Manga Spotlight Nov'24

Our official manga recommendations from November 2024 - Shiawase Toriming

📅 Last Updated: 11th November 2024

Shiawase Toriming

This week’s recommendation is Shiawase Toriming, a slice-of-life manga by Warabimochi Kinako.

It follows Suzu, an art college student stuck in something of a creative rut, who slowly emerges from it with the help of birds and her new birdwatcher “friend” Tsubasa. For fellow birdwatchers or bird lovers in general, Shiawase Toriming isn’t just a treat — it is an entire bird feeder. The drawings of Japanese birdlife are as vividly gorgeous as they are ornithologically accurate. It is informative, too. Expect to learn a lot on such topics as identification cues, responsible wildlife photography etiquette, and the Japanese migratory bird scene. It’s so accurate it has an official collaboration with the notable Japanese birdwatching magazine BIRDER.

Those who are indifferent to our feathered friends, fear not! The biology is anchored by a sweet and mature story of growing as both an artist and a person. The manga’s observations on birds also parallelly become observations on the people watching them, as they tie into Suzu's struggles on the artistic front or Tsubasa's struggles fitting in and making connections. The art is a highlight: pretty and relaxing woodland vibes, with colours that pop, especially on the birds’ plumage. There's a fair degree of experimentation with the 4koma form too. If you think the idea of CBDCT (Cute Birds Doing Cute Things) sounds great, or if you’re a fan of works like Yuru Camp or Slow Loop, this is the manga for you.

MAL, Anilist, Official Website (Japanese)

Credits: Sakaido

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