsugumi Ohba; art by Takeshi Obata; translation and adaptation by Tetsuichiro Miyaki

Average student Moritaka Mashiro enjoys drawing for fun. When his classmate and aspiring writer Akito Takagi discovers his talent, he begs Moritaka to team up with him as a manga-creating duo. But what exactly does it take to make it in the manga-publishing world? Moritaka is hesitant to seriously consider Akito's proposal because he knows how difficult reaching the professional level can be. Still, encouragement from persistent Akito and motivation from his crush push Moritaka to test his limits!

The Golden Sheep by Kaori Ozaki; translation by Daniel Komen

From the creator of the acclaimed The God's Lie, comes Kaori Ozaki's latest series! Tsugu, Sora, Yuushin and Asari were the best of friends in grade school. For a few years Tsugu moves away and returns back in high school. She is happy to be reunited and believes that her friends didn't change, but that doesn't turn out to be the case.... A story about coming of age, friendship and the growth of 4 high schoolers.

My Neighbor Seki = Tonari no Seki-kun by Morishige Takuma; translation by Yoshito Hinton

Toshinari Seki takes goofing off to new heights. Every day, on or around his school desk, he masterfully creates his own little worlds of wonder, often hidden to most of his classmates. Unfortunately for Rumi Yokoi, his neighbor at the back of their homeroom, his many games, dioramas, and projects are often way too interesting to ignore; even when they are hurting her grades.

Discover more recommended manga titles with these popular blog posts:

Did we miss a title? Feel free to comment below with any titles that we missed or make a recommendation for the collection here!

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.