Title

Barakamon

Also known as: ばらかもん, บารากะมอน เกาะมีฮา คนมีเฮ, 바라카몬

by Satsuki Yoshino

Score from AniList: 83/100finished19 volumes146 chapters

Comedy Slice of Life More like Barakamon

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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! (Source: Yen Press) 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.

Chapters available: 146
Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 4.5/5

A warm, funny slice-of-life about a city calligrapher who moves to a remote island and learns from a plucky first-grader, with a generous and gently comic heart.

Pros

Warm, funny fish-out-of-water comedy
A bright, plucky child who steals every scene
A gentle, honest portrait of rural community

Cons

The episodic structure can feel loose
Some jokes repeat the same beats

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Read the full take

Barakamon is a warm, funny slice-of-life with a premise that works beautifully. A handsome young calligrapher, a city boy through and through, uproots himself and moves to a small island at the western edge of Japan. He has never experienced rural life, and he has a great deal to learn. His willing teacher is an energetic first-grader from the island, and she is more than a match for him. The comedy is generous, and the fish-out-of-water humour lands often. The island community is portrayed with real affection, and the friendships grow naturally. The honest cons: the episodic structure can feel loose, and some jokes repeat the same beats over a long run. Some side characters are underdeveloped. Still, it is a bright, gentle read that celebrates patience and community. If you like stories where the countryside teaches the city, this is a lovely pick.