Manga like Sekai de Ichiban Yasashii Ongaku

Papa told me

Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Chise is an elementary school girl who lives with her widowed father, a novelist. Her mother died when she was very young, but she is extremely close to her father. He is the one she loves the most, and because he works as a novelist, he spends most of his time at home, much to the delight of Chise.



Note: Winner of the Shogakukan Manga Award in the shoujo category (1990).

Tags: Josei , Iyashikei , Writing , Work , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Parenthood , Animals , Episodic , Fashion , School

Nikoniko Nikki

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Kei is a young, not-so-successful screenwriter. One day, she finds an unexpected vistor at the door of her apartment. A little girl named Niko, a secret child of a famous actress Mifuyu Shibano. Niko is sent to Kei because she is the only person who knows this secret, since she used to work for Mifuyu when she was not so famous. As she begins to live with Niko, she finds the girl is very self-contained. She tries an 'exchange diary' to communicate with her.

Tags: Adoption , Josei , Found Family , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist

Ikoku Nikki

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The manga centers on 35-year-old novelist Makio Koudai and her 15-year-old niece Asa, who live together under one roof. Makio took Asa in on a sudden impulse after Asa's parents, which included Makio's older sister, passed away. The next day, Makio returns to her senses and remembers that she does not do well in the company of other people. So begins their daily life, as Makio attempts to acclimate to a roommate, while Asa attempts to get used to an adult that never acts like one.



Note: Includes 3 extra chapters.

Tags: Adoption , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Josei , Coming of Age , Writing , Estranged Family , Primarily Female Cast , Parenthood , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Adult Cast , Yuri , Food

Barakamon

Also known as Barakamon.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

For a certain reason, a handsome, young calligrapher by the name of Seishuu Handa uproots himself and moves to an island on the westernmost edge of Japan. "Sensei," as he comes to be known, is a city boy through and through, and has never experienced rural life until now. And by the looks of it, he has much to learn! Luckily(?), he has a willing teacher in Naru, the energetic expert islander, to help show him the ropes. But can Sensei keep up with the plucky first-grader, or will he get schooled?! Here unfolds a heartfelt island comedy about a gruff on the outside, soft on the inside urbanite teacher and his new, unfailingly kind island neighbors!



Notes: One extra and four side stories are included in volume 18+1. Original serialization was completed on 2018-12-12 with 18 volumes (139 chapters). A new limited-run serialization was started on 2023-04-12 and ended on 2023-09-12 in Monthly Shounen Gangan, in conjunction with the TV-drama adaptation. This new run adds 7 chapters and 1 volume to the total count.

Tags: Family Life , Iyashikei , Calligraphy , Rural , Work , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Coastal , Food , Rehabilitation , Teacher , Fishing , Shounen , Cars , Tomboy , Agriculture , Cycling , Crossdressing

My Girl

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Kazama Masamune - a single 23-year-old man... has a child? During the season of cherry blossoms, his beloved passes away. He happens to meet a little girl outside work and realizes she is his daughter who was raised in secrecy by his lover. The worst spring of his life is transformed into a painful yet vivid spring.

Tags: Seinen , Family Life , Male Protagonist , Parenthood , Iyashikei , Work , Episodic , Tomboy

Hikari to Tomo ni...

Also known as With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life

Born during the sunrise—an auspicious beginning—the Azumas' newborn son is named Hikaru, which means "light." But during one play date, his mother notices that her son is slightly different from the other children. In this alternately heartwarming and bittersweet tale, a young mother tries to cope with both the overwhelming discovery of her child's autism and the trials of raising him while keeping her family together. This is a story that resonates not only for those whose families have been affected by autism, but also for all past, present, and future parents.



Notes:
The chapter count includes the one-shot "Thank You Sensei!, Haru no Manazashi".
The English publishing of this manga only has 8 volumes, compared to the usual 15 in Japan.

Tags: Josei , Disability , Educational , Family Life , Coming of Age , School , Ensemble Cast , Parenthood , Female Protagonist , Work

Alice to Amaryllis

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Alice Kinari, a girl just in primary school, seems to have a picture-perfect family. Her dad’s a hard worker, and her mom still has her gorgeous looks. All of that changes when an unexpected visitor appears, having Alice and her mom clasping each other’s hands in a grueling situation.

Tags: Josei , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Fugitive , Heterosexual , Parenthood , School