An overworked salaryman and a mischievous cashier with a dual personality form an unexpected bond in this sweet-and-sour comedy!
At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking-and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can't find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he's made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn't realize he already knows her! ([Square Enix Books](https://squareenixmangaandbooks.square-enix-games.com/en-us/product/9781646092864))
Studio: Asahi Production
Takuya Satō as Sasaki
Seena Hoshiki as Yamada/Tayama
This-is_CMGRI2026-01-16 04:51
Sasaki is gonna be sharing voices with Caesar Zeppelli and Meijin Kawaguchi the third? Nice. Couldn't find major notable roles for Hoshiki-san but I love how she sounds here.
Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-16 22:04
> An overworked salaryman and a mischievous cashier
They had me at mischievous!
[](#awe)
Creepy_Photo58332026-01-16 04:07
Well they got straight to the point, huh. I mean, imagine if this is the whole anime, just lung cancer.
abandoned_idol2026-01-16 04:13
I am not interested in the premise at all.
But this thing is so popular that I am **morbidly curious** enough to watch it to its entirety purely for the sake of understanding **the fans** of the show.
Will it really have characterization? Or is it just smoking with a bishoujo? I shall see it for myself!
kb0412042026-01-16 04:15
I read the first 6 volumes of the manga and I think this is a good adult romance. Smoking is just an excuse to start the conversation, and it's not the main point of the series.
abandoned_idol2026-01-16 04:24
I guess it will be a matter of how much I can relate to the characters.
Their hobbies and interests will be key for my experience.
I've had anime that are "well written romance". I felt completely apathetic towards "Gimai Seikatsu" for example (a romance with a stepsibling, I just don't see the appeal of family members as romantic interests, it's like going on a date with a piece of furniture). And the pacing in that anime was so damn slow that I thought it was going for a jumpscare or scary twist approach, but no, it was just a slow and NOT subversive incest story trying to pass off as a grounded drama. I'm laughing out loud as I'm writing this. I still remember the first quote claiming to not be a "trashy stepsister story" while accusing ME, the audience, of being cliche.
TL;DR I'm extremely prejudiced because of other few recent romance anime. While I relate to many anime characters, I can't relate to all of them. Maybe I'll like this smoking romance anime. I liked the recent "You and I Are Polar Opposites" for example (anime-only).
Avgshitposting2026-01-16 15:24
Your fucking weird man lmao
TrailOfEnvy2026-01-16 09:22
Imagine if one of them died of lung cancers as manga ending. It would be great PSA for stop smoking lol
Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 04:07
What a great premise lol
particledamage2026-01-16 04:18
Manic pixie dream girl saves the day for older Japanese men too I guess
Fun-Ad-11452026-01-16 04:43
Though for a specific group of people, the Old Man is the manic pixie.
FatherDotComical2026-01-16 17:58
Old Man Pixie you say?
\*quietly moves to Planning*
DandyMan_922026-01-16 17:57
i heard of this manga through a woman thirsty for the salaryman lol
playerkei2026-01-16 04:32
Ayy this finally gets picked up. Just waiting for twitter or reddit to get vindictive about how it somehow glorifies smoking.
Should have made it vaping
DandyMan_922026-01-16 18:00
smoking is gross. i still think it’s a cute story.
TheBatemanFlex2026-01-16 04:41
I’m reading this now! It’s fantastic. Many people will find this boring.
agentdoubleohio2026-01-16 04:45
Or not give it a chance cause of smoking.
TheBatemanFlex2026-01-16 04:47
Is that a thing? I keep seeing comments about not wanting to watch people smoke, but I didn't realize people were so averse to smoking that they will refuse to watch media with characters smoking.
agentdoubleohio2026-01-16 04:49
These people are children, yet same people will have no problem with vapes. If they don’t want to watch cause of this oh well, but id feel sorry for people that don’t want to enjoy something because of one subject matter
gvon892026-01-16 05:25
I just think its a gross pointless habit. If theres characters smoking in a show its whatever, but the whole focus is that they smoke together and form a connection from. I guess I self insert myself into series like this and in no way would I want to be involved here.
Zaikovich2026-01-17 08:58
A snowflake of course.
This-is_CMGRI2026-01-16 04:49
It's one of those "works better as a J-drama TV show cuz acting in Japan is kinda droll" stories but I'd rather have it in animation.
ACFinal2026-01-16 09:17
Many children maybe. Most adults want more anime like this.
W33B5202026-01-16 04:42
Peak
septimaespada2026-01-16 04:56
People say this about every damn show.
Cretviones2026-01-16 05:17
Because every show is peak
OneTrueDennis2026-01-16 09:56
because people have different tastes. its not rocket science.
robertm942026-01-16 14:47
I agree but this is probably the best ongoing manga for the genre it occupies; an adult cast romance.
I have extremely high hopes for this series personally.
DandyMan_922026-01-16 18:00
ppl enjoying things being foreign to the average redditor. love to see it
Fun-Ad-11452026-01-16 04:42
#NEEDTHAT old man on his knees with his hands tied up right now.
I low-key assumed Ayumu Watanabe was the director when I finished watching the PV. Is it just me?\
This is exactly the kind of manga that he would adapt imo.
tev_l2026-01-16 04:44
I love that they gave ~~Yamada~~ Tayama a mature sounding voice.
Allansfirebird2026-01-16 06:42
The voice casting is *perfect*. Exactly how I always heard her in my head when reading.
Classic-Box-39192026-01-16 04:48
Disappointed with how hyped this manga was, found it pretty boring.
Knuckleheaded-beardo2026-01-16 04:52
That makes two of us.
Revealingstorm2026-01-16 05:02
It's just a solid romance manga. Maybe it doesn't deserve hype but it doesn't deserve to be talked about negatively either.
octopathfinder2026-01-16 05:58
Me too. It's just another adult romance where the adults act like teens in their first relationship and there's no progress.
Yarmungar2026-01-16 07:28
Redditors LOVE old men
Jataka2026-01-17 03:28
Old men. Are the future.
a1oner_bvcksn62026-01-16 04:53
Life is short, they say. Let's make it shorter--but sweeter!
I'm not up to speed with the manga (just around 10 chapters in), but I sincerely hope this goes beyond the gag of 'middle aged salary man never figures out girl he's been gooning on is right beside him all along'.
EloquentAdequate2026-01-16 05:32
It'd say the main dynamic goes on just long enough not to feel stale or over-done. Plus it introduces a few more characters later on which mixes stuff up just a bit.
Seaphron2026-01-16 05:10
Love the manga. Excited for the anime. Trailer looked solid.
Zaikovich2026-01-17 08:58
Yes, I'm all caught up with the manga and I'm very excited with the anime
JRA17062026-01-16 05:18
I am very happy this manga popped off. Its just so sweet.
Though, I'm ngl, I didn't really expect them to sound the way they do, but it will probably grow on me.
OctillionthJoe2026-01-16 05:22
Wait... yes! Yes! YES! A million times YES!
I LOVE the manga for this one SO MUCH! I'm so happy to see this one get an anime adaptation! Definitely looking forward to July!
godsknowledge2026-01-16 14:44
Has it been sponsored by a cigarette company by any chance?
I feel like this anime might invoke the impression that smoking is "cool" or that it helps you socialize... which is not a good thing imho
goldeneye00802026-01-16 15:37
Not every story is targeted at impressionable children. Smoking is a vice that millions of people partake in, especially in Japan. It's already a common habit among people in that country, so it makes sense for a story in an anime/manga to revolve around it, or feature characters who do it socially.
DandyMan_922026-01-16 17:58
no further research search shows smoking rate sub-20% and sub-10% for women specifically. seems like it’s in steep decline as well (in Japan)
goldeneye00802026-01-17 16:34
So close to 1 in 5 people in Japan still smoke cigarettes, so 20+ million people? I guess that means it's still common, just not as much as 20 years ago. People who smoke probably won't have too difficult of a time finding each other, and bonding over the activity, especially as a story in a manga/anime.
OctillionthJoe2026-01-17 19:53
Actually recent data suggests that the number is down to like 18+ million now. And the young adult (20-30 year old demographic) make up like 15-18% depending on how you calculate it. The solidly smoking group are the older demographic who grew up in a time where cigarette usage was very common and who developed their habits during that period of time. For the younger generation who grew up being told of the negative health effects of cigarettes though, it just isn't appealing to them.
Not to mention, you gotta pay like three different taxes whenever purchasing cigarettes in Japan. When compared to other countries, the cigarettes are still more affordable due to how the pricing of cigarettes need to be approved by the government BUT the taxes hike up the price quite a bit. And with talks of adding more taxes to cigarettes on top of the current ones, it's just a habit that is unappealing from a financial aspect too.
OctillionthJoe2026-01-16 17:13
What are you talking about? Of course, it's **NOT** sponsored by a cigarette company. This is an anime and this is Japan that we're talking about. The amount of advertising regulation that surrounds cigarette companies in Japan is so strict that sponsorship and product placement of cigarettes in a show like this is very difficult. And cigarette companies have all agreed to avoid sponsoring TV and radio in Japan, cause it risks motivating policymakers to make even stricter regulations. So sponsorship/product placement from cigarette companies are like effectively banned in Japan at this point.
shotputlover2026-01-16 17:15
Cowboy bebop is amazing and improved by the smoking. On god.
[deleted]2026-01-16 19:27
[deleted]
dfiekslafjks2026-01-16 05:50
24 episodes of sitting and smoking. I hope this wins every academy award.
Visual-District98382026-01-17 06:59
This but unironically
RyviusRan2026-01-16 07:08
Read up to the latest in the manga. It is one of those age gap romances. Two different characters at different stages of their lives, but both are dealing with similar issues.
The misunderstand trope is a bit annoying and the smoking aspect it also weird. It is a fact that smoking heavily increases cancer risk so it is odd to promote such habits in a positive light. Not one part of the story even mentions it as a negative and instead showcases the more addicting aspects of smoking.
Having said that...alcohol is still glorified and used for fun in such works like Grand Blue.
This series is an interesting romance that feels like it dragged a little before progressing one small step, but that is par for the course in romance plots.
BambaNegra2026-01-16 08:32
I think that the smoking angle not only gives them an element in common but also gives the characters a sense of being alianated, like they are both loners or a pair of "losers" on their own way. If the activity that links them was something more positive, I think it would remove some of the edge from the setting that makes it feel different from the other romances on anime.
RyviusRan2026-01-16 09:27
I don't see using smoking as a bonding device as wrong. But it is weird how there is no negativity about smoking. It is shown as "cool" with how the characters are drawn while smoking.
I wouldn't be surprised if a tobacco company sponsors the work.
Even Grand Blue with the constant drinking doesn't show it in a positive light. Being drunk is mocked. Japan still has an unhealthy culture behind drinking as well.
Durzo_Blintt2026-01-16 14:45
Why would you need to show the negativity of smoking? That only happens when if you get ill, when you aren't ill there are no negatives to smoking outside of minor inconvenience. Unless one of the characters gets cancer or COPD or something, then nothing bad is happening during the scenes. This is entertainment mate, not an advert to dissuade people from smoking.
RyviusRan2026-01-16 16:49
Smoking has many things that you can show. Smoking smells badly and sticks to a person. It also turns your teeth very yellow and often causes breathing issues after prolonged use.
Even without cancer, there are adverse health effects. It is basically eating away at your lungs.
I'm just saying that they are romanticizing smoking in the same way old films did.
They did show how addictive it is, but not on purpose.
Ready to receive downvotes from the addicted smokers here.
Maybe they should make a manga about meth and cocaine.
Durzo_Blintt2026-01-16 17:50
MyAgain, this is entertainment lol nobody thinks smoking is healthy for you. Every single person alive knows it's bad for you today, it isn't 1920 anymore. Two smokers aren't going to smell the smoke on each other, because they are used to it, so this doesn't need bringing up. If you like someone you aren't going to be bringing up their teeth look yellow either, it doesn't make sense.
It's a slice of life anime about two people enjoying spending time together whilst smoking. What point is there to bring up stuff like yellow teeth xddd. This doesn't happen with anything, imagine someone starts drinking a coke in an anime and the other ppl start bringing up facts about how it rots your teeth, how it can give you diabetes. Then a guy has a burger and another guy starts bringing up heart disease. It doesn't happen, because it's not normal. Just because you don't like smoking, fine, don't watch or read it then xddd I also don't even smoke, you're just being weird about it.
RyviusRan2026-01-16 17:56
You bring up good points. But it still feels odd.
It's just the way they tie so much of the plot to smoking that it feels like an advert sometimes.
Honestly it doesn't bug me that much. I was just pointing out something odd about the plot.
What was more annoying was the constant misunderstandings that was totally unrealistic and feels like it's there to just pad the story to make more money. It took forever for the Male MC to find out and he is way too shy for some mid 40s man. It feels like the characters are in grade school. But anime/manga often fail at romances that involve relationships after confessions.
Edit: Nice username btw. I love Brent Week's books.
OctillionthJoe2026-01-16 17:26
They are two characters who have to smoke in the back of a store because that's the **designated** or **acceptable** area for smokers. Aka, the only reason why they have any kind of relationship is is because smokers have to follow strict legal and social restrictions when engaging in their habit. That's already plenty not "cool".
And there are moments where they do bring up smoking as not good for health. Like there's a episode early on where one of the characters brings up quitting after having potentially run into a problem with his health.
That said, I do think most viewers are smart enough to understand that smoking is not good for your health and won't get into it after seeing cool drawings of character smoking. Especially since this is a romance geared towards a more mature audience and not kids. I mean I've seen Clint Eastwood and Bradd Pitt smoking cigarettes in their films while looking cool and not mentioning cancer, but I didn't start smoking because of it.
RyviusRan2026-01-16 17:31
Clint Eastwood was definitely an icon used to promote smoking in the 60s and 70s.
It's still weird how much the story is tied to smoking, right down to them treasuring a packet of cigs they were given. If I loved someone, I wouldn't want them to harm themselves. Hopefully, the manga ends with them getting together and quitting smoking.
Such an ugly addictive habit.
The prolonged misunderstanding plot was also very annoying. It feels like a bunch of school kids being shy.
OctillionthJoe2026-01-16 17:49
60s and 70s were a different time and the narrative on smoking was only starting to shift towards the anti-smoking message back then. Prior to the 60s, it wasn't all that unusual for governments and even "health" related organization to tout the "health merits" of smoking. In the 60s, the science became undeniable and the cigarette industry was under serious threat for arguably the first time ever. Clint Eastwood became an icon of smoking precisely because the cigarette industry needed someone like him to fend off against the new "Don't smoke" messaging that governments and other organizations were sending out at the time. It was a period where both sides went at it hard and the public consensus was still swaying back n forth.
Today in 2026 though, I think the "smoking is bad" message has won the war. At least for most first world nations. In today's climate, I don't think characters smoking are nearly as damaging or influential as it was several decades ago. It's why I (someone who grew up in the 2000s) find no appeal in smoking despite thinking Clint Eastwood looked cool as he smoked in his films. Hence, I don't mind the smoking here and feel we can stop being so rigid about it. With the advancement of other substances and vaping, I don't think cigarettes are will be making a comeback anytime soon.
Not that I don't get where you're coming from. I don't smoke and do find it to be more harmful than anything.
RyviusRan2026-01-16 18:03
Good points, although I feel like people just switched from smoking to doing other harmful stuff like vaping.
MonkMew2026-01-16 07:14
Well she sounds like a smoker so checks out lol
Angelote832026-01-16 12:03
Peak.
detarameReddit2026-01-16 12:29
Woah, the anime adaptation looks really solid! It really feels like the manga is coming to life...
AceSoldia2026-01-16 14:05
Ooh is it just comedy or rom com?
pandavova2026-01-16 14:10
Rare instance where I read the manga before it getting an anime. Watched the trailer, this will be gooood. iirc im at like chapter 50 or something, could read up, but not in the mood for it rn.
RepentantSororitas2026-01-16 15:18
I enjoyed reading this manga for a bit. Cant wait to watch this
PrimoSupremeX2026-01-16 16:27
Woah! Had no clue this one is getting an adaptation, looks pretty good
Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-16 22:07
*Cute girl calling a tired older man from behind a wall*
"Is today the day I die?" - Salary-kun
[](#spooked)
No_Arugula39572026-01-17 05:14
goth makima
Guilty-Tell2026-01-17 21:09
Damn this is crazy but the manga is so good no surprise that it gets an anime.
No_Durian_69872026-01-18 19:31
Looks like a welcome addition to the "vibes anime" shortlist. I'm in.
Commentaires
An overworked salaryman and a mischievous cashier with a dual personality form an unexpected bond in this sweet-and-sour comedy!
At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking-and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can't find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he's made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn't realize he already knows her! ([Square Enix Books](https://squareenixmangaandbooks.square-enix-games.com/en-us/product/9781646092864))
Studio: Asahi Production
Takuya Satō as Sasaki
Seena Hoshiki as Yamada/Tayama
They had me at mischievous!
[](#awe)
But this thing is so popular that I am **morbidly curious** enough to watch it to its entirety purely for the sake of understanding **the fans** of the show.
Will it really have characterization? Or is it just smoking with a bishoujo? I shall see it for myself!
Their hobbies and interests will be key for my experience.
I've had anime that are "well written romance". I felt completely apathetic towards "Gimai Seikatsu" for example (a romance with a stepsibling, I just don't see the appeal of family members as romantic interests, it's like going on a date with a piece of furniture). And the pacing in that anime was so damn slow that I thought it was going for a jumpscare or scary twist approach, but no, it was just a slow and NOT subversive incest story trying to pass off as a grounded drama. I'm laughing out loud as I'm writing this. I still remember the first quote claiming to not be a "trashy stepsister story" while accusing ME, the audience, of being cliche.
TL;DR I'm extremely prejudiced because of other few recent romance anime. While I relate to many anime characters, I can't relate to all of them. Maybe I'll like this smoking romance anime. I liked the recent "You and I Are Polar Opposites" for example (anime-only).
\*quietly moves to Planning*
Should have made it vaping
I have extremely high hopes for this series personally.
I low-key assumed Ayumu Watanabe was the director when I finished watching the PV. Is it just me?\
This is exactly the kind of manga that he would adapt imo.
I'm not up to speed with the manga (just around 10 chapters in), but I sincerely hope this goes beyond the gag of 'middle aged salary man never figures out girl he's been gooning on is right beside him all along'.
Though, I'm ngl, I didn't really expect them to sound the way they do, but it will probably grow on me.
I LOVE the manga for this one SO MUCH! I'm so happy to see this one get an anime adaptation! Definitely looking forward to July!
I feel like this anime might invoke the impression that smoking is "cool" or that it helps you socialize... which is not a good thing imho
Not to mention, you gotta pay like three different taxes whenever purchasing cigarettes in Japan. When compared to other countries, the cigarettes are still more affordable due to how the pricing of cigarettes need to be approved by the government BUT the taxes hike up the price quite a bit. And with talks of adding more taxes to cigarettes on top of the current ones, it's just a habit that is unappealing from a financial aspect too.
The misunderstand trope is a bit annoying and the smoking aspect it also weird. It is a fact that smoking heavily increases cancer risk so it is odd to promote such habits in a positive light. Not one part of the story even mentions it as a negative and instead showcases the more addicting aspects of smoking.
Having said that...alcohol is still glorified and used for fun in such works like Grand Blue.
This series is an interesting romance that feels like it dragged a little before progressing one small step, but that is par for the course in romance plots.
I wouldn't be surprised if a tobacco company sponsors the work.
Even Grand Blue with the constant drinking doesn't show it in a positive light. Being drunk is mocked. Japan still has an unhealthy culture behind drinking as well.
Even without cancer, there are adverse health effects. It is basically eating away at your lungs.
I'm just saying that they are romanticizing smoking in the same way old films did.
They did show how addictive it is, but not on purpose.
Ready to receive downvotes from the addicted smokers here.
Maybe they should make a manga about meth and cocaine.
It's a slice of life anime about two people enjoying spending time together whilst smoking. What point is there to bring up stuff like yellow teeth xddd. This doesn't happen with anything, imagine someone starts drinking a coke in an anime and the other ppl start bringing up facts about how it rots your teeth, how it can give you diabetes. Then a guy has a burger and another guy starts bringing up heart disease. It doesn't happen, because it's not normal. Just because you don't like smoking, fine, don't watch or read it then xddd I also don't even smoke, you're just being weird about it.
It's just the way they tie so much of the plot to smoking that it feels like an advert sometimes.
Honestly it doesn't bug me that much. I was just pointing out something odd about the plot.
What was more annoying was the constant misunderstandings that was totally unrealistic and feels like it's there to just pad the story to make more money. It took forever for the Male MC to find out and he is way too shy for some mid 40s man. It feels like the characters are in grade school. But anime/manga often fail at romances that involve relationships after confessions.
Edit: Nice username btw. I love Brent Week's books.
And there are moments where they do bring up smoking as not good for health. Like there's a episode early on where one of the characters brings up quitting after having potentially run into a problem with his health.
That said, I do think most viewers are smart enough to understand that smoking is not good for your health and won't get into it after seeing cool drawings of character smoking. Especially since this is a romance geared towards a more mature audience and not kids. I mean I've seen Clint Eastwood and Bradd Pitt smoking cigarettes in their films while looking cool and not mentioning cancer, but I didn't start smoking because of it.
It's still weird how much the story is tied to smoking, right down to them treasuring a packet of cigs they were given. If I loved someone, I wouldn't want them to harm themselves. Hopefully, the manga ends with them getting together and quitting smoking.
Such an ugly addictive habit.
The prolonged misunderstanding plot was also very annoying. It feels like a bunch of school kids being shy.
Today in 2026 though, I think the "smoking is bad" message has won the war. At least for most first world nations. In today's climate, I don't think characters smoking are nearly as damaging or influential as it was several decades ago. It's why I (someone who grew up in the 2000s) find no appeal in smoking despite thinking Clint Eastwood looked cool as he smoked in his films. Hence, I don't mind the smoking here and feel we can stop being so rigid about it. With the advancement of other substances and vaping, I don't think cigarettes are will be making a comeback anytime soon.
Not that I don't get where you're coming from. I don't smoke and do find it to be more harmful than anything.
"Is today the day I die?" - Salary-kun
[](#spooked)