Manga Like New Normal

The difficulties of adulthood and the harsh realities of office work often make people wish they could go back to their younger years and choose differently. This feeling leads 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki to consider an unusual offer. After returning home from his part-time job, Arata is contacted by Ryou Yoake, a representative from the ReLife Research Institute, who presents an experimental program designed to improve his job prospects. The ReLife project plans to change Arata's appearance to that of a 17-year-old, allowing him to experience high school again for one year. After this trial ends, he will receive a job offer, something he has had trouble getting since leaving his previous job. Despite his doubts, Arata agrees to the strange arrangement. But his adult way of thinking and his lack of recent school experience make handling everyday life in high school harder than he expected.

Chikan Otoko is a socially awkward otaku with a perverse side who regularly visits the 2ch forum. One day, while returning from work, he is wrongly detained for stalking. Once the confusion clears, he learns that the girl he calls Miss Understanding has been deeply affected by a real stalker. Wanting to earn her favor, he extends his help. Unexpectedly, he finds himself growing closer to Miss Understanding and her companions: the lively Kansai and the innocent Loli Jugs.

The narrative spans thirteen years, focusing on Hana, a nineteen-year-old university student, who begins a fairy-tale relationship with a man who is also a wolf. After they marry, Hana gives birth to two half-wolf children: Yuki, her first daughter, born during a heavy snow, and Ame, her younger son, born on a rainy day. To hide the children's true nature, the family lives quietly in a secluded part of the city. When the wolf father suddenly dies, tragedy forces Hana to relocate the family to a far-off rural town, leaving their urban life behind.

Takemoto lives in a small student apartment, always busy with managing his finances and getting to classes on time. Though he lives on his own, he still has a lot to learn about maturity. Along with his unusual friends—Morita, Mayama, Yamada, and Hagumi—he sets out on a path to grasp life and find his true self. Also included in Volume 10 are the extra one-shots: Sora no Kotori and Hoshi no Opera.

In "Kodocha: Sana's Stage," young actress Sana Kurata confronts many difficulties at school, especially from her bullying classmate Akito Hayama. However, Sana's lively and upbeat personality drives her to address every issue she faces. Her determined efforts both annoy and captivate Hayama, while his gloomy attitude similarly frustrates and motivates Sana to change his perspective. As these opposing characters start affecting one another, they endure various hardships that slowly overcome their differences and create a stronger bond between them.

23-year-old Aoki Daisuke starts his teaching career at Futatsubashi Elementary School, where he is put in charge of Class 3-1. One of his students, Rin Kokonoe, is a sharp and playful girl who develops a strong infatuation with him and openly announces that she is his girlfriend. Even though it could threaten his position, Rin keeps chasing after her relationship with her teacher, adding more complications to the already tangled interactions among their friends, family, and fellow students.

Who wouldn't cherish such a lovely mother? Ryo Ishizuka balances a part-time job while studying for his accountant exams. He finds solace in his coworker, Yuzuki Tachibana, a widow raising a young child. As Ryo's feelings for Yuzuki deepen, he gathers the courage to confess, yet wonders how she will respond. Will love conquer all obstacles, or will their path to romance face difficulties? Additionally, enjoy moments filled with lullabies and tender bedtime scenes. Get ready to be moved by this heartwarming romantic comedy centered around a single mother and a dedicated freelancer!

In "Kokoro Connect," the Cultural Research Club consists of a wrestling enthusiast, a carefree airhead, a sarcastic cynic, a laid-back joker, and a hyperfeminine member. Their ordinary high school life is thrown into chaos when they suddenly begin swapping bodies with one another. At first amusing, these exchanges grow increasingly uncomfortable as personal boundaries are breached and hidden secrets come to light—secrets powerful enough to threaten their friendship. As they struggle with these changes, they must discover who or what is causing the body swaps, whether the phenomenon will stop, and if their club can survive such turmoil. Explore this acclaimed ensemble comedy-drama light novel written by renowned author Sadanatsu Anda!

Shun, Kaname, and the twin siblings Yuuki and Yuuta have been friends since kindergarten. Whether their connection is strong or simply a matter of habit is unclear, but they still spend time together after entering high school. The group's dynamic changes when Chizuru, a half-Japanese transfer student, joins them and brings new energy. "Kimi to Boku" follows their ordinary lives, free from intense drama or excitement. It's a gentle, sometimes humorous account of young friendships.

Aspiring actor Makoto Amano is bound by a strict condition from his father: he may only pursue his dream if he lives as a girl for his final two years of high school. After transferring to a new school, Makoto develops a close friendship with the spirited and tomboyish Ito Miura, who also loves drama and is the only one who knows his secret. Yet, the question remains whether their bond is purely platonic.

In "Kore wa Koi no Hanashi," the main character is a celebrated novelist struggling with deep boredom in spite of his accomplishments in literature. Hoping to escape his melancholy, he moves to a countryside home, but the change fails to lift his spirits. Everything shifts when a young girl shows up at his door, asking if she can look after a kitten inside his house. Her arrival sparks an unexpected reaction in him, and he consents to her request. As their connection grows, the reasons for her profound effect on him and the situation that enabled her to remain become central mysteries of the narrative.

In "Orange Yane no Chiisana Ie," Shoutarou Ninomiya, a father of two boys who has been a dedicated workaholic without using his paid leave for 15 years, faces marital problems that lead to his wife filing for divorce. Meanwhile, Natsumi Okajima, a mother of two girls, leaves her unfaithful husband. Both Shoutarou and Natsumi seek a fresh start by purchasing separate homes for themselves and their children. However, they fall victim to the same real estate scam, becoming co-owners of the same house. With no means to move and limited legal options, the two families must coexist in the same space. Initially, Natsumi, who distrusts men, establishes strict boundaries within the household. As the children form close bonds, the adults' lives gradually become intertwined, fostering a tender relationship between Shoutarou and Natsumi.

Forty years ago, Yoshihiro Tatsumi expanded the boundaries of manga storytelling by using its visual language to craft powerful, literary narratives centered on the everyday lives of ordinary people. Known as "the grandfather of Japanese alternative comics," his influence reaches cartoonists worldwide. In this deeply personal work, Tatsumi, who previously authored "The Push Man and Other Stories" and "Good-bye," offers an unflinching look at his own life. Spanning a decade in its creation, "A Drifting Life" is Tatsumi's most daring, intimate, and emotionally resonant project—a graphic novel that serves as an autobiographical coming-of-age story. Through his enduring passion for manga, Tatsumi weaves a rich narrative exploring family dynamics, Japanese cultural and historical elements, first love, the complexities of the manga industry, and most importantly, the essence of being an artist. This work is at times humorous, thought-provoking, and moving, standing as the culmination of his extraordinary life and legendary career.

In "Beast Complex," a tiger and a beaver, raised together from a young age, challenge societal norms to preserve their bond and fight against injustice. A camel journalist, who has held a long-standing prejudice against carnivores, experiences a transformative night with a captivating wolf. Meanwhile, a crocodile and a gazelle are forced to put aside their disagreements to collaborate as a chef and sous-chef on a failing cooking program. A fox and a chameleon struggle with their own biases and misconceptions about one another and themselves. Numerous other stories are woven throughout this anthology.

We rejoin Sentarou, Kaoru, and their friends as they share a brief musical gathering filled with friendship, melodies, and romance. 1. Junichi and Yurika begin a new chapter after Junichi moves to Tokyo. 2. A short story involving Kouta, Ritsuko, and the mysterious man who answered Kaoru's call to Ritsuko. 3. Tsutomu Murae, Ritsuko's father, and his path toward embracing jazz. 4. Sentarou Kawabuchi, rediscovering his renewed sense of purpose. 5. A glimpse into what lies ahead...

In "Sekitou Elegy," Satoshi Yanagawa starts working part-time as a police assistant and soon becomes aware of a strikingly beautiful female colleague. Despite her good looks, she has a distinctly unpleasant attitude. Is it possible for a romantic relationship to develop between them? The narrative shifts between comedic situations and emotionally touching moments.

A story of Yumi and her brain cells.

In *If I See You in My Dreams*, Fuguno Masuo, a 24-year-old office worker who has been unlucky in love, has never been on a date. His hopes for romance are crushed after seeking advice from a fortune teller. But his luck changes when he meets the charming Nagisa Shiozaki at a matchmaking bar, where she reveals she shares his dating troubles. Determined to earn her affection, Masuo must compete with other suitors and the romantic advances of a colleague, all while navigating the awkward situations that keep ruining his plans.

In the lively city of Oval City, where androids are widespread and assist with everyday tasks, Iris Rain Umbrella, an android, lives a blissful and carefree life taking care of her creator, Dr. Wendy von Umbrella—the head of robot research at Oval University. Wendy explains that she created Iris to fill the void left by her younger sister, who died in an accident, and the household robots have inherited the sister's name and appearance. Iris carries out maid duties at the von Umbrella mansion, including shopping, cooking, and cleaning, and she wishes these peaceful days would never end. However, a series of unfortunate events suddenly disrupts this joyful life. Iris is forced to leave her home, abandon her comfortable existence, and adjust to a new environment in order to survive.

Narumi helps Alice, a teenage detective who works exclusively from her bedroom while dressed in her pajamas. Even though her methods are unconventional, Alice relies on a vast network of contacts and the internet to solve mysteries. Can Alice crack cases without ever leaving her room?

Segawa Yuuta, age 19, eagerly anticipated beginning college and experiencing typical student life such as forming new friendships. However, his future took an unexpected twist when the plane transporting his sister and her husband disappeared, leaving him responsible for raising his three nieces. His compact six-tatami mat apartment now had to house not only Yuuta but also Sora (14), Miu (10), and Hina (3). How will this newfound duty shape Yuuta's destiny?

In "Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora," the story centers on the developing romance between Yuuichi Ezaki, a seventeen-year-old patient with hepatitis A, and Rika Akiba, who is hospitalized for a heart valve condition. Their shared time at the local hospital in their hometown of Ise, Mie Prefecture, brings them closer, deepening their emotions. The series opens with a scene showing a "Welcome to Ise" sign, establishing the setting for their heartfelt journey.

Sayonara Piano Sonata centers on Nao, a sixteen-year-old boy whose father is a music critic and who himself has a love for repairing mechanical devices. While exploring a junkyard, Nao encounters a girl renowned for her remarkable piano abilities. To his astonishment, she soon becomes a student at his school and starts to have a major impact on his life. Adding to the situation, an eccentric senpai and his childhood friend both push Nao to join their band.

Kwon Gang-Ho works hard at a factory, earning a low salary but putting in long hours to support his family. His coworkers respect him for his kind nature. His wife, Yeong-Ran, stays in Seoul to raise their children, handling her responsibilities without complaint and focusing on their development. A brief lapse in attention causes an accident that leaves Gang-Ho with severe facial burns. He loses his job and returns to Seoul. To keep his family from knowing about this tragedy, he temporarily stays at a friend's house. While out one day, Gang-Ho sees his daughter about to step into the street. A speeding car nearly hits her, but Gang-Ho rushes to save her while disguised as the superhero "Gugu-man." After this, he begins using the Gugu-man costume to protect his family without being seen, keeping his identity hidden. This begins a touching story of a devoted father's ongoing efforts to keep his loved ones safe, even as he faces his own struggles.