Spring is a season where the winter weather starts to fade away, and the flowers begin to bloom. With the change of the season, my reading moods also shift. Spring is when I tend to read more lighthearted novels, especially manga. Today I’m sharing my picks of some fun, carefree, and upbeat manga to enjoy during the Spring season.
Honey So Sweet – Amu Meguro
“Honey So Sweet” follows high schooler Nao Kogure who reconnects with delinquent Taiga Onise after helping him years before. Out of nowhere, Taiga suddenly presents her with a massive bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him—with marriage in mind! Is he scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise?
This one of the cutest manga I have ever read, from the cover art to the illustrations that line the book’s pages. Though it’s set in a high school, it’s got a very innocent feel and look as it tells the story of a budding romance. Nao and Onise are likable characters but are very naive. It’s a bit frustrating that they can’t always pick up on each other’s feelings, but once they get to know each other, they become more comfortable around each other. This manga series gave me all the shojo feels.
Purchase: https://amzn.to/3rIAVe0
Silver Spoon – Hiromu Arakawa
“Silver Spoon” is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa, who is well known for her series Fullmetal Alchemist. Set in the fictional Oezo Agricultural High School in Hokkaido, it t depicts the daily life of Yugo Hachiken, a student from Sapporo who desires to be the top student in the class.
This story has a solid fish-out-of-water narrative as the main character learns a lot about life and farming while adapting to new surroundings. Through this series, I’ve been learning a lot about livestock and the field of agriculture. The character cast is energetic, and I felt it matches the story’s silly tone and all of the crazy antics that ensue at the farm. The coming-of-age theme is exciting and makes readers curious to see how Yugo will do on his journey at Oezo High school.
Purchase: https://amzn.to/3cBlYG7
What Did You Eat Yesterday? – Fumi Yoshinaga
“What Did You Eat Yesterday?” is a slice-of-life manga about a couple (a hairstylist and a lawyer) who navigate daily life in Japan while relishing gourmet meals at night. I love manga with food; some of my favorites include Yakitate!! Japan and Kitchen Princess, so I was excited to read this book. There a variety of recipes featured in each book that are delicious and easy to follow!
While the book focuses on the couple’s love for food, it also shows one perspective of what LGBT life is like in Japan. It’s a moderately paced story, and I enjoyed seeing how Shiro and Kenji interact with each other, work through their arguments, and their work/family balance. This slice of life manga feels very realistic without being too over-dramatic, and I found it to be on the calmer side of manga.
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Yotsuba – Kiyohiko Azuma
This series depicts a young girl named Yotsuba. The series follows her everyday adventure as she learns about the world around her, guided by her father, neighbors, and friends.
Though it’s aimed at younger audiences, I think it’s a manga to be enjoyed by all ages. It’s fun and enjoyable to read due to its simplistic nature and humor. 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. Yotsuba reminds readers to enjoy the minor things of life and that imagination never dies. Each segment is a fun day-to-day adventure that makes it so entertaining to read.
Purchase: https://amzn.to/2ObS1mK
