Genre - Slice Of Life

The title character, Maruko, is a nine-year-old third-grade student. She is lazy, disorganized and usually late for school, in strong contrast with her neat and tidy older sister who must share her room with her. Maruko, like many kids, tries to avoid homework and chores, takes advantage of her doting grandfather and squabbles with her sister. Nevertheless, she is a well-meaning child who tries to do good. Maruko's real name is Momoko Sakura (?????? Sakura Momoko), the same as the pen-name of her creator Miki Miura ?? ?? (who used her own childhood experiences as inspiration). Her nickname "Maruko" is made of marui ("round", because of her round face) and -ko (girl child); the prefix chibi and the suffix -chan also refer to a cute child. Maruko's trademark face fault in reaction to embarrassment is the sudden appearance of vertical lines on her face, sometimes with an unexplained gust of wind blowing behind her head. This is sometimes mimicked by female fans of the series who draw the fingers of one hand down across the face to show embarrassment. On the internet this is often used as emoticons, by speech marks. For example: -_-" Other characters include Maruko's classmate and best friend Tama-chan. A fan favorite is Maruko's kind but absent-minded grandfather. Naive and easily tricked, he keeps a pet turtle and loves watching TV with Maruko. When feeling distressed or nostalgic, he spontaneously retreats to a surreal inner world for a few seconds to improvise a sad yet comical haiku about his state of mind.

Chibisan Date revolves around the life of Seiji, a young artist living in Nantucket. (Source: MU)

Nakamura Yukiko is a 13 year old middle school student, who lives together with her mother and her big brother. Since her mother got a new job, her family has recently moved from a small village in the mountains to the local town. Yukiko, however, misses her friends from the village and has problems adapting to the fast-paced town life. Will she ever come to like her new home?

A story about a medicine seller and his son and their struggles with each other after losing someone precious to them. A father who never really raised his son because he is always out doing his trade, but when suddenly his wife dies he must adjust his solitary journey to include his son.

From J-SiS: All her life, Chihaya's dream was to see her model sister become Japan's best... That is, until a quiet, unassuming transfer student named Arata tells her otherwise. A dream, he explains to her, is something she needs to work at herself. Arata plays a competitive version of a traditional Japanese card game--known as Hyakunin Isshu--in a way Chihaya has never seen before. After taking Arata's place in a game, Chihaya discovers she has a passion for it. Now Chihaya wants to become number one in the world, the Queen of Karuta. Chihayafuru won the 2nd Manga Taisho Award. Winner of the 35th annual Kodansha Manga Award for Best Shoujo.

The new omnibus series centers on a girl who has an unexpected meeting in the garden of her house.

A 4koma manga.

Chocolat is a mature comedy series about half-orphan Tatsumi Chiyoko whose father was caught in huge debt. Now living with Omugi Matsukichi, an ex-underground king who opened a pastry shop, she gets to know people like Katou Ichigo, an ex-inmate. With people after her father`s whereabouts, what will happen to her?

Collection of 4 short stories: 1. Butterfly CloudBest friends Kiyo, Kanta, and Goma live in a small, depopulated island in the Seto Inland Sea. One day, a transfer student from Tokyo arrives. Before long Ritsuka, a cute and fair-skinned girl, started hanging out with the three best friends, but what happens after?This story was released as a oneshot in Bitter - Nakechau Koi Monogatari anthology volume. 2. Middle School - Less Than Love 3. Middle School - Man Hater 4. Middle School - The Cherry Blossoms Scatter

"An anthology of an adult puffing at blue smoke quietly" Various well-known mangaka look into the theme of cigarettes and smoking.

Natsukawa Nina was an ordinary "unsophisticated" sixth grader. She was top of her class and a member of the student council, but she always felt left out when compared to her highly fashionable friends and classmates. All that changed when her classmate Matsuki Asahi blackmailed her into applying for a modeling position with the popular magazine "Lollypop". After attempted sabotage by fellow applicants, Nina secured a position, and went on to make appearances on morning television, TV commercials, and even a soap opera, all while struggling with her developing feelings for Asahi.

From: Iskultrip Scans: Young girls experiencing frustrations and growth, a story of youth. Raised in the small town of Kinoto, Shiho is a third year in Middle School. She loves playing piano and dreams of opening a piano school in town in the future. An attractive student from Tokyo, Nanami, transfers into Shiho's class. Through meeting Nanami, Shiho's world starts to change. ----------------- From MangaHelpers: Kurata Shiho lives in the small town of Kinoto, up in the mountains. She's in her final year of middle school, and she loves playing piano in the music club. Shiho dreams of teaching piano in her small town in the future. One day, a transfer student arrives from Tokyo. The transfer student, Koba Nanami, is beautiful, but quietly contemptuous of the isolated country town. Soon, Shiho learns that Nanami is much more skilled at the piano than she is. What's worse, Nanami has no interest in piano, and mostly quit playing years ago. Will Shiho be able to continue enjoying the piano and strive for her dream, knowing that she doesn't measure up to even indifferent players her age? On top of her musical dream, Shiho is moving into the awkward teenage stage of life, full of small humiliations, friendship, and tentative romance. [tethysdust]

Elegant Yuzu envisioned the primary day at her new school she moved to after her mom's remarriage a touch in an unexpected way; she didn't realize it'd be a super severe and moderate young ladies' school. So rather than a sweet secondary school sentiment, she butts heads with the harsh understudy committee president Mei – who ends up being her new advance sister. Furthermore, she needs to discover that scorn and love are regularly not excessively far separated.

High schoolers (and stepsisters) Yuzu and Mei have opened up to the world about their relationship. The two are glad to date out in the open, however loved ones continue attempting to interrupt with counsel. Can Yuzu and Mei sort things out all alone?

Clannad is set in a high-school located in a Japanese town. Tomoya Okazaki is a third-year student who doesn't take his studies seriously. Always late for class, he's seen as a delinquent by the rest of his classmates who are busy preparing for their entrance examinations. Needless to say, he doesn't have too many close friends either. Tomoya seems not to mind too--until he meets a few other girls from his school. Though he doesn't care much about them at first, he soon opens his heart to them as they get to know each other better. Clannad is a romantic youth drama that's likely to be more down-to-earth than Key's other works. But like Kanon and Air, Clannad's story is expected to be another touching and heart-breaking weeper. Based off the game of the same name.