Best Slice of Life Manga of 2021

Living in Asagaya, 29-year-old Hiroto Ikuta spends his days working at his part-time job and chatting with the locals. He likes visiting Hanae Wada most, a grumpy yet kind elderly woman whom Hiroto calls "Granny." Hiroto's time with Granny is sadly cut short when she passes away from a heart attack. To his surprise, Hiroto inherits Granny's house as she never married or had children. Three months later, 18-year-old Natsumi Kobayashi moves from her hometown to attend art school. With nowhere else to go, she stays with her cousin Hiroto, whom she has not seen in years. Despite their opposing personalities, the pair begin living under the same roof as they struggle through their seemingly mundane lives.

When his father remarries, Yuuta Asamura winds up sharing a roof with a brand-new stepsister, who is also the hottest girl in his grade! But Yuuta and his new sister, Saki Ayase, have no delusions—they both carry trauma from their parents' difficult divorces, and they agree to keep a respectful distance. As it turns out, however, the two have a lot in common, and slowly, cautiously, they grow closer. But is the emotion blooming between them simple admiration, familial love, or something more?

After his father’s remarriage, Yuuta suddenly becomes stepsiblings with his classmate Saki. Yuuta isn’t great at talking to women, but as the two settle into a shared lifestyle, could their relationship blossom into something more?

Yuki Nomoto, although a complete amateur, enjoys cooking more than anything. The young office worker has big ambitions for the dishes she wants to create, but there is a recurring problem: she has no one to share her cooking with. Much like an artistic masterpiece that never sees the light of day, Nomoto feels her efforts are wasted and her options limited if she only cooks for herself. By a stroke of luck, Nomoto bumps into Totoko Kasuga, her neighbor two doors down, who is carrying a feast of fast food to consume all by herself. Kasuga may be intimidating at first glance, but her love for food in large quantities is exactly what Nomoto needs to push her culinary skills to the next level. With each meal Nomoto prepares for Kasuga, the two women slowly begin to open up their lives and hearts to one another.

Ishidaira is a delinquent who visited the library for the first time since elementary school. He discovered that he still hadn't returned a book he borrowed 10 years ago. He ended up having to work part-time at the library to pay for it. This is the beginning of a manga that makes you want to go to the library after you read it.

Manga editor Asako Suga decides moving into a new home is just the thing she needs to get over a painful breakup with her toxic ex-girlfriend. She finds the perfect place for rent—affordable, spacious, lovely garden included—but there's one catch. The house comes with a live-in landlord! It's disappointing enough that Asako can't have the single life she hoped for, but her cute landlord also seems to be hiding a big secret...Will living together bring them closer, or turn out to be more trouble than it's worth?

A tale of a husband who works non-stop at an exploitative company, and his adorable, white-haired wife who heals his daily fatigue when he comes home from work.

Katagiri Natsuomi, a high school student living alone for two years, has a beautiful black-haired, blue-eyed girl move into the next room. The girl, Yui, is actual nobility, and her nickname is “Cool-de-rella” because of her indifferent attitude at school. When Natsuomi finds out that Yui doesn’t want to rely on others, but is actually quite naive, he decides to help her out. This is the beginning of a sweet and tantalizing relationship between two neighbors.

His colleagues at work see him as handsome, cool, and distant...but the moment he's back home, this frosty-looking salaryman shows his true colors as a doting father and husband. Playing silly games with his young daughter, showering kisses on his beloved wife–what a gap between his appearance and behavior! This sweet, full-color manga about a wholesome family is sure to warm your heart.

One summer day, Jin Konohana, a boy conscripted by his insolent sister to carry her belongings to a fireworks show, suddenly notices he is on a strange mountain. Alone in the mountains, Jin begins a life of survival. He wants to discard all troublesome things and live in peace and comfort.

Naori Shida is a college student who loves making alcoholic drinks but has no friends to share them with. At a mixer, she meets Hinata Ibuki, who she ends up taking home with her. After making her a drink, Naori discovers that Hinata is an ogre-girl descended from Shuten-doji who needs alcohol to live, can only drink alcohol offered to her by humans, and grows horns whenever she drinks. Thus, Hinata decides to make Naori her personal bartender.

Meet Chise, a young girl who is reborn in a new world with her old memories lost. A goddess grants her the gift of ‘Creation Magic’ under one condition - that she enjoys her new life! Together with Teto, a golem she creates, Chise embarks on an enchanting journey across the world. *Source: Manga UP! Global*

**A rogue ninja and a messy assassin team up in this deadly comedy slice of life manga filled with gags, domesticity, and, of course, murder** Satoko, a runaway ninja with zero street smarts, just wanted a quiet escape from her secretive village. Instead, she ends up crashing at the apartment of Konoha—a high school girl who moonlights as a lethal assassin. What starts as an awkward roommate situation quickly spirals into a chaotic blend of dodging deadly pursuers, navigating high school drama, and figuring out who’s supposed to do the dishes. With razor-sharp comedy and nonstop hijinks, this odd couple is anything but ordinary. *Source: Seven Seas Entertainment, Vol. 1*

Takeda and Arita have not met since they graduated high school. That is, until they run into each other one rainy day and end up caring for an abandoned cat together. Thus, their relationship begins to shift. Without a shred of romantic feelings, they have no reason to be living together—but even so, they both want to stay by the other's side. What answer will they reach as they search for their own special relationship that goes beyond labels?

What's a Chiikawa? No one really knows, but everyone can see they're small, they're cute, and they're always having a fun time! Join them as they explore their surreal world with the sharp humor and clever antics that make the Chiikawa irresistible.

Tatsuhiko Shiroyama hates being stuck in the boonies. Greetings from strangers feel fake, part-time job prospects are limited, and he's been "blessed" with the nickname "Niyayama" from his classmates due to his creepy, unsociable attempts at smiling. He turned to the radio as a means to escape and thinks about nothing more than saving up for a move to Tokyo where he can explore his passions. But Tatsuhiko's life changes forever when he saves a rich CEO from a rice paddy and is set up with his granddaughter, the equally as shy and antisocial Tamiko Mita. Together, the two stumble through the nuances of "dating," and Tatsuhiko's dreary days become a whole lot brighter.

Ordinary salaryman Takumi works a grueling job, but he can get through it because he has Leo, his beloved puppy-sized Maltese, waiting for him at home. One day, Takumi wakes up in a fantasy world…and right in front of him is an enormous wolf! Wait, could this gigantic creature actually be the once-little Leo?! With the help of a mysterious new magic skill, Takumi will do his best in this world to make a better (and more relaxed) life for himself and his furry best friend!

For five years, she's been eating at the same restaurant, but she doesn't feel comfortable saying anything to the restaurant owner, who wants to talk to that regular customer but doesn't know what to say. Their feelings are obvious, but they just can't find a way to express their love for each other yet. *Note: Originally self-published on Twitter, it was picked up for commercial publication on December 10, 2021.*

An anthology of stories set in the world of Sega and Colorful Palette's game Project Sekai Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, released for iOS and Android on September 30, 2020.

Take a break, Japan! Between the gaps of your busy daily life lies a hidden wonderland! A stroll around the neighborhood, soak in the public baths, enjoy the local gourmet, and relax in the parks... the finest entertainment is right on your doorstep! Let's have a great day off together with Haruka!

Amemori-sensei, a beautiful teacher, lives in an abandoned bus abandoned in a vacant lot for some reason. A comedy about staying in a car for one person, which is a hot topic on SNS, by Ichihi of "Adult's Basket"!

Hirune Hanamaki, an employee of an exploitative company, receives a divine blessing from a goddess and is reborn in another world. Now, she lives as a golden-haired girl named Hirune. Refusing to work tirelessly as she did in her past life, she decides to become a great saint and live a relaxed lifestyle. Thus begins the legend of the sleepy great saint, known for her casual and slow-paced life!

A planet of slumber where most of the inhabitants have fallen asleep due to the poison of the "Tobias Tree." This is the story of a star traveler, registration number 303, who travels to the planet on behalf of the Planetarium Ghost Travel company (a.k.a. PGT, Inc.) to record and preserve its culture. The story is about the people and things 303 meets, his encounters and partings, the mysteries of the "Tobias Tree," PGT Inc., and himself......

Sequel to One Week Friends.

Maruru lived a pampered life till one day, he ran after a flock of sparrows and couldn’t find his way back home. He encounters Hachi, a tough stray, who says he doesn’t need a spoiled house cat on his territory and chases him away. But then Maruru helps Hachi out of a jam, and they team up to face life on the street together.

In a world where beastfolk are thought to be superior to humans, human office worker Saki Oki struggles to remain afloat in a company where she is belittled and tormented by her beastfolk colleagues and superiors. And so, when she is called into the CEO’s office, she’s prepared for the worst—but instead of firing Saki, he acknowledges her hard work and makes her his private secretary! She’s delighted by his praise...but could that really be the only reason her heart is racing so fast? 

Reincarnated from Earth into a world of magic and tradition, Joshua, the son of a duke, is exiled to a barren frontier after the saintess declares he is not following the oracle’s prophecy. Hoping to live a quiet and uneventful life, his plans are upended when the people from his former dukedom abandon their lands to follow him, insisting he remains their true lord. Reluctantly, Joshua takes on the task of transforming the wasteland into a thriving home for his followers, vowing to complete the work in three years so he can finally enjoy the peaceful life he longs for.

People choose jewelry, and jewelry chooses people. The jewelry store "Rohstein" has an unusual way of "maids selling jewelry". The store, located off the main street, is frequented by gentlemen, aristocrats, actresses, poor students, and all sorts of people who have heard the rumors. When they come across a sparkling jewel, their lives begin to shine brightly. A tale spun between gems and the people who desire them - a series of jewel-like short stories, delicately illustrated.

On, a boy from New York, discovers he is a descendant of a tengu. According to their traditions, upon reaching 14 years of age, he must spend a year of seclusion in Japan with his older brother, Motoi Izuna. Tengu aren’t particularly powerful; they live a simple life working in the fields and enjoy cooking, which only disappoints On. But his interest is piqued after discovering his brother has wings! Will On also develop tengu powers?!

My name is Miyabi Mifu. I'm a lonely sixth-grader, and I don't have any parents or relatives.....or so I thought for the last twelve years! One day, I found out I'm a quadruplet!! Three other girls that have the same face and voice: Ichika-chan, Nitori-chan, and Shizuki-chan. We were all raised alone in different places, but from now on we're going to be living under the same roof. However, living with only other children is chaos! Also, the differences in our upbringing could lead to some uexpected circumstances...? We're all the same, but we're also different! Our cute sisterhood life begins now!

Kusunoki Minato is given the responsibility of taking care of a house in the countryside. It is supposed to be an extraordinary property infested with evil spirits…, but he unknowingly wipes out the evil spirits with his unique power! Attracted by the coziness of the purified Kusunoki Residence, a variety of unique deities begin to gather there! It's the start of a heartwarming country life with the neighboring mountain gods.

The daily life of a gloomy witch and her cheerful familiar.

As a high school student, Shinji Nagumo had a problem. His step-sister, Tsumugi, who came for family reasons, was unfriendly. Living with two people who couldn’t shorten the distance. One day, the “net friend” brought by Tsumugi changes the situation. It was a popular girl gal- Takarai Yua!? In the same class As the three of them spend time together, Tsumugi became more open minded. In addition, the distance between him and Yua was also close at home !? Only I know the kindness of Yui, the lonely face, and the homely side that I was not good at. “I’m like Nagumo-kun’s wife. Is that okay?” “That’s okay! Shin-nii, let’s live with three people!” No, that’s no good … Go home together and stay together. Tsumugi misunderstood Yua as his lover, and for some reason she seemed to be happy. Every time she comes into my house, our relationship gradually becomes real !? Gal and step-sister. A warm and sweet romantic comedy with two girls!

A sparrow named O-chun crashed into the studio of a struggling young painter. To thank him for healing her injuries, O-chun will cheerfully return the favor any way she can! A relationship between human and bird that transcends biological boundaries in a cute modern fairy tale! *Note: Originally published as shorts on the author's Twitter before being picked up for serialization.*

Meet Juntaro. A Japanese fishing addict who was born and raised in what is perceived to be one of the roughest parts of Japan. It is through his lens where you can experience various parts of the world, their culture, and of course their food. He particularly loves to visit countries and cities that are also believed to be highly dangerous due to his personal belief that they will absolutely have delicious food. Because this was intended for a Japanese audience, you will also get to witness various worldviews unique to Japan alongside it all. There's just one problem: He has extreme brainrot and views the world through a cute anime girl filter.

A story about girls making plastic models.

A collection of stories by various artists set in the universe of Blue Archive.

Yeyul is the youngest princess who is unloved and neglected. She lives in fear of getting killed by her father, the tyrant emperor. However, she is about to turn her fate around as she is actually a reincarnated soul, with the knowledge of how the story would unfold. Withstanding mean siblings and untrustworthy servants, Yeyul must now strive to survive on her own within the tyrant’s palace.

Deep in the countryside, Minato Kusunoki is left in charge of a terrifying house overflowing with evil spirits—or at least it was, until his extraordinary ability cleared them all out! Instead, a procession of unique and peculiar gods is drawn to the comfort of the purified Kusunoki residence, and Minato spends his days relaxing in the company of his spiritual neighbors. What else lies in store for Minato as he lives peacefully surrounded by gods?

One day, the delinquent boy Ryu was surprised by his estranged father, who made a rare appearance at home. His father left Suiren, a girl 12 years younger, with Ryu, telling him, "This is your stepsister." The life between stepbrother and sister began from there. The two were bewildered by the situation at first, but they will make their way through, on their way to becoming a family...

On the morning of his first day of high school, Iori Sakuma encountered a silver-haired, blue-eyed girl and a cat. The girl was bewildered by the approaching cat. "Do... Don't come over here, cat!" The girl noticed Iori's bewilderment at her unexpected outburst and left quickly. That was how he met Kaede Ryohara. Iori and Kaede ended up in the same class. As he watched Kaede, he noticed that she rarely showed any emotion. But when Iori happened to see Kaede smile, he felt his heart skip a beat... The curtain opens on a sweet but frustrating love story that will make a girl with few emotions smile.

The idol unit "TINGS" has big dreams, but only small achievements, and is not very popular. The best manager in the world was supposed to be their savior, but... "I'm not interested in being your manager." The man who shows up is Naose Hinaki, a man with no motivation. However, he has a special power...? This is a story of you and the girls shining brightly to become "absolute idols." The best idol entertainment begins here!

The story centers on the growth and paths in the life of Nikuko and Kikurin, a mother and daughter who live in a port town.

Knitting themed manga about the story of a handcrafts club in a boy’s high school.

A manga depicting the things that happens at "school," a place where seemingly anything is possible, from the ordinary, to the mysterious and amazing.

A slightly bizarre, and crazy fantasy world!? Nyororin, a girl with a snake-like body, lives with her otherworldly father, snake mother, and snake-like younger brother. Her daily life with her slightly strange friends is eccentric and unpredictable!? A slightly dark, slightly gentle, new sensational manga!

With a camper van, you can go anywhere in Japan! Michikusa Yoriko, a modest and inconspicuous temporary worker during the week, has a purpose in life on weekends when she travels around Japan with her camper van, Canta, to try delicious food! Forget about all the unpleasant things that happen during the weekdays and set off on a free-spirited food "ride" this week too!

The "everyday" lives of Fuuna Minami, an eccentric girl who loves model railroading, and Mari, a normal girl, become "extraordinary" with nostalgic products from the early days of N gauge.

An elderly couple, a high school girl, a housewife, an elementary school boy, a young man working part-time, a kitten... The small joys of lives in a small town, connected by happenstance. This is a series of short stories originally popularized on SNS, with the art totally revised! Each episode is tender, poignant, and sweet. The bright sparkles of each ordinary day are captured in these stories.

My new housemate is a cousin who's a very perky gal!

[A compilation of recipes that you can make even when you're at your limit] In this world that's overwhelmed with all kinds of matters, let's overcome the exhaustion with our ingenuity☆ Kashima Natsumi works at a supermarket and today, she is once again burned out from hard work. Stand! Get up, Natsumi! If you wanna maintain your respect as a human being, you gotta go and make your meal! As she snickers at herself, her feelings well up and the "limit meals" manga begins!

Kashino Yukiko, who lives in a certain region of Japan, is nicknamed "Wild JK" by her friends. Her grandfather, a hunter who has since passed away, taught her many things, and she would go into the mountains every day to trap, fish, gather, and dissect animals. She suddenly wanders into the forest of another world, but using her natural toughness and her mysterious abilities, she makes it to the royal capital of Sampeluk, where she runs a popular bar called『Nihon』with a girl she met there, Lara, whose hometown was destroyed by a demon monkey. The regular customers include the retired owner of the country’s largest merchant family and the young boss (cool) who controls the area around the bar. The number of unique people increased one after another. Source: NU

Hibiki... Are you with the kimono police!? Nadeshiko got into wearing kimonos after finding a sash she fancies. Even though she does her best to practice wearing a summer kimono to go to the fireworks festival, when she walks it starts to fall apart and gets blisters from the wooden sandals. Just as Nadeshiko is wallowing in hopelessness, she is helped by the gorgeous Hibiki Takakura who's wearing an elegant summer kimono. Nadeshiko feels ashamed in front of Hibiki, who seems to be a master at wearing kimonos, but then Hibiki makes a surprising suggestion......?

A manga about Indozou's daily life as an artist.