Life by the Sea

Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand

Status: completed (2 volumes) ┃ MAL

A quiet subdued atmosphere in a quiet seaside town. The town of Sunimori is tranquil, cozy, and has a looming little mermaid mystery. It’s here that Tokiko Aoyama and her father move following her parents’ divorce. The plot takes a backseat in this manga, with emphasis being placed on atmosphere and characters. Overall, it’s a breezy read that sort of makes you feel like you’re floating.

Useless Ponko

Status: completed (10 volumes) ┃ MAL

War, technological advancements, and a busy life in the distant future mean nothing to this seaside town, which continues to stay stubbornly unchanging in spite of everything else. This stubbornness is emulated by one of its long-time residents Yoshioka Genji. Supposedly content with a life of solitude after his wife passed and all his children have moved away, he gets a surprise when one day a housekeeping-maid robot named Ponko arrives at his doorstep. This manga has a more comedic tone compared to the others on this list, but it’s a relaxing read all the same. It’s sweet, funny, and wholesome with a slice of melancholy.

Hisakata no Oto

Status: completed (2 volumes) ┃ MAL

A stunning blend of traditional Japanese island culture and the mangaka’s own creative spin to create a very solid work. It starts with Tatusmi Yuzuki getting a new job as a social studies teacher and moving to the fictional island of Aoshima, where he also used to live when he was much younger. It’s here that Tatsumi slowly regains his sense of childhood whimsy while experiencing equally whimsical phenomena. With each chapter the manga celebrates the beauty of nature and life; the inherent interconnectedness of everything and stuff. What really elevated this manga was the gorgeous art. There’s so many breathtaking panels that capture not only the beautiful island but also the many fantastical occurrences.

Wandering Island

Status: hiatus ┃ MAL

I should probably note that this manga has been on hiatus for many years and will likely never see its conclusion. Despite this, I still think it’s worth the read. Why? Because seaplanes are sick as hell. Plus, Tsuruta Kenji’s art is amazing.

Mikura runs a delivery air service business with her grandpa. However, following his death Mikura finds his notes on a mysterious island that seems to magically appear sometimes. From here, Mikura becomes obsessed with finding the island herself. There’s a MAL review that explained this as a sort of Porco Rosso + Castle in the Sky infusion, which I really agree with. Not just because of plot similarities, but also since this manga manages to capture a similar feeling. This also isn’t too heavy on dialogue and relies more on the lovely art and calm pacing to create a chill experience.