Yoningurashi

Yoningurashi (よにんぐらし) is a slice of life manga by Unita Yumi.  The manga was published between 2003 and 2008 and was collected into 4 tankoubon.

    Yoningurashi, which can be translated as 'Living as a Family of Four', is a sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes tender slice of life manga that deals with the day to day lives of; Chiharu (the common sense mother), Tarou (the reliable but childlike father), Yuri (the energetic 4 year old daughter) and Kotarou (the wild 2 year old son).  The series is broken up into 9 page vignettes that showcase segments of life the family experiences.  Such things as potty training, knitting clothes for the kids, eating dinner, going to the park, etc.  This vignettes are used to expose the reader to the characters personalities and background as the manga progresses.  Through out the story family side characters make appearances, such as Chiharu and Tarou's siblings.

    This was a fun and enjoyable manga, a far cry in some ways from everything else I have read by Unita-sensei.  It had the honesty and innocence of the first half of Usagi Drop.  There really isn't anything I can be critical about with this manga.  The characters are well developed and loveable.  The story is told in a manner that works well.  The artwork is what you would expect from the artist, but it fits with this manga perhaps better than anything else of hers I have read.  I guess I will have to go with the standby of...there needs to be more?  This would make an excellent anime short series.  Fingers crossed?

    Unfortunately, like most of her work, this is not available in North America commercially and I doubt it ever will be...shame, its a good manga.