Hakumei to Mikochi by Kashiki Takuto
Slice of life fantasy set in a world where tiny people live alongside animals, with a focus on crafts and cooking. Beautiful artwork and truly unique setting.

Chichikogusa by Tagawa Mi
Touching story about a travelling medicine seller bonding with his young son after the death of his wife.

Otoyomegatari by Mori Kaoru
Set in the mid 19th century, follows the stories of different brides across Central and West Asia. Beautifully detailed art and thoroughly researched. Important- the main couple in this manga features a young boy married to an adult woman. I would not say the boy is sexualised nor label it shotcaon, and I believe that the author is operating from a misguided sense of "love knows no boundaries", but obviously some readers may find it difficult to read. I don't fully agree with the way the relationship is depicted, but I think the manga has enough positives to outweigh the negatives.

Dungeon Meshi by Kui Ryoko
Very popular and with good reason! A well thought out fantasy world with unique characters, it manages to balance hilarious humour with a rather dark and serious story. Kui's artwork is great too.

Mushishi by Urushibara Yuki
Follows the travels of man who deals with spirits called Mushi. A melancholy and mysterious atmosphere.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun by Tsubaki Izumi
Fun gag manga about a teen age boy who creates shoujo romance manga, and ropes most of his friends into doing free labour for him. Great cast of characters.

Natsume Yuujinchou by Midorikawa Yuki
A boy who has been ostracised for his supernatural abilities tries to find out about his grandmother as he returns the names of the spirits she collected, whilst learning to open his heart and form friendships.

Fullmetal Alchemist by Arakawa Hiromu
A modern classic. Great characters and an intriguing plot with well written twists.

Kaijuu no Kodomo by Igarashi Daisuke
If you like freaky things going on in the sea, this is the manga for you my friend. Does contain some disturbing scenes.

Nekomata by Kuku Hayate
Cute historical fantasy gag manga about a thief catcher who can see spirits, especially the little cat spirits who accompany him

Shimanami Tasogareby Kamatani Yuhki
Coming of age manga following a boy coming to terms with his sexuality as he befriends a local LGBT+ group. A realistic look at some of the challenges LGBT+ people in Japan face, with a touch of supernatural elements

My Roommate is a Cat by Tsunami Minatsuki & Futatsuyu As
The daily adventures of a reclusive writer and the stray cat he adopts. Each chapter has two versions, one from Subaru's pov, the other from Haru's (the cat!). Very wholesome, but coping with grief is one of the main themes of the manga, and does contain some scenes of animal death, though not graphic

Machida-kun No Sekai by Ando Yuki
Heart warming story revolving around an earnest and kind boy trying his best, and the positive way he touches the lives of those around him

Emma by Mori Kaoru
Mori's first serialised work, about a romance between a maid and an upper class gentleman in late Victorian England. It's interesting to see how her art and storytelling matures, and I would highly recommend the Further Tales stories too.

Saturn Apartments by Iwaoka Hisae
A sci-fi slice of life, wherein humanity lives in a giant ring-shaped space station around Earth. A boy who works as a window cleaner dreams of descending to Earth to find his lost father. Iwaoka is one of my favourite artists, I love her soft and unique style

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction by Asano Inio
My favourite of Asano's works. Starts off as a slice of life set in an alternate world where a huge space ship looms over Tokyo, but slowly turns into something a lot more serious. On-tan is great btw.

Shounen Note by Kamatani Yuhki
A manga about a middle school choir, and the lives and insecurities of it's members. Has a bit of a sports manga vibe to it.

Cesare by Souryo Fuyumi
Very well researched historical manga following the early life of Cesare Borgia. Tbh I have trouble keeping up with the politics, but the artwork, details and complex dynamic between Miguel and Cesare make it a good read.

Udon no Kuni no Kin'iro Kemari by Shinomaru Nodoka
Sweet slice of life about a man who, upon returning to his rural hometown after the death of his father, adopts a little tanuki. I like the sketchy, energetic art style.

This Uncle Likes Cute Things by Tsutomu
Gentle comedy about a middle-aged man who secretly loves cute mascot characters. Don't be ashamed Oji-san!!!!!

Saint Onii-San by Nakamura Hikaru
Fun manga following besties Jesus and Buddha and their adventures in modern Japan.

Wakako-zake by Shinkyu Chie
Follows a woman's daily food adventures. Short and simple chapters.

Gokushufudou: The Way of The House Husband by Oono Kousuke
Great comedy about a former yakuza turned homemaker. I love Tatsu and Miku's relationship so much.

Annarasumanara by Ha Il-Kwon
Manwha about a school girl struggling to make ends meet, and a mysterious man who claims to be a magician. Deals with topics such as mental illness, and the pressures of school, growing up etc. The art is mostly monochrome and uses splashes of colour to great effect, as well as experimenting with a mix of different mediums.

Kuragehime by Higashimura Akiko
Rom-com wherein a group of nerdy women find themselves starting a fashion brand in order to save their home, with the aid of a beautiful young man with a passion for women's clothes. Shuu is kind of gross but the rest of the cast are great. Touches upon some serious issues like body image and the wastefulness of the fashion industry.

Nabari No Ou by Kamatani Yuhki
Kamatani's first serialised series, about modern day ninja and a boy with a forbidden power sealed within. The premise might sound cliche but it is anything but a generic shounen manga. Can be melodramatic at times (as with Kamatani's other works), but tells a moving story gief and acceptance of loss, of which Miharu and Yoite's beautiful and tragic relationship is definately the highlight.

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