# 10 Best Seinen Slice Of Life Manga

Summary

Slice-of-life manga depict relatable struggles like job stress and relationships realistically.
Seinen slice-of-life manga delve into raw, mature details of the protagonist’s situations.
These recommendations offer a diverse range of slice-of-life manga genres and themes.

Sometimes, the most challenging adventures aren’t about battling gigantic foes or saving the world from alien invasions, but rather navigating through everyday challenges such as work pressures, personal relationship issues, and family strife. These ordinary struggles can often feel as intense and dramatic as the most epic battles depicted in popular shōnen manga series.

Exceptional slice-of-life manga can transform everyday experiences into tales of tragedy, humor, or inspire optimism even in bleak circumstances. Notably, seinen manga, catering to an older demographic, offer a more explicit portrayal of their struggling protagonists’ lives. Readers eager to delve into this genre may find the following suggestions helpful as a starting point.

1. Solanin

Couple Give Up the City Grind to Chase Their Dreams

Creator: Inio Asano
2 Volumes, 28 Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Viz Signature imprint

Almost any of Inio Asano’s works could be considered for this list because they often incorporate fantastical themes but focus on everyday realities. For instance, “Nijigahara Holograph” features a cursed beast, yet it serves as a symbol of a self-fulfilling prophecy that leads to the demise of all those entangled in it. Similarly, the demon tormenting Tokyo in “Solanin” represents the oppressive reality that gradually eroded Meiko’s aspirations and dreams.

With Naruo’s agreement, she decides to quit their jobs together in pursuit of a dream they had harbored since college: reassembling their band for an adventure that could be unpredictable and exhilarating. Yet, while this new path might present them with novel experiences, it also has the potential to bring both heartbreaking lows and euphoric highs into their lives.

2. Genshiken

It Can Be Healthy To Be Nerdy Sometimes

Creator: Shimoku Kio
21 Volumes, 127 Chapters
Available in English via Kodansha USA

Instead of saying “Gendai Shikaku Bunka Kenkyūkai,” which is quite lengthy, it’s more conveniently referred to as Genshiken, a club dedicated to otaku culture, encompassing comics, anime, figurines, and cosplay. However, this doesn’t sit well with Saki Kasukabe, a girl who isn’t fond of otaku culture at all.

In a more relaxed phrasing, the story revolves around the characters Saki, Kosaka (her boyfriend), Kanji (a mutual friend), and their evolving relationships within a club setting. Saki wishes for Kosaka to outgrow his geeky pursuits, while Kanji struggles with whether to follow his feelings and join the club or choose a more socially favored path. However, as they spend time together in this group, Saki gains deeper insight into Kosaka’s personality, Kanji discovers self-acceptance, and all members learn to balance their professional and personal connections.

3. Non Non Biyori

Schoolgirls Live A Humble Life In The Countryside

Creator: Atto
16 Volumes, 125 Chapters
Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment

Not every day-to-day narrative is as intense as “Solanin”. In fact, some of the finest examples can be unexpectedly soothing and laid-back tales designed to provide solace to their audience. These stories have become popular enough to form a distinct subcategory called iyashikei (“healing”). So, for those who prefer not to have their emotions stirred or nerves strung too tightly, they might want to explore a story like “Non Non Biyori”.

The story revolves around Hotaru Ichijo, a resident of bustling Tokyo, adjusting to the slower pace of country life in the small town of Asahigaoka, following her father’s work transfer. Although she had previously visited this town to meet family, living there presented an entirely new challenge. Fortunately, she manages to form friendships that guide her through various delightful, humorous, and sometimes awkward experiences.

4. Planetes

The Ugly, More Likely Side Of Space Travel

Creator: Makoto Yukimura
4 Volumes, 27 Chapters
Available in English via Dark Horse Comics

In a different perspective, one might consider a hard sci-fi story like Planetes as an intimate, everyday narrative. Despite focusing heavily on scientific accuracy, the story deviates from typical hard sci-fi tropes such as colonizing the solar system or discovering new life forms. Instead, it centers around the crew of DS-12 “Toy Box,” who are responsible for removing space debris orbiting Earth. Essentially, they’re analogous to garbage collectors, with the difference being that their task involves dealing with cosmic trash, which can potentially harm satellites and space stations if not properly managed.

This job has its share of highs and lows. While there are moments that defy the ordinary, such as thwarting a terrorist act like crashing into a satellite, many challenges are more grounded than otherworldly. It’s similar to experiencing loss of loved ones, dealing with the unwanted spotlight when advocating for a cause, and recognizing the mental strain prolonged space travel can impose on the human mind.

5. My Girl

Grieving Man Mourns His Ex While Raising Her Daughter

Creator: Sumomo Yumeka
5 Volumes, 44 Chapters
Fan Translations only

To what extent would a person go to aid their former partners? The answer can vary greatly depending on the nature of the split, ranging from making an effort that’s as significant as reaching the furthest horizon or being minimal enough to be measured in tiny increments. However, it might not always be straightforward, as demonstrated by the TV show My Girl. In this series, Masamune still harbors feelings for his ex-girlfriend Yoko, even five years after they parted ways.

In an unexpected turn of events, Yoko’s mother phoned him out of the blue, revealing that Yoko had passed away in a car accident. To add to his misery, she also disclosed that Yoko gave birth to Masamune’s child during those days, which she raised secretly on her own. Overwhelmed by grief but determined not to abandon his daughter, he decided to take care of her himself, learning the art of single parenthood amidst his healing process.

6. Our Dreams At Dusk

Gay Teen Enters A Drop-In Center And Finds Hope

Creator: Yuki Kamatani
4 Volumes, 23 Chapters
Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment

Genshiken demonstrated that individuals could cultivate balanced approaches to niche hobbies without being socially excluded. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that experiencing bullying or exclusion for enjoying anime differs significantly from the discrimination faced by members of the LGBTQ community. The weight of prejudice and punishment endured by these individuals for simply being themselves can be overwhelming.

In “Our Dreams at Dusk,” Tasuku finds himself contemplating suicide following his outing at school. However, his plans are interrupted when he witnesses someone falling from an office building. Thinking the person has died, Tasuku is shocked to discover they’re actually okay. The building, it turns out, serves as a safe space for individuals grappling with hardships, where they can open up about their struggles. With their support and guidance, Tasuku learns to embrace himself and rediscovers the will to live.

7. Hirayasumi

Humble Worker Gains A House And Shares It With His Cousin

Creator: Keigo Shinzo
8+ Volumes, 79+ Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Viz Signature imprint

People’s lives often don’t fall into the extremes portrayed in shows like ‘My Girl’, ‘Our Dreams at Dusk’, or ‘Non Non Biyori’. Instead, they tend to be more like the series ‘Hirayasumi’, which follows Hiroto, a man who divides his days between work and socializing with locals in Asagaya. He’s even made friends with Hanae, an old woman who can come off as grumpy but is essentially kind-hearted.

Yet, upon her death, he learns that she had left him her old bungalow in her will. Interestingly, three months later, his cousin Natsumi requires a place to live while pursuing art school. Consequently, he invites her to stay at his new residence, and despite their contrasting natures, he makes an effort to create a harmonious living situation for them both.

8. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou

Android Serves Coffee To What’s Left Of Humanity

Creator: Hitoshi Ashinano
14 Volumes, 142 Chapters
Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment

In a world as we commonly understand it, drastic changes are underway. The increasing sea levels and Mt Fuji’s unexpected catastrophic eruption have left humanity in decline. It seems inevitable that the human race will soon become extinct. Yet, surprisingly, this grim scenario served as the foundation for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (“Yokohama Shopping Log”), one of the most celebrated slice-of-life iyashikei (healing) manga series out there.

Alpha, an android working at Café Alpha, will live longer than her human coworkers and patrons. Yet she develops friendships with them and aids them despite their transient nature – whether they leave or pass away. The briefness of their shared moments doesn’t diminish the value of their relationship. It’s all about cherishing what one has while it endures.

9. March Comes In Like A Lion

Reclusive Shogi Player Makes His First Genuine Friends

Creator: Chica Umino
17+ Volumes, 213+ Chapters
Available in English via Denpa

As an avid fan, I’ve found that series like Genshiken and Our Dreams at Dusk have taught me a valuable lesson: our hobbies, sexualities, and identities don’t define our worth as individuals. However, life isn’t always as simple as embracing these aspects. Sometimes, the challenges we face run deeper, stemming from traumatic experiences or intrinsic struggles. Much like Rei in March Comes in Like a Lion, who demonstrated prodigious skill in shogi at such a young age, yet his genius was intertwined with profound personal struggles that made him more complex and relatable.

Yet, he’s become exceptionally skilled at shogi, causing him to face increasing expectations from the shogi community to advance even more in the game. Following a tragic accident that claimed his parents and younger sister, he carries emotional burdens that hinder his ability to socialize or bond with his foster family. However, when he encounters the Kawamoto sisters, he forges his first genuine friendships in years, and they help guide him towards overcoming his personal struggles.

10. Oyasumi Punpun

Young Boy Loses His Innocence And Idealism As He Grows Up

Creator: Inio Asano
13 Volumes, 147 Chapters
Available in English via Viz Media’s Viz Signature imprint

A slice-of-life narrative doesn’t necessarily have to be set in the present day or lack fantastical elements; works like “Planetes,” “Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou,” and those by Inio Asano prove this. While “Solanin” was more grounded, “Oyasumi Punpun” uses vivid imagery and dramatic twists to narrate its tale. At first glance, it’s a story about a boy named Punpun and his life with his troubled family, as well as his emotions towards his classmate Aiko.

In a rough, avian-themed sketch, Asano portrayed Punpun and his kin as simplistic bird figures. Escaping the tumultuous breakdown of his family, he looks for wisdom from a hyperrealistic cranium labeled “God,” whose counsel was far from divine. Born into adversity, Punpun’s life only deteriorates further as he grows older.

2025-03-30 23:08