When I heard realized that the mangaka of Fullmetal Alchemist had a new manga serialized, I was curious to say the least. I hold FMA in rather high regard, as do many others, and wanted to see what Silver Spoon had to offer.
It wasn't a high-powered battle manga. Thank God. There are so many of these mangas out there already that more and more is just... you get tired of the things after a while. It's a slice of life with all the class, character and humour that was in FullMetal Alchemist without the serious overtones that comes with a battle manga. It focuses much more on a city-born teenager who apparently didn't have a specific goal for life, but nevertheless it seems he didn't feel comfortable following the normal high-school -> college / university path and decided to join an agricultural school instead. I used the words 'apparently' and 'seems' there because it was a whimsical decision, and as we watch his character develop, we begin to see some of his motivations as well.
This manga is essentially character-driven, it's funny and sometimes insightful and possibly using the animals to provide some moral message. Possibly. At only just over 20 chapters it's still a bit early to tell, but it's certainly been an enjoyable ride so far. Considering my average mark is a 7, this is good enough for an instant 8/10.

Arakawa pulls off the gags well enough, and the pacing's good. There's always a new event to keep you captured. It's also a rewarding bonus that she juggles a good number of developed characters. Still, most of the manga is about presenting different viewpoints and it feels like an Aesop of the week story with plot on the side. ... and while animal ethics is a strongly argued over topic, most people have given a lot of thought to it already. Also, it feels a little patronizing, like a book-smart teenage city-dweller would be that lost, and a bit outdated, like cloning animals for profit is actually a threat, and so on... although those are more personal irks. The manga is still under twenty chapters at this point, so we'll see how the eventual series turns out.
Either way, Gin no Saji is definitely a good manga to check out.

I really enjoy this manga. Sure it's not the action-packed FMA but this series holds its own. It's really unique from what is normally out and the research it well done. The comedy just adds to it and makes it more fun. If you want a nice slice-of-life series with character growth and comedy, then this is for you, but if you're looking for another FMA... Best to look somewhere else.

I agree whith you Sukets,most people just can't decides wheter they want a manga different or like the previous works of a mangaka,in both sides they complain,as for this manga I realy did like it because the story arakawa Hiromu-san is working on is somthing she have experienced so she know exactly how she should deal whith it,and also manga about farming have there own charm so if you thing it's boring then it's your probleme so you can't judge the manga juste because it's about somthing you don't like, who knows may be by reading it you will start loving it trought the wonderful things manga provides us, which is experiencing things you can't do in your real life through the mangas story and characters,well in the end I just wanted to say that this manga is amazing and and how happy I'm for being able to read annothers of arakawa's works,

Why, is this "Ah, its not fma so i will give it 1 point out 10" ¬¬
Thats why I hate fanboys, just enjoy the manga for what it gives, not what it could...I never read an manga that deserves 1.
It's the same sh*t every single time when a mangaka tries something different, just like Death Note - Bakuman. You would still complain when they stick to the same genre, saying its a bad copy of XXXXX manga...

This is manga is great, and it does remember "Moyashimon", and country life is not boring, just exhaustive. Eating what you made gives an special flavor. And killing your own food make's you think about the pro's and con's of eating meat...that's the whole plot of the manga. with a bit of romance(?).

... Last updated on July 30th, 2011, 1:50am

First this manga is far, far different from FMA. Like white and black different. This manga has more in common with Moyashimon, without the supernatural ability to see microbes. This is a fish out of the water story. With a slice of life pacing, intercept with great moments, black comedy, will make reading this addictive. Don't go into this manga thinking it has lots of action. It does not. Enjoy it for what it is. You will enjoy it a lot more.

Going into this after FMA, I'm reminded of reading Bakuman for the first time after just reading Death Note. The difference in tone might take quite a while to get used to, but so far, it's worth it.

So boring... I try to read... and keep reading until now but I still can't accept it. So boring, I thought may be something like rune factory (Farm + Rpg) but this is far from it. It's so normal. unacceptable. ah... maybe normal manga is not suitable for someone like me.

But I think it's great for slice of live genre. (10/10)

(1/10) it's my personal rating because my favorite artist change from super fantasy manga to normal manga. XD

... Last updated on July 19th, 2011, 2:19am

It could be absolutely brilliant (the idea of a manga protagonist with no dreams and no idea what he wants to do with his life is so realistic I could cry, and some of the steady character development is good).
BUUUT...
the humour (never FMA's strong point) is less funny in this, and takes up just as many panels. (City kid working every waking hour on a farm is fair game but theres only so much you can do with it, and reoccurring gags about where eggs come from is a bit lame). And the fact is the mangaka is really good at action, inventing new worlds, stuff happening fast, which rarely happens in a slice-of-life manga. A fantasy artist who has spent a significant part of their life outdoors is rare but it shows in their work, and it's a pity not to use that in other worlds instead of sticking with this one. Even though technically she is writing about a different world to the one most manga-reading highschoolers see, it's still within a conventional school life, in a way a closed society of students and sometimes their parents, you rarely see the people from neighbouring farms/pubs/villages or anything else of the culture shock of city vs country, so seems she could be using her life experience more.

Also some characters with such strong resemblances to FMA people that it must be intentional (this is a woman who can design hundreds of different recognisable people wearing the same uniform right?), is just jarring and strange in the context.
Give it time? who knows

... Last updated on July 12th, 2011, 4:14pm

I don't see why people keep downrating it. It's a good manga. I like the comedy and light-hearted feel to it, so i don't see why it keeps getting voted badly since they were expecting something fantasy-like.

I recommend it if you like slice-of-life comedies.

Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon is a refreshing comedy that, once again, deals with the meaning of life.

This time, however, it is set in rural Japan, where readers follow Jugo Hachiken, an A+ student without a goal. Determined to get away from his family in the city, Hachiken finds himself at an agricultural boarding school. At first he thinks it would be a piece of cake, but is quicky shown that school life is far different than he expected.

Misconceptions are shattered and new insights are gained through the ups and downs of a farm school life. In different light-hearted ways unique to the artform of Arakawa, life's purpose is explored time and time again, as Hachiken struggles to find his place in the community.

WARNING: This is a slice-of-life manga. For those of you who expect a Full Metal Alchemist delivery, this means that Silver Spoon carries much lighter tones, but is no less a profound story.

... Last updated on June 29th, 2011, 8:02am