Over the years, hundreds of manga have been written, many of which are famous worldwide. With genres ranging from action, isekai, and romance, one genre which stands out is slice of life manga.
Whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning or a Monday afternoon lunch break, slice of life manga is the perfect way to relax.
This genre is sometimes filled with comedy, romance, or even supernatural elements. The plot is simple yet exciting enough to keep you hooked. In the end, your heart feels warm after reading it.
With so many choices finding amazing titles can be difficult. This list of the best 20 slice of life manga includes some of the most touching and entertaining manga with great artwork.
Reading manga is also a great way to learn Japanese. If you want to learn Japanese, we have a guide that teaches you the best way to get started learning Japanese.
20. Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha (Morohe Yoshida, 2010 – 2015)
Inari is an ordinary school girl with loving friends and family. However, life hasn’t been easy for Inari. She is very shy and clumsy. She’s a character with whom many of us could relate, as she lacks self-esteem and confidence.
Inari is optimistic about her first day of school. Unfortunately, she becomes late as she encounters a fox on her way and has to save him. Things couldn’t have gotten worse, but during her basketball practice, she embarrasses her crush in front of everyone, making him angry at her.
When Inari tries to apologize to her crush the next day, it doesn’t go well. Finally, helpless and devastated, Inari prays at a shrine, and her wish gets granted.
Inari gets a new superpower that transforms her appearance whenever she says, “Inari Konkon.” Inari’s life turns upside down, and regardless of her new powers, confessing her love won’t be easy.
Inari Konkon is a slice of life manga with a mix of romance and supernatural elements. Apart from the main character’s love story, there are more cute couples in the plot, which makes the manga more entertaining. This manga has very well-written characters and seeing the romance between them can’t make you stop smiling.
Check out the Kindle Edition of volume 1 here on Amazon: Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha vol 1
You can find other volumes in this series here: Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha Manga Series
19. Masamune-Kun’s Revenge (Hazuki Takeoka, 2012 – 2018)
Have you ever seen someone as a child become extremely handsome when they grow older? Well, that’s precisely what happened with Masamune Makabe. Except that he was bullied for being overweight by a rich girl named Aki Adagaki in his childhood, and to take revenge, he worked hard and became slim and good-looking.
Eight years later, Makabe changed his name and transferred to Adagaki’s high school with the plan to make her fall in love with him and break her heart. Fortunately for Makabe, he doesn’t only have good looks, but he also knows how to make the girls fall for him.
However, Makabe’s revenge won’t be so easy. There’s someone out there that knows his real identity. Moreover, in the progressing friendship between Adagaki and Makabe, can he stop himself from falling in love with the school’s most beautiful girl, Adagaki?
Revenge is sweet, but things don’t always go as planned. Masamune-Kun’s Revenge is a beautifully drawn slice of life manga filled with exciting drama.
Check out the first volume on Amazon here: Masamune-kun’s Revenge Vol. 1
You can find other volumes on this manga here: Masamune-kun’s Revenge Manga Series
18. He Does Not Have Any Friends (Jun Sakura, 2012 – 2019)
Yūji Yugami is a high school student who excels in sports and academics. Usually, such a student would be popular in school, but this isn’t the case for Yūji. As the title states as well, Yugami-kun has no friends. His whole class finds him weird and chooses to ignore him.
When Chihiro Watanuki, a transfer student, joins Yugami’s class, she finds that her desk is next to his. Her classmates warn Watanuki not to interact with Yugami. When she does talk to him, Watanuki admits the rumors to be true and finds Yugami to be “unique.”
However, after certain situations where Yugami helps Watanuki because of his sense of justice, Watanuki realizes there is more to Yugami than most people think.
As the plot progresses, Yugami and Watanuki develop an unusual friendship, and more is unfolded about this complex character, Yugami.
He Does Not Have Any Friends is a hidden gem of a manga. It keeps you hooked from the very first chapter. Yugami isn’t an easy character to become friends with, but Watanuki makes the impossible possible. Reading this manga gives you a taste of a non-cliché high school story.
If you can read Japanese, you can get a Japanese Edition of volume 1 on Amazon here: He Does Not Have Any Friends Volume 1 Japanese Edition
17. Uzaki- Chan Wants to Hangout! (Take, 2017 – Present)
This manga is a light-hearted rom-com that revolves around Shinichi Sakurai, a third-year college student, and Hana Uzaki, his junior. Shinichi Sakurai is a simple introverted student who enjoys spending time alone. However, all he wishes for is to have some alone time, which is why he doesn’t have friends.
His junior, Uzaki, has an opposite personality of an introvert. She’s very hyperactive, and despite having many friends, she chooses to hang out with Sakurai. Uzaki considers Sakurai a “lone wolf” and follows him around so he wouldn’t be lonely.
So, what makes this manga fun to read? First, it is hilarious how Uzaki keeps bothering Sakurai despite him trying to ignore her. Secondly, the two characters are so different, yet they develop unique chemistry between them and end up having fun together anyways.
Seeing their friendship progress with twists and turns will keep you reading to see what happens next.
You can find volume 1 of this manga on Amazon: Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! Vol. 1
Check out other volumes of this series here: Uzaki- Chan Wants to Hangout! Manga Series
16. Sweetness and Lightning (Gido Amagakure, 2013 – 2018)
Sweetness and Lightning is a manga that teaches you the worth of warm, home-cooked meals. It follows the story of Kōhei Inuzaka, a widower, and his young daughter, Tsumugi.
Kōhei is busy with his teaching job and doesn’t know how to cook. So, he mostly eats and feeds his daughter store-bought meal boxes. However, upon his student’s request, he and Tsumugi began cooking and eating with the student at her mother’s restaurant.
Sweetness and Lightning is a wholesome slice of life manga with a cooking and family theme. When Tsumugi and Kōhei eat warm meals together, it makes them feel so much happier and heals them from the pain they felt from losing their wife/mother.
The plot is straightforward but makes you feel good in the end. Also, Tsumugi and Kōhei’s emotional reactions to the good food are worth seeing for yourself.
Volume 1 of this series can be found on Amazon here: Sweetness and Lightning Volume 1
Other volumes in this series can be found here: Sweetness and Lightning Manga Series
15. Insomniacs After School (Makoto Ojiro, 2019 – Present)
Many people have insomnia nowadays, and if you happen to be one of them, you can relate to this manga very well. Insomniacs After School focuses has a new theme, and while it talks about a serious issue, the manga remains very light-hearted.
Ganta Nakami is a high school student who has insomnia. Unexpectedly, he finds Isaki Magari napping in the observatory one day and finds out she has insomnia as well. Finally, the two have someone who can understand their situation. Together, they have secret naps, and later they re-establish the school’s astronomy club.
If you’re looking for a relaxing slice of life manga that isn’t ecchi or drama, then this one is just what you need. The characters are loveable, and the chemistry between the main characters is adorable. Each chapter is packed with wholesomeness and romance. The manga became so popular that it is scheduled to have an anime adaptation in 2023.
The English edition of volume 1 is set to be released on March 21st, 2023. You pre-order a copy here on Amazon: Insomniacs After School, Vol. 1
If you can read Japanese, the Japanese Edition of Volume 1 can be found here: Insomniacs After School Volume 1 Japanese Edition
14. Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (Nanashi, 2017 – Present)
Almost everyone has at least once seen this manga in a meme. It is about an assertive first-year student, Nagatoro, who doesn’t miss a chance to tease the introverted and nerdy protagonist, even though he’s her senpai.
Using his interests, personality, or lewd methods to tease him, Nagatoro even makes her senpai cry. However, despite being so embarrassed by her, senpai finds himself developing feelings for her.
With Senpai tolerating Nagatoro’s bullying and Nagatoro enjoying herself by teasing him, both become closer to each other.
Having sold over 1.2 million copies in Japan, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro is a series you should pick up too. There is a lot of character development in this manga, and the humor is so good there’s never a dull moment in the story.
Check out volume 1 here on Amazon: Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 1
Other volumes of this manga can be found here: Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro Manga Series
13. Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie (Keigo Maki, 2019 – Present)
The author basically “switched” the gender roles in this manga. The main premise is that Izumi-kun, a high school student, has bad luck attached to him and always falls into danger. Luckily, he has a beautiful girlfriend, Shikimori, who’s always protecting him.
In every chapter, Izumi admires that Shikimori is not only cute but also very cool. Whether it’s hitting off objects flying off to Izumi, playing basketball, or skiing, Shikimori always looks cute and cool.
The manga is a simple romance story, but the art sets it apart. Each of the characters is drawn in beautiful detail. As a result, their emotions and actions look very realistic, making the scenes much more enjoyable.
Every day, the young couple has adorable romantic moments together and are always admiring each other. It is fun to see such a healthy couple in a manga, especially the expressions on Shikimori’s face when she’s blushing or protecting Izumi.
You can find volume 1 of this series on Amazon here: Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie 1
Other volumes in this series are availabe here: Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie Manga Series
12. Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You (Karuho Shiina, 2005 – 2017)
This list wouldn’t have been complete without the infamous shoujo manga, From Me To You.
Sawako Kuronuma is a shy high school student shunned by her classmates due to her similarity with Sadako from the Ring.
There are even rumors about her putting a curse on others, and they even call her Sadako. Kuronuma’s loneliness and desire to make friends make her admire Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her class.
Kazehaya has a natural aura that makes others feel comfortable around him. He’s the only one to be so friendly toward Kuronuma, which slowly makes her open up to him and develop the confidence to talk more and make friends. Soon, romance begins to stir up between the two.
From Me To You may sound like a typical romance manga. However, the dialogues, the sweet romance, and the character development are all one of a kind. The more you read, the more interesting the story gets, and you won’t be able to put it down. The manga has been so successful that until 2012 it had sold over 20 million copies.
Check out volume 1 of this awesome manga on Amazon here: Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You Volume 1
Other volumes of this manga can be found here: Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You Manga Series
11. Yotsuba&! (Kiyohiko Azuma, 2003 – Present)
Life is boring for most people, but not for Yotsuba Koiwai, a five-year-old girl who has moved into a new city with her adoptive father. The manga follows the daily life of Yotsuba as she explores the city and is very amused by small things such as air conditioners and swings.
Yotsuba’s neighbors are a family of three sisters, and every day she surprises them with her reactions and actions. As Yotsuba’s daily adventures continue, she meets new people, some of who she annoys while some end up befriending her.
Yotsuba&! is the perfect manga for beginner readers. This is because the plot is very straightforward. There are no complex characters, supernatural elements, or long dialogues. It’s just a young girl making the most out of her life and spreading joy in the lives of others. How refreshing is that?
Check out volume 1 of this manga on Amazon: Yotsuba&! Volume 1
A set with volumes 1-14 can be found here: YOTSUBA & ! Manga Series Vol 1 – 14 Set , Original Sticky
You can also find other volumes in this series here: Yotsuba&! Manga Series
10. K-On! (Kakifly, 2007-2012)
If you love music and cute high school girls, this is the ideal manga for you. K-On! gained so much popularity that its third volume sold more than 328,000 copies. The story is set in modern-day Japan and focuses on a group of high schoolers and their daily lives.
Four high school students “start” a light music club in their school. Each day, the girls goof around in the club or play some music, developing stronger friendships. They’re carefree about their lives, and their daily motive is to have fun.
Each character is wholesome and loveable, and the art style really adds to the reading experience. Reading K-On! takes the readers to the carefree world of these high schoolers and is a very refreshing read.
Check out volume 1 here on Amazon: K-ON!, Vol. 1
Other volumes in this set can be found here: K-On! Manga Series
9. Azumanga Daioh (Kiyohiko Azuma, 1999 – 2002)
Despite two decades after its ending, Azumanga Daioh remains one of the best slice of life manga ever made. It revolves around a group of high school girls, each with eccentric personalities.
Together, each unique character adds to the humor and absurdity of the manga. Throughout the story, the girls are either studying together, having hilarious conversations, taking tests, teasing each other, or going on trips together.
Every day something exciting is going on in the girls’ lives. Despite the characters being different from each other, they get along well, and each of them is very entertaining.
Azumanga Daioh’s plot is all about high schoolers having fun and cracking jokes. The humor in this manga is so good that you’ll catch yourself laughing out loud.
You can get the deluxe edition of this manga on Amazon here: Azumanga Daioh
8. My Dress-Up Darling (Shinichi Fukuda, 2018 – Present)
My Dress-Up Darling is one of my favorite slice of life mangas. It is the first manga I know of that revolves around “cosplaying.”
Wakana Gojō is a shy high school student with no friends and a secret hobby of making traditional dolls. One day, his gorgeous and popular classmate, Marin Kitagawa, finds out about his secret hobby.
Surprisingly, Marin has a similar hobby; cosplay. She requests Gojō to make cosplay dresses for her. That starts the journey of Kitagawa and Gojō as they go shopping and spend loads of time together making outfits for Kitagawa. During which Kitagawa always teases Gojō and makes him feel embarrassed.
My Dress Up Darling isn’t an ordinary romance/ecchi manga. The characters are very well-written, the jokes are hilarious, and it shows how two polar-opposite characters end up having their lives changed by finding each other.
The art style of this manga is exquisite. It is so fun seeing Marin Kitagawa dress up in different costumes and Gojō’s passion for his work.
If you’re looking for a romantic slice of life manga with comedy and a new concept, this would be a great choice.
You can get volume 1 on Amazon here: My Dress-Up Darling 01
Other volumes in this series can be found here: My Dress-Up Darling Manga Series
7. The Quintessential Quintuplets (Negi Haruba, 2017 – 2020)
The Quintessential Quintuplets is a harem slice of life manga that you’ll keep coming back to over and over again. After all, it was the third best-selling manga in 2020, being beaten only by Demon Slayer and One Piece.
Fūtarō Uesugi is a high school academic who always scores full marks. However, he’s not doing so well financially. One day at school, Fūtarō encounters a transfer student at lunch, and he mocks her on her eating habits. Later that day, he is offered a tutoring job and finds out it is the same student, Itsuki Nakano, whom he had mocked.
Fūtarō has no choice but to accept the tutoring job. However, when he goes to Itsuki’s apartment to apologize to her, he finds out he has to tutor her and her four identical sisters as well.
All of the sisters have very different and eccentric personalities. Teaching the five beautiful girls is not only a challenging task but also changes Fūtarō’s life much more than he had imagined.
In the future, Fūtarō marries one of the Nakano sisters, and the whole story is a flashback. As the manga progresses, all the five sisters fall in love with Fūtarō, but in the end, he chooses only the one he loves.
The manga follows Fūtarō’s everyday struggles to teach these girls while also developing a strong bond with them and understanding them. Trust me; this manga is so interesting you can’t stop yourself from turning to the next page.
Check out volume 1 on Amazon: The Quintessential Quintuplets 1
A box set with volumes 1-7 can be found here: The Quintessential Quintuplets Part 1 Manga Box Set
A huge set with volumes 1-4 is also avalaible here: Quintessential Quintuplets Manga Collection: Vol. 1-14
6. Horimiya (Hiroki Adachi, 2011 – 2021)
Kyōko Hori is a high school student with tons of friends. She’s beautiful and excels in academics. On the other hand is Izumi Miyamura, her quiet otaku classmate with long hair and glasses.
However, Hori and Miyamura are much different from what they are in high school. Hori doesn’t hang out with her friends after school. Instead, she dresses up plainly and looks after her younger brother. In contrast, Miyamura ties his hair and has piercings and tattoos when not at school.
Both look entirely different, and after an unexpected situation, they discover this side of each other.
Hori and Miyamura begin spending time together every day after school. As a result, they develop a comfortable bond as they can finally be themselves with each other.
The plot of Horimiya might sound cliché. However, the way it is delivered sets it apart from other romance slice of life manga.
The romance between the couple isn’t forced; instead, the two naturally feel comfort and attraction toward each other and slowly let things progress. Moreover, Horimiya is a sweet and comforting manga that will warm your heart.
You can find volume 1 of this series on Amazon here: Horimiya, Vol. 1
You can see the other volumes in this series here: Horimiya Manga Series
A set with volumes 1-15 can also be purchased here: Horimiya Manga Set 1-15
5. Fruits Basket (Natsuki Takaya, 1998 – 2006)
Fruits Basket is a slice of life manga filled with supernatural elements, comedy, and romance. The story gets more interesting with every chapter, and the characters are unforgettable.
Fruits Basket is one of the most popular manga ever, as it has sold 18 million copies in Japan and 30 million worldwide. Its popularity even led to it having a sequel and a spin-off series.
Tōru Honda is an orphan girl who lives in a tent in the woods until she begins living with the Sōma family. However, soon she finds out their secret: every time the opposite gender hugs a Sōma family member, they turn into one of the Chinese zodiac animals.
The Fruits Basket plot may seem light-hearted, but the background story often becomes dark and constantly makes you curious to know more. The characters seem happy at first, but later their struggles and a more “real” side of them are shown.
The style of art in Fruits Basket is wonderful. The facial expressions of each character are drawn in detail, and their clothes are adorable. Fruits Basket is a manga that will win your heart with the plot, characters, and art.
You can find volume 1 of the collector’s edition on Amazon here: Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1
If you’re interested in other volumes of these series, go here: Fruits Basket Manga Series
A set with volumes 1-12 of the collector’s edition can be found here: Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition Complete Manga Set Vol 1-12 by Natsuki Takaya
4. Komi Can’t Communicate (Tomohito Oda, 2016 – Present)
Komi is so beautiful that soon after entering high school, she became popular and is regarded as the school’s “Madonna.” Everyone is head over heels for Komi. However, Komi has a communication disorder. As a result, she has no friends, and no one knows about her condition.
One day, Hitohito Tadano, Komi’s classmate, has an awkward interaction with her. Tadano becomes the first one to learn that Komi has a communication disorder. She unveils her goal, which is to make “100 friends.” Tadano then becomes her first friend and promises to help her make the remaining 99 friends.
As the story progresses, Komi, with the help of Tadano, tries to improve her communication skills and successfully makes three more friends. With 97 more to go, Komi is sure not to give up on her dream.
So far, more than 7.4 million copies have been sold of the manga. Komi Can’t Communicate is a slice of life manga that mixes humor and romance while also focusing on the struggles that come from having a communication disorder.
The manga is fun and easy to read. It does a great job portraying Komi’s emotions, such as her difficulty in speaking and awkwardness.
Check out volume 1 on Amazon: Komi Can’t Communicate Volume 1
Other volumes of this manga are avaialble here: Komi Can’t Communicate Manga Series
You can also purchase a set with volumes 1-5 here: Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol 1-5 by Tomohito Oda
3. Kaguya-Sama: Love is War (Aka Akasaka, 2015 – Present)
Miyuki Shirogane, the student council president of Shuchiin Academy, also has the highest grades in her class. Alongside him is the vice president, Kaguya Shinomiya. She is from a wealthy family and smart too.
Shirogane and Kaguya end up developing feelings for each other. However, they both are full of pride and believe that the one who confesses first becomes the loser in the relationship. Hence, every day, the two engage in the battle of love.
Kaguya and Shirogane use all their intellect to create tactics to make the other person confess their love. Since both are geniuses, winning against the other is no easy task. Moreover, Chika Fujiwara, the council’s secretary, unintentionally puts their efforts to waste by interfering in their plans.
With both of them so prideful, who will confess their love first?
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War is one of my all-time favorite romantic slice of life manga. Unlike other rom-com, both characters in this manga are dominant. Seeing them pull off new strategies to make the other person confess is entertaining.
Each character has such a loveable personality that anyone who reads this manga will love it. In every chapter, you will be curious to see what the next move of Shirogane and Kaguya will be.
You can get volume 1 on Amazon here: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Vol. 1
You can also get other volumes on this series here: Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Manga Series
2. Spy x Family (Tatsuya Endo, 2019 – Present)
An agent named “Twilight” is constantly changing his identity as he works on various missions as a spy to uphold the peace of his country. For a mission to prevent the war, Twilight is given a long and difficult mission: To create a family and spy on his target, Donovan Desmond.
To do this, Twilight changes his name to Loid Forger. He adopts a child named Anya and marries an office worker named “Yor Briar.” Surprisingly, Anya has a secret, too; She’s a telepath. And his “wife,” Yor, is a secret assassin called “Thorn Princess.” Together, they live as a typical, happy family without knowing their deep, dark secrets.
As they spend more time together, they develop a genuine love for each other.
Spy x Family stands above most of your average manga. It shows the importance of family in a weird yet exciting way. Each character has an eccentric personality, but you’ll love all of them. This manga has it all: action, slice of life, and lots of comedy.
It is exciting to see Loid go on new missions every day with Anya aiding him and Yor beating the bad guys. The three work together without telling each other.
The art style of Spy x Family is very well-drawn, and the manga has become so successful that it has surpassed 21 million copies sold. Spy X Family checks all boxes of wholesomeness and entertainment. I highly recommend this manga to everyone.
Volume 1 can be found on Amazon here: Spy x Family Volume 1
Check out other volumes here: Spy x Family Manga Series
A collection set with volumes 1-6 can also be found here: Spy x Family Collection Set Volumes 1-6 by Tatsuya Endo
1. March Comes in Like a Lion (Chica Umino, 2007 – Present)
Also known as “3-Gatsu No Raion,” this manga is one of the few based on a real-life story. Harunobu Nikaidō, a character in the manga, is created after Satoshi Murayama, an actual professional shogi player.
The story follows Rei Kiriyama, a professional shogi player. He is highly talented and popular in the shogi world. However, Kiriyama had lost his father and sister in a car accident. He lived with his adoptive father, from whom he learned shogi but later began living on his own to avoid being a nuisance to them.
Despite being a successful shogi player, Rei was an ordinary teenager who longed to have a family and a feeling of belonging. However, Rei’s life takes a turn when he meets the Kawamoto sisters.
March Comes in Like a Lion is a slice of life manga that uses a simple story to convey a deep message about life. It focuses on childhood trauma and abuse which affects the lives of the youth, but with love and care, anything is possible.
The manga has won multiple awards for its excellence, such as the Kodansha Manga Award in 2011 and the Manga Grand Prize at Japan Media Arts Festival in 2021. Read this manga that can be life-changing for some.
You find volume 1 of this manga on Amazon here: March Comes in Like a Lion, Volume 1
