I'm looking for manga about the experiences of being a human.

I want to read about experiences that will pull at my heart strings.
I want to read about experiences that will make me angry.
I want to read about experiences that will make me cry.
I want to read about experiences that will make me feel human.

I guess it could be categorized as "slice-of-life," but that would only be scratching the surface.
The suggestion should have a down to earth, natural, mature feel.



Some of the topics covered could be:
Love
Friendship
Rejection
Hatred
Jealousy
Depression
Coping with Abuse
Obsession
Loneliness
Sex
Society
God Complex
Etc.


Here are several projects as an example of what I'm looking for. I figured I couldn't really categorize them, but I somehow felt that these fit.

Seinen
Bitter Virgin - Falling in love, abuse, rape, abortion
Onani Master Kurosawa - Coming of age, social outcast, rediscovering oneself
Tuesday, 9PM
Hoshi no Koe
Bush Hashiru
5 Centimeters Per Second

Josei
Spicy Pink
Cappucino
Monkey Strip
Shuukatsu!! - Kimi ni Naitei - Job hunting
Guys After Marriage
Body & Soul
Falling in Love Even if I Wake from the Dream

Shoujo
See You in Eden - Diary-like
Tokyo Casanova
Dear Friends

Psychological
Slow Down - Human experiment, psychological trama
Hanshin
Helter Skelter
Mon Seul
Present

Yaoi
Matenrou Maybe - Prostitution
I'm Bidding You Farewell Today - Deception, unrequited love, revenge
Tadayoedo Shizumazu, Saredo Naki mo Sezu
Suteneko no Ie
Doushitemo Furetakunai

Others/Abstract
I am a Piano

ichigo 100% I don't know if it's your style but I think it fits pretty well.It really pissed me off countless times and I don't know why I read it till the end. It should cover pretty much of what you wanted

GE as far as I read the same as above

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Honey and Clover
Pumpkin and Mayonnaise

^.^; coincidence that they're both foods

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Kare First Love
Girl Friends
Sasameki Koto
Desire Climax
Cat Street
Video Girl Ai
I's
Pretty Face
Absolute Boyfriend
Rave near the end.
and more or less anything by Shinjo Mayu

Gungrave - Anime - Frends

Last edited by westsiders2 at 8:22 am, Apr 8 2011

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http://westsiders2.deviantart.com/

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ehh, i don't think Shinjo Mayu may fit what she's looking for since it's mostly smut. What she's looking for is somewhat a slice-of-life manga that shows, more or less, human nature. ^.^; correct me if i'm wrong though...

here's another:
Tokyo Marble Chocolate

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Asano Inio's manga often deal with such themes. Oyasumi Punpun, Solanin and Subarashii Sekai are probably the ones that fit best.

I guess Yesterday o Utatte fits too - as does Bouken Shounen, Hourou Musuko and Shounenshoujo Ryouryuuki.

And a very good one-shot; Plastic Girl (FURUYA Usamaru).

Last edited by calstine at 8:35 am, Apr 8 2011

from how i understood it. he's ooking for a manga that brings about human nature. somethng that focuses on
love friendship
sex
hatred
jealousy and so on.

and as debatable as Mayu's work is, one cant deny that they do make you feel some thing, ( for Some is PURE hatred towards the heroine)
her work focuses and toxic relationships, in which the the characters are co-dependant.

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http://westsiders2.deviantart.com/

Forever Honey

Dokuhime

Zankoku na Kami ga Shihaisuru <-- very.

Hello Baby

Vitamin (SUENOBU Keiko)

Life

Sono Kuchibiru ni Yoru no Tsuyu

Jikan Akima Jinbutsu

Complex

Less so (mostly because they're not big tearjerkers but fit otherwise):

God's in His Heaven

Annarasumanara

The Moonlight Sculptor (Novel)

Olimpos

Slice of Black Chocolate - lightly, but it has a nice abstract feel.

Durarara!! (Novel) - anime is also good, haven't read the manga.

Te wo Tsunaide, Sora wo

Last edited by Blique at 7:20 pm, Apr 8 2011

Ai-Ren - although it's set in a post-apocalyptic sort of world
Asatte Dance - Last 10 chapters may fill you with so much rage that you choose to go burn a number of small villages to the ground.

Made in Heaven
Omukae Desu
Please! Mr. Bear!
Taiyou no Uta

I'm sure some of NAKAMURA Asumiko works will fit your criteria

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KanataxYuki will always remain in my heart...
Their love is so profound~!
CrangolaFango

Parasyte

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese

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Shikeisyu 042 - about experiment where they reintroduce death row inmates to society. Some dialogue about whether those incarcerated for heinous crimes should be treated as human beings, and if they are more than animals. (slice of life)

Deep Love - Ayu no Monogatari - A moving story, though very sad. About an apathetic prostitute who falls in love with a young man, and goes through great lengths to help him. Her low self esteem and feelings of inadequacy are very human. (drama)

7 Seeds - This manga (especially the later volumes) are very moving. The characters are crafted with great care and seem very human. Topics such as death, depression, loneliness, trauma and mental illness crop up in this manga. As the story progresses, many of the characters evolve. Highly recommended. (psychological/adventure/horror)


Last edited by faraway at 4:02 pm, Apr 8 2011

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Image from Gangsta -> Full Image Link http://www.k4.dion.ne.jp/~babyrock/page030.html

I absolutely second Honey and Clover... this really touched me... this and Fruits Basket really got me emotionally. They both have a focus on friendship/non-romantic relationships which I appreciated a lot.

Natsume Yuujinchou (granted, it involves spirits) is really nice as well!! I like how spirits who built relationships with humans feel saddened by how transient their existence is...

Not Simple is a really good one that explores the effects of abuse, loneliness, and just how meeting that one person can really affect your life or view on life... ahhh... innocence... I rather like ONO Natsume's works quite a bit...

Usagi Drop focuses on how it is being a single parent, especially one who just took on the role unexpectedly (at least that's how it is for the first 4 volumes). I like how in the beginning, the main lead is pretty honest in saying how he feels insecure... and making sacrifices...

YUMEKA Sumomo writes wonderful one-shots like Bus Hashiru and Nanairo Sekai. And as mentioned, NAKAMURA Asumiko has a knack for one-shots too like (as mentioned) I Am a Piano and Perfect World (NAKAMURA Asumiko).

I'll add ANDO Yuki... particularly Matryoshka. Yup yup!!

YOSHINO Aki does have a way of portraying feelings of love, huh? In a nice, soft sense... (not hormonal... ugh... I mean, I do appreciate hormones... but in reality... you gotta keep those hormones in check when needed.) And Guys After Marriage was adorable!!

I ♥ this thread... I'm subscribing to this!!