Top 10 Summer Manga in 2021 [Best Recommendations]
Hello, readers! By the time you read this review summer is probably already upon us. The rising temperature and the schools letting out are a sure sign that summer is here and the joy of youth is at your doorstep if you take a step outside. The summer is the time of the year where one has a chance to explore the world at their leisure. You can enjoy sports, going out on a date with your loved one, have closure with complicated issues by overcomeing them by yourself, or going out there and having some time to yourself to be alone and relax and enjoy what nature has to offer. Without further ado, shall we discuss the manga that might pique your interest?
10. Odoriba ni Skirt Ga Naru (The Skirt Sings at the Landing)
Growing taller than any other average girl has made Kiki Haruma feel more unladylike. All she ever wanted is to wear cute things without feeling guilty, but most dresses couldn’t fit her at all, and that made her self-conscious about her height. As the second year in high school, her ballroom dance partner leaves her. That is when a short and pretty first year, Michiru Toribami approached her and wanted Kiki as her partner, and she will lead her, despite the height difference. Height may not matter to some people, but it does when it comes to dancing. Perspectives and height are crucial to adjust yourself to compliment your partner’s movements. But Toribami had a different mind in her own. She wanted to be the lead dancer while having Kiki, taller than her, as her partner. These two young ladies may not be physically compatible with dancing, but their love for it is second to none.
9. Suterare Seijo no Isekai Gohan Tabi: Kakure Skill de Camping car wo Shoukan shimashita (The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World)
Rin Takanashi works as a caregiver in her thirties until she was summoned to another world as a saint. However, the royal family deems her useless due to her skill, so she was exiled. But that isn’t a bad thing for her. She possesses a unique skill, Survival, that allows her to explore and enjoy the great outdoors and everything the nature has to offer and companions she meets along the way in this world. What kind of places and food will she experience? We are sure most of us are tired of the saturated isekai manga, light novels and anime where the main characters were placed to save the world. But this isn’t one of them. This is a new opportunity for Rin to travel and not care about the big problems the kingdom is facing. Besides, if they don’t want her and since she is here, she might also do her own thing and the skills she had been meant for that. Warning: you might want to eat before you read this series. Before you say anything, your welcome.
8. Arigatou tte Itte: Nikaidou Kou Tanpenshuu (Say Thank You: Collected Short Stories of Kou Nikaidou)
This is a collection of short stories written by Nikaidou with a theme of thanking the people you have met in your journeys in all forms. Your first girlfriend, having a crush on your teacher back in high school, your friend’s mother whom you admire, the colleague at work who you’re interested in and many more. It was hard for most people to give their thanks no matter how big or small the help they received from strangers or even the people they know. All you need is one slight push to gain the courage to say thank you. Although the stories are short, they each hold a deep and open meaning that let us think of the ending we wanted for the characters and sometimes, you can feel the emotions the characters and the mangaka carry among themselves, which can be happy, sad and even bring tears to our eyes.
7. Swing!!
Entering her first high school life and hoping to spend her days mostly on video games, Miyasato Haruka’s dream soon derailed by Ibuki, who bribed her with sweets and forced her to join the Golf Club. Will she be able to bring her game sense and knowledge to the golf field? This is the story of high school girls who want to have fun in golf with a slice of comedy. Golf is one of the expensive sports there is in reality, but it couldn’t hurt to read and learn about them in the form of manga, from terms, dress code, equipment and rules. The characters the series introduced have unique personalities, and the interactions between them are wholesome and adorable. The artwork and beta Sakura had implemented more toward digitally modern style.
6. GT-giRl
Because of the high number of fresh graduates without driving licenses, the country’s unemployment rate rises, that is where the Ministry of Education introduces a policy where education sector to add English and Programming class to help students study vehicles operations at an early age, where it is possible to get a driving license at the age of 16. The story focuses on Hinata Sato, the sole member of the auto racing club of Private Mihama Girls High School, working hard to recruit members for the club and enter the upcoming competition: JGTC-W. This may come as a surprise to everyone. This manga was written by the same author of To LOVE-Ru, Hasemi Saki. And no, this manga doesn’t have ecchi element, so calm down. The approach of the story is a whole new experience for Hasemi. The story is meant for readers interested in classic cars used for drift races and provided education on certain parts of the vehicles. The way the mangaka introduces the functionalities and features of the vehicles are educational and how to manage the team for the competition. Although the characters are cute, the design and details of the cars are at a whole new dimension.
[ad_middle class="mb40"]
5. Silver Pole Flowers
Uesaki Hana’s mother was a pole dancer. Because she carries her mother’s love of pole dancing, Hana hides her identity as it is seen as indecent. That is the case until Takamine Karin, a pole sports athlete, sees her dance for the first time and understands the considerable difference in skill between them. A rivalry between two girls who sought after their dreams in different paths and poles is born. This series brings out a message and awareness to readers that pole dancing is a form of art. Most people deemed such acts indecent, discouraging many people from having it as a hobby or profession. Hana’s approach of hiding her identity creates a wall between her and her audiences. Even though Hana and Karin hold the same passion for pole dancing, Karin sees her approach as a problem because she wasn’t at full potential due to her fear of others' thoughts. But time has changed for the better, and this is the chance for Hana to grow and hone her skills as a pole dancer in her way and understand her deceased mother better. The sportsmanship between pole dancers are admirable, and the characters they introduced can be respected with high regard.
4. Yuusha-sama no Osananajimi to Iu Settei no Make Heroine ni Tensei Shita node, Chougoushi ni Job Change Shimasu (I reincarnated as the Hero’s Childhood Friend Who was the losing love interest, so I changed jobs to alchemist)
Laura is the hero's childhood friend, but she will be soon be forgotten by everyone. In the world of a game, Laura has been reincarnated with the memories of a Japanese girl who got herself into an unfortunate accident. With her memories of this game, Laura is determined to change her fate by aiming to be an alchemist. But a problem arises when she meets Arnold, who is not supposed to be there, and things are different in this world for better or worst. Will she be able to break her fate? If you ever sympathize with a character in a game with a crush on her childhood friend and soon got rejected, you have our respect because that stings for them. However, in this new world, Laura might have a fighting chance to be together with Lukas, the Hero. The world-building is well done, and the backgrounds and surroundings made us feel like we’re there. Her determination is ironclad, and her character development is solid. By the way, her granny is the real MVP. Fight us if you disagree.
3. Hikikomori Reijou wa Hanashi no Wakaru Seijuu-ban (The Shut-in Lady Is an Understanding Sacred Beast Caretaker)
To pay and maintain her mother’s medication, Muriel Nolt has to work at the royal palace. However, she had a problem with her social skill due to her childhood experience during one of the nobles tea parties, which turns her into a shut-in. Fortunately, the job meant for her doesn’t require facing a huge audience and becoming a librarian. The interview went well, but she has to pass the final test: feeding a sacred beast with a carrot. If you have ever watched a movie and its sequel called Dr Dolittle, that is pretty much what this manga is about. During her first encounter with the sacred beasts, Muriel can understand and communicate with them. The series is well suited for readers who are animal lovers. They may be huge, but their change of personalities is a whole 180 when you understand their feelings and helped them. To Muriel, she finds it easier to hold a conversation with the sacred beasts than humans as they do not hold any ulterior motives. Her strong imagination and thoughts are the main comedic element of the story, but the interactions and the bonds she formed with them and her parents are adorable.
2. Unnamed Memory
Oscar, Crown Prince of Farsas, had been cursed by the Witch of Silence never to have children of his own ever since he was a child. With proper training and knowledge of becoming the next king, he travelled through ancient ruins and places to search for the magic to remove his curse until he decided to visit the Witch of Azure Moon, Tinassha. After completing her challenges, they decided to form a contract to live together in his castle for one year, hoping she would become his wife and remove his curse once and for all. Oh, Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Why shall you place all kinds of traps and monsters in your tower? For I have a wish to be fulfilled by you and hope you don’t destroy us with your calamity scale of magic. Okay, back to the review. Oscar has an odd personality like his grandfather, where he decides to marry an extremely old but young-looking witch even though people in their kingdom might not advise him to do so. The relationships they have together are cute, informal, chill, and open to each other.
1. Hell Mode: Yarikomi Suki no Gamer wa Hai-Settei no Isekai de Musou suru – Hajimari no Shoukanshi (Hell Mode: Gamer Who Likes to Speedrun Becomes Peerless in a Parallel World with Obsolete Setting)
After playing an online game for three years, the developers decided to close it down. After searching up on the internet, he found an endless game called Nullgame. Because he is a veteran player, he chose Hellmode which forces him to reincarnate in this parallel world as Allen. His objective is to travel around the world and become the strongest Summoner there is. This isn’t the kind of story where the main character can gain new powers or skills that makes them a literal god. We’re talking about a hardcore experience where you have to grind, grind and grind from the moment you born for each level. Even though Allen has a vast knowledge of RPG, he doesn’t haughtily talk about them, but more on being rational and capitalize at every opportunity the situations presented to him. Meaning, work hard and smart.
Final Thoughts
Phew. That is all we have to cover for this season. We know that the summer season can be viewed differently by everyone, but everyone has their own opinion, and we hoped that these recommendations could bring a smile, tears or sadness when you give them a chance to read them. If you have reached this far of this review, we can’t thank you enough and wish you enjoy your summer holiday or season in 2021!