Best Slice of Life Manga of 2018

On the surface, high school teacher Rinko Yoshitaka treats Ryo Arase just like the other students. She regularly reprimands him for failing to complete his assignments on time and tries to keep him on track in a professional capacity. Little does anyone know, Yoshitaka and Arase steal sweet moments in each other's company. While they manage to find time for romantic escapades, Yoshitaka has one condition: the two must conceal their relationship until Arase turns the appropriate age of 20. Despite the condition looming over them like a caution sign, Arase and Yoshitaka can barely keep their hands to themselves. But they must resist the temptation to avoid undesired attention.

Akemitsu Akagami was always told by his father that “no one can live alone“…but he’s sure determined. After all, his father sure wasn’t saying it with the best intentions, and Akemitsu has no desire to become like that creep. But when a chance encounter with a young woman leaves him with thoughts that are all too impure, he decides to do what he must—become a Buddhist monk and renounce worldly ways. But the temple he decides to devote himself to…is full of women? And that same young woman is there, too?? What’s a guy to do? A new harem rom-com from Kimitake Yoshioka, illustrator of the hit college-comedy Grand Blue Dreaming! *Source: Kodansha USA, Vol. 1*

It has been 10 years since Momo "Maki" Makimura's first relationship ended, but she still has not gotten over her feelings for Midori Oonishi, who broke up with her because they were "getting too old" to date. However, after a chance encounter, the two meet again, and Midori invites Maki to her house. There, she finds out that not only is Midori getting married but she is also pregnant. Maki wants to congratulate her, but her intuition tells her that something is off. The more she hears Midori talk about her soon-to-be-husband, the more red flags she notices. Later that night, she encourages Midori to run away with her. Kakeochi Girl follows Maki as she attempts to find a way to help Midori while exploring the unwavering feelings between them.

As a member of a malevolent organization, the General is tasked with invading Earth and wiping out humanity. Even an extraterrestrial being like him, however, needs a chance to rest. Not even the Rangers—a team solely dedicated to defeating the General and his colleagues—will stand in the way of him visiting pandas at the zoo, buying ice cream at the convenience store, and enjoying his well-deserved day off from committing evil deeds.

Who wouldn't love this beautiful mom? Ryo Ishizuka struggles to hold down a part-time job while also studying for the accountant's exam. He finds emotional comfort in one of his coworkers, Yuzuki Tachibana, a widow with a young child. As his attraction toward her grows, he prepares himself to confess his feelings, but what will her reply be? Is love enough to conquer all? Or will the road to a relationship not be so easy? And what about lullabies and sleepy-time hugs? Get ready to be pampered to your heart's delight by this super-pure rom com, centered around a single mom and a freelancer!

**In this fantasy isekai story, a salaryman sent to another world chooses a farming life over adventure–and ends up with a mermaid wife!** A corporate drone is summoned to another world and granted a powerful skill, “Supreme Wielder,” which is invisible to those who summoned him. They’re dismayed to see he’s useless to them, so he asks only for a little plot of land to work for himself. His skill allows him to use any tool to its greatest abilities, including fishing poles, cooking utensils, and construction tools. When he fishes up a mermaid who wants him for her bridegroom, charms a young dragon with his cooking, and excites an undead king with his rare skill, how long can his quiet country life last?! *Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, Vol. 1*

The abandoned dormitory on the school's outskirts is haunted: the floors creak, creepy sounds fill the night's air, and only the bravest souls dare venture into this den of real-life ghosts. For Go Haejun, a second-year high school student who can see ghosts, it is the sole housing option after he misses the deadline to apply for a newer, safer dormitory. Things would not be so terrible if his only cohabitant were not a brazen and cheeky first-year student, Baek Eunyeong. Eunyeong also happens to be the one responsible for destroying Haejun's plans by shamelessly stealing and wasting all of Haejun's savings. On top of that, he is sloppy, parties constantly, and lies as easily as he breathes. Haejun wrestles with unresolved guilt after fighting with his mother and running away, but he lacks patience for Eunyeong's childish acting out. No matter their vast differences and how much they hate each other, Haejun and Eunyeong are forced to coexist, as neither has another place to call home.

Shimizu Makoto, a team leader at an industrial firm, leads a fulfilling life as the work is both rewarding and pays well. However, she indulges in an embarrassing pastime: creating girls love doujinshi she sells at conventions. Though Shimizu does her best to keep this hobby hidden from her colleagues, a chance encounter at a doujin convention leads her coworker Akane Maekawa to learn of her secret. Much to Shimizu's surprise, Maekawa seems interested in learning more—even visiting Shimizu's apartment to borrow DVDs. As the two girls grow closer, Shimizu discovers the value of sharing one's passion with someone else, all while attempting to figure out her complicated feelings toward Maekawa.

Three years after graduating high school, Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou are still in a long-distance relationship. Kusakabe works tirelessly while pursuing his music career, leaving him with little time to visit Sajou. Meanwhile, Sajou involves himself more with extracurricular activities and drinking with his college friends. However, Kusakabe's absence weighs heavily on Sajou, and when Kusakabe visits unannounced one day, Sajou breaks off their engagement. Although the love between them never waned, both Kusakabe and Sajou now have to navigate through their new normal and hope that, eventually, they will find their way back to each other.

Tooru Kirishima is 28 years old and the wakagashira of the Sakuragi Group. He's known as "The Demon of the Sakuragi Group" because he uses his position as a yakuza as an excuse to do whatever he wants. But one day, he ends up in charge of his boss's daughter?! An independent young lady and good-looking yakuza brute's heartwarming(?) comedy!

There's more to this kitty than meets the eye! Kyuu-chan loves snacks, cuddles, and bow ties, but most of all loves Hinata, the young professional who adopted this mischievous wonder cat into his home. As the two adjust to life together, they discover that they have a lot to learn from each other. The ordinary and the extraordinary live side by side in this delightful slice-of-life manga!

Myne successfully negotiates with the temple to become an apprentice blue shrine maiden, ensuring she will receive the same treatment as a noble. Her work there begins, and after such a long wait, she can finally read in the book room! But the temple's status-based structure and her problematic attendants mean she doesn't have it easy: she'll need to beat society to enjoy her books in peace! This is a biblio-fantasy by book lovers, for book lovers! Part 2, begin!

There is not a lot that can faze Naoto Misono, a sincere and solemn office worker. One of the rarer exceptions is Shizuka Hoshino, his senior coworker who also happens to be a witch. Hoshino goes out of her way to help Misono, always flying to the scene on her broom to save the day. In contrast to Misono, who is always calm and composed, Hoshino is easily flustered and often scrambles to find the right words to express herself. However, the way Hoshino wears her heart on her sleeve causes Misono's own heart to skip a beat. Before he knows it, Misono finds himself vying for Hoshino's attention; however, things are seldom as easy as they seem. He must be prepared to brave it all—even protective brothers and jealous ex-boyfriends—to ensure that his feelings reach Hoshino.

Hakaba is an aspiring field linguist who specializes in the communication systems of monsters. After his professor injures himself in a hot-air balloon accident, Hakaba suddenly finds himself putting his knowledge to good use as he ventures into the Netherworld to pursue his professor's research. Upon arrival in his first village, Hakaba meets Susuki—his professor's half-werewolf half-human daughter. After adjusting to the environment's conditions, the two begin their journey to their first destination: the Cave of Goblins. Heterogenia Linguistic: Ishuzoku Gengogaku Nyuumon follows the journey of Hakaba and Susuki as they traverse the Netherworld, documenting the languages and customs of every creature they come across.

Even in another world, lives aren't always on the line. There's plenty of work to be done, from feeding the community and forging the items the community needs; as well as plenty of play...and hijinks throughout! Join Rimuru and friends as they kick back and enjoy their daily lives.

Most would call the Levantret territory a frozen wasteland. The sun does not shine for half of the year, and even when it does, the inhabitants must still endure the frigid cold. Even so, what Levantret does have is a boundless sky, spanned by the ethereal Northern Lights. The local lord, Ritzhardt "Ritz" Salonen Levantret, loves his homeland more than anyone else. He is in search of a wife, but few women are willing to give up their lives of luxury and move out to the boonies. High society calls him the "Yeti of the Borderlands" and looks down on his simple lifestyle. At a dinner party, Ritz is enraptured by the decorated lady-knight Sieglinde "Sieg" von Wettin and immediately asks to marry her. To the surprise of most, she accepts a "trial marriage" of one year. For Sieg, this is a chance to discover what it means to be a "wife" after spending the majority of her life in the military. On the other hand, Ritz wants to show her everything his beloved home has to offer. In the wintry Levantret, from hunting in the blistering cold to handicrafts around the cozy hearth, every day is filled with new and warm memories.

Rene is a cute girl with a terrible past due to the fact that she's a hero. She battles her way to the Demon Lord Army Chief so that he can end her life. However, when she asks him to do so... he changes his mind, and takes her in as his assistant. Thus, her new life begins.

Gen Kinokura, 34, hobbies: camping. A natural outdoorsman who loves solo camping, he doesn’t need a car; he takes trains, then buses for the final stretch to get into the mountains. He has a deep love for all things nature: fire, wood, water, and earth. And to the same degree, he loves his solitary life…that is until, by a strange coincidence, he meets a young broad, Shizuku Kusano, and she ropes him into solo camping with her! With over 2 million copies sold in total, this neo-camping bible is bound to have you itching to explore the outdoors!!

When Saku took in a stray black cat, she never expected that he would become the equivalent of a housekeeping life partner. But Yukichi, a giant cat who towers over Saku, is not your ordinary feline. He takes great pride in his culinary skills, and a good sale at the supermarket always gets his whiskers twitching. Saku may not have her act together yet, but at least she has Yukichi!

There was once a high school band whose pop songs warmed and thrilled the hearts of all who listened. Now, three girls have been inspired to start a pop music club of their own, but will things turn out like they hope? It’s a new generation of slice-of-life hijinks from kakifly, the original author of K-ON!

A witch who lives alone in the forest picks up a child. 16 years later, she grows up bigger than expected. *Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Web Manga Category.*

High school yankee Akamatsu regularly picks fights with Seven, a strong homeless man who lives in the local park. Fighting Seven is the biggest thrill in Akamatsu's life, so when it seems like Seven may have to leave the park, Akamatsu suddenly invites him to share his house!?

On the mean streets of Tokyo, countless Stray Cats scrounge and struggle to survive. Nanao is one of them: he used to be a house cat, but after tragedy struck he had to make it on his own, relying only on fellow stray cat Machi for help. When some people start feeding the strays in their neighborhood, Nanao cautiously starts to bond with them. But the humans–a brother and sister who run a bathhouse–have issues and wounds of their own. Can Nanao help them heal, and perhaps find a new home in the process? A heart-tugging tale of family and survival!

When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector. Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

Middle school student Kon Chigawa has never left the small island where she was born, nor does she expect to. Loneliness is her constant companion, and love is a completely foreign concept to her. That is, until she encounters city girl Furuka on a cliff—and ends up resuscitating her after they fall into the ocean! When they regain consciousness, the two find themselves in front of a cave said to be the home of a fearsome monster. Little do they know that their chance meeting will set a series of strange occurrences in motion on this mysterious island… *Source: Yen Press, Vol. 1*

Two years after their parents' sudden death, the four brothers of the Yuzuki family have grown used to living together and the loneliness that comes with their situation. The eldest of them, Hayato, has already taken up any and all family responsibilities at 23 years old. The second eldest, Mikoto, manages to calmly pick up the slack of both Hayato and his immediate younger brother Minato, who feels deep insecurities for being just 11 months younger. The youngest, Gakuto, seems to be wise beyond his few years. They may not always get along due to each of the brothers' distinct personalities, but they can always count on one another in both the joyful and bitter moments of their lives.

Suzuna Inaba who graduated from the university and is going to live together with Seto. Their new life to make up from the one in two people start a new life of two tipsy that became a little adult ♪ a lot of delicious things!

The assassin with a scary mug has arrived in the town where the (air-headed) policewoman with a strong sense of justice lives! Although his target is a businessman, his constant flirting with the policewoman is causing him great trouble! The assassin constantly tries to stop the businessman who is in love with the policewoman... And if you look closely, there's a possible love triangle?! Will the day the assassin can complete his job come?! Keep an eye on this fantastic love comedy.

When Hiyori⁠—a young girl whose deceased father taught her the joys of fishing⁠—headed out to sea for some alone time, she never thought that she would encounter another girl there. After a while, this girl⁠—named Koharu⁠—and her end up fishing and cooking together, and they get to know each other a bit in the meantime. During their brief time together Koharu finds out that the reason Hiyori went out to sea that day was because she's hesitant towards meeting her new step family that same evening. But what a coincidence! Koharu is also meeting her new family tonight! "No. It can't be a coincidence..." Follow these two 'sisters' and their new life together! *Note: Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Manga Category.*

This intimate manga anthology is about the struggles and triumphs of individuals learning to navigate daily life with a developmental disorder. The comics follow the stories of nine people, including: a junior high dropout finding an alternate path to education; a former "troublesome" child helping kids at a support school; a so-called problem child realizing the beauty of his own unique quirks; and a man falling in love with the world with the help of a new medication. This inspiring volume illustrates their diverse anxieties and finding self-empowerment in a world not quite built with them in mind.

29-year old Asahina Tomako has been working at a cosmetics company for four years and is very contempt with her life. One day while working overtime, she is approached by Takeda Yoko a young security guard making rounds. Tomako finds the opportunity to strike up a friendly conversation but the flow suddenly turns into Takeda confessing?!

Delightful business comedy with the ideal section chief!

For centuries, the demon Seere has prided himself on his work-granting the wishes of those he contracts with. Whether it’s slaughtering their enemies or obtaining wealth beyond measure, anything is possible with his powerful magic. But Seere’s latest summoner, Sakura Masuda, is unlike any he’s dealt with before. Namely, she’s only in fourth grade, and her wish is…for Seere to become her mama! Well, if that’s what she desires, then that’s what he will deliver-by becoming the greatest mama ever!

Back when Tasuku was a kid, he harbored a secret: he was in love with his friend Maika. But Maika moved away for school before he could gather his courage and confess. Now, as adults, they’ve reconnected as friends, and being together brings memories of their shared past rushing back. It was so easy to fantasize about wild things when they were children, but as adults, what are their fantasies now? This inventive and beautifully illustrated romantic drama explores the fantastical moments hiding in the everyday, and how a rich inner life can be a guide to a different future.

A boy becomes enamored with Ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics) after seeing a young woman dancing by a shrine one evening. Years later, he steps onto the mat for a Ribbon competition. Everyone is shocked to see a boy trying to compete. Can he get past the stigma and dance on equal footing?

A quiet convenience store hovers on the boundary between life and death. Its faint glow in the darkness draws people toward it, pushing them closer to the final purchase they’ll ever make…and is that a monster in the magazine aisle?! Prepare for spooky creatures, cryptic employees, and an air of delightful dread in this supernatural mystery. This beloved self-contained tale was awarded a top spot in both the Kono Manga wo Yome! and Kono Manga ga Sugoi! rankings in Japan.

Hikage Nemoto, a young, shy and mousey part-time teacher finds herself unwittingly awakening some rather... fundamental feelings from all the women she meets... Will she prevail? **Included chapters:** 26.1

Souta Nakamura, a young city teacher moves to the island of Nagishima after spending years away, expecting to meet his old upperclassman who offered him lodging, but finds out that he's gone and he's left him to take care of his teenage daughter Ao, a girl who is wise beyond her years, and who has the quiet island lifestyle ingrained in her heart. **Included one-shot:** Volume 1: Sailor-fuku to Kankinchuu.

After dying of overwork in Japan, Dahlia is reborn into a world filled with magic. Raised by a master of magical toolmaking, she develops a passion for the craft and becomes engaged to her father’s apprentice. Before her father can see her wed, however, he suddenly passes away. As if this weren’t enough, on the day before their wedding, her fiancé announces that he’s in love—but not with her! Dahlia finally realizes she needs to live for herself. She vows to be her own woman from now on and devote herself to her craft, even if it’s not quite the quiet life she was hoping for! From a chance encounter with a knight to starting her own company, there are challenges aplenty on the horizon. But this young craftswoman is no longer a shrinking violet—she’s Dahlia, and she’s ready to bloom.

Follow the unique and intense activities of the literature club, consisting of the flawless Kodama-san, the president as well as its only member, and Fueda-kun, the promising applicant.

LJO–aka Law of Justice Online–is the newest full-dive VRMMORPG to hit the market, and office worker Yuta—or Yuto, as he goes by in the game—is ready to spend his whole vacation immersing himself in the experience. His dream is to become the strongest Tamer, commanding the most powerful monsters, and he’s even willing to shell out the cash to do so! But when he arrives in the world of LJO for the first time, Yuto is shocked to find that the special monster he planned to leave all the fighting to is…a monster dedicated to farming—without a shred of combat ability? Despite it all, Yuto quickly decides that his adventures in this world will involve way less fighting epic battles and way more harvesting plants, as he prepares to take the game at his own pace and with his adorable, trusty companion by his side! *Source: J-Novel Club, Vol. 1*

The daily life of Ponkotsu Ado, the clumsy girl who's not confident with her social ability.

Sora Hiyodori, a housewife who's oddly familiar with machines and programming, went on a trip through space to deliver the ashes of her husband who passed away from illness to her mother-in-law. Accompanying her is her son Chuujirou, a robot installed with an AI. **Note:** Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Web Manga Category.

Meet your new favorite food critics: a chubby wolf named Mita Jirou and a ripped tiger named Yanagi Kagetora. Kagetora used to eat to live, but all that changed when he met Jirou–who lives to eat! Jirou is more than happy to help his striped feline friend explore the restaurants and delicacies tucked within their city, and he enjoys all their finds with great relish. There’s nothing better than a hot meal to bring two guys together in this deliciously illustrated story of food, fur, and friendship.

One day, she learns that her subordinate, Mr. Takazaki, is going bird-watching, so she goes along with him just to see the birds, and ends up being completely addicted to the "swamp" of birds and cameras... A weekend of bird-watching alone with a camera girl with big tits and glasses! A bird enthusiast author presents an outdoor manga that welcomes beginners!

The main character is a corporate company employee suddenly summoned to another world and is asked to fight as a hero. However, he does not have skills, and is asked to liberate from the duty of the hero though it is painful by being disappointed. Then he bought land in a distant place with the money given to prepare his equipment as a hero, and started a pioneering life in a different world. He was determined to have no skills, but in fact he had a Gift from God gift that no one else could read.

Police officer Hashimoto Remi has finally obtained the job at headquarters she has always dreamed of. She is assigned to the Special Support Room which deals with preventing incidents and clearing up trouble within the police force. She finds the job is nothing like what she expected, and to top it all off, her new coworker seems to be very difficult to deal with...

A little bit of magic, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of comfort food. An aristocratic lady who can’t eat her own cooking, a young man set adrift in life, and a boy of mysterious origin: three people brought together by fate. Lisa’s greatest wish is to cook a delicious meal for her guests, but not only are her culinary skills questionable, her motivations lie elsewhere. Meanwhile, two ‘lost boys’ find their way to her estate, and gradually discover something they did not realise they were looking for.

“Andou-kun, good morning ♪” “Asakura-san, mornin’…” (I got the seat next to the most beautiful girl in the school. A person who is willing to greet a loner like me, what a kind person she is. But in any case it’s just lip service, she’ll probably find me a bother if I start talking to her ) “…” “…” (Even though I tried to greet him, why won’t he talk to meeee!! I can’t talk about light novels to anyone besides Andou-kun, so please talk to meeee!!) This is that sort of school rom-com. Since each chapter can be read in about one minute, how about using it to take a breather from “other world things”?

The Law of Justice Online, also known as LJO, is the hottest new VRMMORPG of the season, and office worker Yuta Sasaki is one of the lucky few granted access to the official launch. After some careful research, Yuta is chomping at the bit to start his virtual life as a Tamer, a class that harnesses the powers of wild monsters. Luckily, upon building his character, Yuta manages to land not only his chosen class, but a heap of bonuses to boot! He soon finds, however, that his abilities are not all they’re cracked up to be, and that the talents of the rare first monster he is granted lie not in combat…but gardening! Already well behind the other adventurers, and facing a long and slow progression path ahead of him, Yuta is left with two choices—start over from scratch, or make the best of what he has been given. For Yuta the choice is obvious: When life gives you manure…start up a farm! *Source: J-Novel Club, Vol. 1*

Original Web Manga A strange disease is spreading around the world and slowly turning humans into animals. Solder, who has become part panda, and Takebayashi, a chic and charismatic Tokyoite, team up to shed light on this strange virus that could plunge their city into chaos.

Centers around Tsubaki Kanno, a 25-year-old straightforward woman who works at a stationery shop.

A dog trainer is a job that connects dogs and people. An indecisive young man, Miyu Samura, met Shinichiro Niwa, a miracle-working dog trainer, while walking the dog of his ex-girlfriend. The accidental encounter will greatly change Miyu's life! This is a story about the growth of a new dog trainer!

Welcome to Baby Bear's Bakery, a brand new patisserie run by a bear cub! While Bear may be a fine baker, he is not much of a business animal, so he has plenty to learn about running a small business. Finances, customer service and even researching new products are all new to this cub. But he is more than willing to dig his paws into the world of entrepreneurship.

When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector. Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

Toko is a Japanese writer living and working in Berlin with her cat, Mugi-kun. In the city with its green cobblestone streets, they sometimes go on picnics or get creative trying to make Japanese food. They also enjoy delicious local treats.

Femrude is picked up by the legendary Fenrir as a baby. Originally Japanese, the reborn 12-year-old spends his days being spoiled by his beloved new mother, while being brought up with lots of love. To give back to his precious family, he reproduces Japanese cuisine in this new world, one dish after another. To his surprise, not only his mother (Fenrir), but also the beastmen living in this world love his food. Solving problems one after another with his honest, gentle character, and the skills to attract both races, he aims to become a bridge between the humans and the beastmen!

Yoshida is a young man who aspires to become a university professor. It's the final stretch before he enters the workforce, but there's only one subject he has a problem with: mathematics. He has always abhorred maths, but he will have to face his it if he wants to graduate.

The adventures of a writer, Hodaka Rika. A girl with a cycling hobby and a love of food.

My name is Mifu Miyabi. For the past twelve years, I thought I had no family—no parents, no siblings. Little did I know, my world was about to get turned upside down by not one, not two, but three identical sisters showing up out of nowhere! Sure, we all grew up leading separate lives, but now we have to figure out how to live together under one roof. It may be hard to tell us apart just by looking, but we're much more different than you'd think. This is how our time as a family begins!