..and that certainly is the case where Noramimi is concerned! 3i4t3f

I picked up this manga with little to no expectations, believing it to be the kind of simple story that is read merely for the sake of innocent entertainment. But I was mistaken - there is so much more to this comedic little slice-of-life piece than just a few laughs.
Each chapter carries subtle and cleverly-implied messages about the...

While the basic premise is hardly unique, Matsumoto Taiyo is such an incredible story-teller that he manages to bring the characters of this simple tale to life so successfully, you soon begin to feel you have known them for years. The evolution of both Shigeo and Hanada, and the subtle yet telling manner in which they begin to appreciate each other as father and son is fascinating and delightful...

This is a nice little story - gentle, funny, and quite adorable. The subtle but telling effect that island life and the interactions with his neighbours has on our haughty, self-centered young calligrapher is presented with a level of tact and delicacy I did not expect to see in a manga so simple and child-like.

Each character - from the protagonist to the little kids and the neighbours, has a...

It's really refreshing to find a school-life comedy manga that isn't tainted by silly romance or pointless ecchi, and Sumire 16 Sai!! is definitely one of those rare gems.
The protagonist has one of the most original characters designs I have come across in a shounen manga to date, and his / her presence makes anything that would normally have been an average, slightly amusing situation...

Really, that girl (guy? lol, idk) is one of the most likeable characters I've ever come across in fiction. If only people like her/him actually existed!

jangofetts' comment, below, does have a point, but if you liked Sumire 16-sai, I still recommend you try this one out. It's a bit more rushed than its predecessor (probably because of the length), and since each chapter focuses on a different...

...then don't bother with this manga. It's basically a series of episodes from the day-to-day of a farming village in a secluded corner of Japan that details how the people there cultivate, prepare and eat food, through the eyes of a very independent young country woman. Since the villagers produce the majority of the ingredients themselves from scratch, as a city girl who's barely even been to a...

...is cute and touching but not particularly deep or unique -- pretty much typical shoujo fluff minus the romance (well, there is romance for Ikumi, but it's not the focus). Still, this is worth a read just for Tomonori, who is sweet, smart, brave, and just an all-round amazing character. If boys like him actually existed, how great the world would be! Sighs wistfully

The theme is good, but several things about this manga seemed slightly off to me. I love how ionate the two main characters are about their profession -- to the point that they'll even break gender norms in order to be able to pursue it -- and I love that there were no hints of romance or BL despite there being ample opportunities for both, but the praise ends there.

First of all, this is the...