Cover Image: Hirayasumi, Vol. 1

Hirayasumi, Vol. 1

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Member Reviews

I thought this was a cute slice of life manga. I enjoyed the easygoing main character and his cousin. The young man's relationship with the older woman was sweet and it was life-changing for him. I will definitely be on the lookout for other volumes!

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This slice of life manga is such a gentle, quiet, and comforting story! It's fairy low stakes and in all honestly, not a lot happens, but it's excellent if you're looking for a relaxing read. Readers can find lots of heart in the little moments, from Hiro forming a bond with an elderly woman in his neighborhood to when Nat makes her first friend at art school. Hiro and Nat are a dynamic pair, a perfect balance between the carefree older cousin and anxious younger cousin trying to find her way in the world. The story was darling, and I can't wait to see where it goes next!

Thanks to NetGalley for offering this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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Looking for a slice of life tale to enjoy? Take a spin with Hiroto Ikuta and learn how his kindness and friendship with Hanae Wada, a retired school cook, lead to him inheriting her house when she died. Follow Hiroto, his cousin Natsumi Kobayashi, a freshman college student, as they work on fitting together and getting along. A nice, comfortable story line that ambles along adding additional characters where they fit and using the art to provide a nice vibe to everything. The next to last chapter sets up an interesting encounter for volume two. Overall, an interesting opening act!

Thanks Netgalley and Viz Media for the chance to read this tale!

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I think this is a really cute start to the series and it had an easy, comforting sort of quality while reading it. It's very sweet how Hiroto respects and preserves Granny's memory after she passes and really showcases the impact of found family. I'm also interested to see how Natsumi grows and makes friends while pursuing her own interests. This manga series seems perfect for anyone who's looking for a casual read and enjoys characterization focus over major plot developments.

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This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review.

"Hirayasumi" was heartwarming! I loved the character Hiroto. For his age he seems very laidback and sweet. His relationship with granny was adorable.

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This was wonderfully sweet. I loved the main characters and how much they bounced off each other with their differences in personality. This is just a nice, positive, sweet manga.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for the review.

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I am so excited that Hirayasumi is getting an official English release. It's an inter-generational found family slice of life story, with characters that don't fall into common personality tropes. If you're a manga fan trying to get your loved ones to see why you like the medium so much, volume 1 is a good starter volume. If you're not into manga and you don't know what to get your kid who likes "those Japanese comics" this would be a safe bet for a gift. I like how Hirayasumi's take on slice of life isn't just all hijinks and shenanigans, it makes you wonder "Is this guy really as carefree as he seems," or "I can't think of the last time I saw media portray a senior woman who was not depicted as a wife, widow, or grandmother." I'm aware that I am making Hirayasumi sound like "manga for normies" but it definitely is an excellent example of manga as a storytelling medium.

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I was expecting this to be a gentle slice of life title, which I did get, just not to the degree I was expecting! What stuck out to me most is the bonds between the characters. Hiro and Granny's friendship really made this book for me. It elevated it from "Slice of Life," to a story about life going many different ways, sometimes planned sometimes not, and all of that is okay.

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I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The pacing wasn't too slow, and the steady buildup of plot elements kept my interest throughout the story. I'm interested in the characters and what will happen for them in the future, and I appreciated the lighter story with unexpected poignant moments.

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"Hirayasumi" is a melancholy but sweet slice of life about a 29 year old man named Hiroto who inherits a house from an old woman who was a friend of his. He lives a slow, quiet life as a part-timer and doesn't seem to have any current aspirations. His 18 year old cousin named Natsumi moves in not long after he inherits the house in order to go to art school. She's got high hopes for the future, but is having a rough time figuring out life as an adult. Both of the characters are very relatable and I very much enjoy the pleasant atmosphere the story creates. I'm really looking forward to the next volume.

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Quiet, slow, and sweet with just a hint of sadness, <i>Hirayasumi</i> is the sort of slice-of-life manga that understands the assignment. It explores the very normal lives of Hiroto and his younger cousin Natsumi as they move through their days, Hiroto perfect happy and accepting of where his life is and Natsumi raring to hit all of life's supposed check points. There's a sense of learning to accept and appreciate that makes this feel well-rounded, and even if slice-of-life isn't your genre, this is worth picking up to see things done right.

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This fairly chill slice-of-life manga was really sweet and heartwarming, though do be warned going in that it has a bit of a focus on grief and loss, though it mostly centers enjoyment, serendipity, and the effects of being kind. It's, in some ways, the definition of low-stakes, though I can see it's setting up a bit of a probable romance arc.

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