New Manga Thoughts: Chotto Ippai!

Synopsis

Miyahara Momiji is a regular 16-year-old girl who one day discovers an Izakaya(bar/restaurant) named Koharuya after losing her bus pass. Out of a misunderstanding she soon finds herself gaining a part-time job and thus begins her story as a part-timer.

The Good

With just three chapters the series presents a rather sweet and warm kind of story that would work out well as little breather for a reader looking for a nice slice of life work with a pinch of comedy. The general tone of the work is nice and the introduction of plot and characters was solid. It was also nice that the story established a capable protagonist who was quick to adapt and have personal skills that are not exaggerated.

Most often when it comes to characters with similar designs to her, they are usually clumsy but earnest characters who work their way up with their positive personality and kind character. While they are enjoyable characters, seeing a character like Miyahara who is not only an endearing character but one who is intuitive and capable is quite refreshing.

The Bad

Given that the story takes focus on the protagonist as a worker at the Izakaya and specializing in cooking, it would have been nice to see more detail on her cooking or at least the food she makes. In the personal opinion of this writer, there are also some moments when the proportions of the art could have been done better. Outside of this, the art doesn’t stand out all that much and it could have fleshed out its details better.

In terms of plot and character, it’s sweet but or the most part the characters are no all that unique in hindsight. Whether it be the relative that the protagonist talks to or the one employee that is introduced as an alcohol lover, there isn’t a lot that’s really new aside from the way that the story established the protagonist. Still, the manga is only at 3 chapters and it seems to be setting up a rather steady framework for the most part, so there is enough room for improvement.

Conclusion

It’s a simple work that would be nice to read as a little breather. The characters while not all that unique for the most part, are endearing in their own away. A little more detail in certain scenes and moments would have worked out better but for the most part the series sets a nice and warm tone to it.

In terms of plot, it’s rather simple and has a good set-up to it; with only three chapters though, there is a lot of potential for growth and character exploration. As a slice of life, there isn’t a lot of excitement to be expected, but learning about the different characters throughout the story would be nice. Overall the manga may not be all that new but it has potential.

Rating:6/10