I’m a glutton for slice-of-life manga, and Keigo Shinzo’s Hirayasumi now ranks amongst my favorites in this genre.
So, let’s get straight to the meat of it. What does “hirayasumi” mean? The word is actually a portmanteau of two Japanese words: hiraya, which means a single-story house, and yasumi, which means rest or break. The title of the series is, in fact, a literal reflection of the story’s main ethos, which is all about living a slow, peaceful, and carefree life. Our main characters, Hiroto and Natsumi, are cousins who live together in this cozy one-story home.
Hiroto inherits the house from Hanae Wada, an 81-year-old woman with whom he becomes acquainted and whom he affectionately calls “Granny.” The logic of an old woman giving away her inheritance for an acquaintance doesn’t make sense, and is the bait that drives you into Hiroto’s daily life. Within the walls of this one-story home, we get to indulge in Hiroto’s day-to-day exploits alongside his cousin, the people they befriend, and the unique circumstances that shape their lives.
Besides Hiroto and Natsumi, there is an engaging cast of characters that Shinzo weaves into the story, each with their unique backstory and take on life. Despite their individual differences and personalities, the cast of Hirayasumi is connected by their insecurities. Each character’s story is riddled with subtle insecurities that shape their decisions and misadventures. These insecurities illustrate their alienation from life, a reality expressed through questions like, “Where am I going with my life?”
This is a common feature of the slice-of-life genre, but Hirayasumi provides a uniquely breathtaking and bittersweet experience as we immerse ourselves in the lives of these characters.
Behind Hiroto’s cheerful countenance, there is a deep sense of remorse and nostalgia for dreams and ambitions that he ultimately couldn’t live up to. In contrast, Hiroto’s cousin, Natsumi, endures the daily frustrations that accompany the pursuit of one’s dreams and expectations.
Similarly, with the other characters we meet in Hirayasumi, there are diverse worlds to explore, all centered on the fragility and, by consequence, the beauty of life: its uncertainty. The manga’s art style complements the characters’ ordinary yet raw and genuine emotions. For my part, I related most to Hiroto’s remorse over an unfulfilled dream and Natsumi’s frustrations as a creative trying to establish her future. Hiroto’s struggle to find closure and Natsumi’s efforts to cultivate her own path truly struck a chord in my heart.
Writing, especially in recent times, is a career filled with uncertainty, and there are days I find myself questioning my own resolve and drive. Hirayasumi has much of that emotion and more. There is also a point to be made about how the main characters fall back on their relationships to anchor their resolve. Friends, family, and connections can take us a long way and help resolve our personal insecurities and misgivings in the most unexpected ways.
Most importantly, to the extent I have read so far, the manga emphasizes the importance of being willing to take a shot at your dreams. Every chapter offers the reader something memorable for contemplation, be it the nostalgia of younger days gone by or the simple pleasures of life we often miss. Much like how Winnie-the-Pooh says, “Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering,” Hirayasumi reiterates, “Don’t pointless things have a place, too, in this far-from-perfect world?”
In today’s fast-paced world, where we all face the pressures of living up to the judgments and stereotypes that proliferate in society, Hirayasumi reminds us that sometimes, taking a step back, enjoying the moment, even when it means simply “doing nothing”, holds genuine value.
The Pensive Reverie 