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?

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.

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.

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.

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......

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? 

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.

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.

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!

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......?