REVIEW: ‘Hirayasumi’ is a Slice of Life Dream

Words and Art: Keigo Shinzo Publisher: Viz Translation: Jan Mitsuko Cash Touch-Up Art & Lettering: Elena Diaz Design: Jimmy Presler Editor: Holly Fisher Slice of life is one of my favorite genres when it comes to manga so when I read the synopsis of Hirayasumi, one of Viz soon to be released debuts, I was intrigued. I read about a 29-year-old, carefree Hiroto Ikuta “who doesn’t have a girlfriend, a full-time job, or a plan for the future—and he couldn’t be happier”. This volume delves into his life with a special inheritance, the reintroduction of a family member and transitions, and changes that enter his life that challenge his carefree way of living. Along with my curiosity of the manga’s contents, I was also curious about the manga creator as I haven’t read anything by him. A quick chat with Cousin Google revealed a body of work of one shots, anthology work, and series mostly focusing in the slice of life genre with room for aliens, erupting volcanoes, carefree characters, and folks unsure of life’s paths.  Keigo Shinzo debuted as a manga creator in 2008 with his work “Nankin” and has since gone on to create award-winning hits such as Bokura no Funkasai (Our Eruption Festival). In 2016, his work Moriyamachuu Kyoushuujo (Moriyamachu Driving School) was made into a movie, and two years later, his series Tokyo Alien Bros. was adapted into a live-action drama. During the coronavirus pandemic, when Keigo was diagnosed with lymphoma, he decided to write the one-shot “…