Ichigo Mashimaro is simply incredible. The artwork is uniquely distinct, and the storyline ranks among the funniest I've encountered in a slice-of-life series. It mirrors everyday life with an uncanny realism yet remains anything but dull. The characters are meticulously developed and irresistibly charming.
Each girl boasts her own distinctive personality and appearance, setting it apart from many contemporary anime/manga. Every character possesses defining traits that clearly differentiate them from others in similar genres. They are expressive, vibrant, and a joy to follow.
The narrative never loses its appeal, unlike most slice-of-life stories that tend to become monotonous. It keeps viewers engaged with laughter, unexpected twists, and moments of delightful confusion.
I've introduced this series to numerous friends and acquaintances, and it has consistently met with approval. Despite its seemingly feminine themes, many males find it hilarious. It has broad appeal for anyone open to giving it a chance.
Ichigo Mashimaro follows the everyday lives of the Itou sisters, Nobue and Chika, along with their friends Miu, Matsuri, and Ana. The stories are mostly self-contained and lean towards a slice-of-life (SOL) genre but with a chaotic twist brought by 12-year-old Miu. She is perhaps the most explosive comedic character in feel-good manga like this. You know the type: the very active child who pushes other characters into situations they wouldn't normally encounter. Well, Miu fits that description perfectly but she is… special. According to what I've read, she's a polarizing character. Half the readers adore her, the other half detest her. This might be because she disrupts the cozy, feel-good nature of the manga. She's always scheming something, and even small things turn out bigger than expected.
But why do so many people want this to be a pure feel-good SOL manga? To understand, you need to look at the art. Ichigo Mashimaro is visually stunning. Barasui has a soothing "round and cute" style, drawing delicate lines that capture much with little. His sense of fashion is varied and fun, and he excels at capturing characters' facial expressions and body language, especially children’s. He adds subtlety through his drawings of hands and feet, and he loves drawing clothing, enhancing his panels. So when a strong, chaotic comedic element disrupts this, some readers may have issues.
Barasui himself sees the work as an odd mix of over-the-top comedy and slice-of-life. He contrasts friendships—Miu and Chika's (chaotic, comedic) versus Matsuri and Ana's (endearing, soothing). Before diving into those, let's introduce the characters first.
Miu is 12, and I'm unsure if she's crazy or a comedy genius. She's energetic, constantly seeking attention, incredibly flexible, athletic, and cute. She seems destined for stardom, believing she wants to be an idol, though she actually wants to be a movie star. She'll figure it out eventually.
Then there's Chika, in the same class as Miu but not nearly as wild. She's responsible and sweet, caught between her slacker sister and quirky friend Miu. She loves cooking and reading about new sweets. Her calming nature is essential for the group's wellbeing, acting as a restorative force.
Ana and Matsuri are a year younger and have a different relationship. They're friends, but Matsuri is shy, fragile, and introspective, so Ana acts as a guardian. Matsuri is precious with a gentle soul, everyone trying to ensure her happiness. Ana, a foreigner from England, moved to Japan at four. She struggles with English, frustrating her, despite Matsuri's efforts to teach her. Ana is mature, beautiful, polite, refined, and trustworthy. Everyone adores her, making Miu jealous sometimes.
Nobue, Chi's older sister, binds everything together. She's 16, and we see the kids interact and grow through her perspective. Hanging around with her sister and friends is all she does. She dislikes school, lacks friends her age, and seems socially inept. Boys fear her, and she once kicked a stranger for a comment about her being single. Nobue ensures justice in her own way.
With these five characters, we mostly hang around Chi's bedroom, playing with dolls, talking about dreams, eating candy, playing games, and having nice days. Sometimes they go out to restaurants or parks. Lots of antics, funny moments, and heartwarming scenes make this one of my top favorites. The art and characters did it more than the comedy and plot.
Lastly, regarding releases, volumes came out slowly: Volumes 1 and 2 in 2003, Volume 3 in 2004, Volume 4 in 2005, Volume 5 in 2007, Volume 6 in 2009, Volume 7 in 2013, and Volume 8 in 2017. As of April 2022, no Volume 9 yet. Barasui seems focused on fatherhood lately, so Ichigo might be the last thing on his mind now. We'll see.
If you're learning Japanese and intermediate, this work is easy to read. Dialogue is short, using basic words. The fan translation is decent due to straightforward dialogue.
Strawberry Marshmallow (Ichigo Mashimaro) caught my eye purely because of its appealing artwork, so I bought volume 1 without knowing much about the storyline. To my delight, it turned out to be a "slice-of-life" manga, which is exactly the genre I enjoy the most.
The story isn't complex, but it's far from boring. Strawberry Marshmallow shares the same charm as Azumanga Daioh (another favorite of mine, for which I own all four volumes), with its witty humor and sense of sarcasm.
The art is something I particularly appreciate, and Barasui does an excellent job rendering the characters as adorable. Their faces are round, often with pink cheeks. Overall, the artwork is pleasing to look at, with generally correct anatomy and perspective. The only issue is that the art was inconsistent initially, as the author hadn't planned for it to become a series. However, it greatly improves throughout, and the style evolves slightly from the early chapters, which is common in many series.
The characters in Strawberry Marshmallow each have unique and interesting qualities. Chika is your typical young girl, not standing out in many ways. Nobue is the laid-back delinquent older sister of Chika. Miu lacks common sense and frequently blurts out random and odd things. Matsuri is the timid crybaby, while Ana is the English girl who is self-conscious about her last name.
The one potentially questionable aspect of Strawberry Marshmallow is that the author is indeed male. It can be unsettling to see an adult man drawing young female characters in revealing situations (such as panty shots or bath scenes). If you can overlook this "loli factor" (and if you don't know what "lolita" means, you might want to educate yourself), then you're in for an enjoyable experience.
Popular Reviews
Ichigo Mashimaro is simply incredible. The artwork is uniquely distinct, and the storyline ranks among the funniest I've encountered in a slice-of-life series. It mirrors everyday life with an uncanny realism yet remains anything but dull. The characters are meticulously developed and irresistibly charming.
Each girl boasts her own distinctive personality and appearance, setting it apart from many contemporary anime/manga. Every character possesses defining traits that clearly differentiate them from others in similar genres. They are expressive, vibrant, and a joy to follow.
The narrative never loses its appeal, unlike most slice-of-life stories that tend to become monotonous. It keeps viewers engaged with laughter, unexpected twists, and moments of delightful confusion.
I've introduced this series to numerous friends and acquaintances, and it has consistently met with approval. Despite its seemingly feminine themes, many males find it hilarious. It has broad appeal for anyone open to giving it a chance.
In summary, this series earns a perfect 10.
Ichigo Mashimaro follows the everyday lives of the Itou sisters, Nobue and Chika, along with their friends Miu, Matsuri, and Ana. The stories are mostly self-contained and lean towards a slice-of-life (SOL) genre but with a chaotic twist brought by 12-year-old Miu. She is perhaps the most explosive comedic character in feel-good manga like this. You know the type: the very active child who pushes other characters into situations they wouldn't normally encounter. Well, Miu fits that description perfectly but she is… special. According to what I've read, she's a polarizing character. Half the readers adore her, the other half detest her. This might be because she disrupts the cozy, feel-good nature of the manga. She's always scheming something, and even small things turn out bigger than expected. But why do so many people want this to be a pure feel-good SOL manga? To understand, you need to look at the art. Ichigo Mashimaro is visually stunning. Barasui has a soothing "round and cute" style, drawing delicate lines that capture much with little. His sense of fashion is varied and fun, and he excels at capturing characters' facial expressions and body language, especially children’s. He adds subtlety through his drawings of hands and feet, and he loves drawing clothing, enhancing his panels. So when a strong, chaotic comedic element disrupts this, some readers may have issues. Barasui himself sees the work as an odd mix of over-the-top comedy and slice-of-life. He contrasts friendships—Miu and Chika's (chaotic, comedic) versus Matsuri and Ana's (endearing, soothing). Before diving into those, let's introduce the characters first. Miu is 12, and I'm unsure if she's crazy or a comedy genius. She's energetic, constantly seeking attention, incredibly flexible, athletic, and cute. She seems destined for stardom, believing she wants to be an idol, though she actually wants to be a movie star. She'll figure it out eventually. Then there's Chika, in the same class as Miu but not nearly as wild. She's responsible and sweet, caught between her slacker sister and quirky friend Miu. She loves cooking and reading about new sweets. Her calming nature is essential for the group's wellbeing, acting as a restorative force. Ana and Matsuri are a year younger and have a different relationship. They're friends, but Matsuri is shy, fragile, and introspective, so Ana acts as a guardian. Matsuri is precious with a gentle soul, everyone trying to ensure her happiness. Ana, a foreigner from England, moved to Japan at four. She struggles with English, frustrating her, despite Matsuri's efforts to teach her. Ana is mature, beautiful, polite, refined, and trustworthy. Everyone adores her, making Miu jealous sometimes. Nobue, Chi's older sister, binds everything together. She's 16, and we see the kids interact and grow through her perspective. Hanging around with her sister and friends is all she does. She dislikes school, lacks friends her age, and seems socially inept. Boys fear her, and she once kicked a stranger for a comment about her being single. Nobue ensures justice in her own way. With these five characters, we mostly hang around Chi's bedroom, playing with dolls, talking about dreams, eating candy, playing games, and having nice days. Sometimes they go out to restaurants or parks. Lots of antics, funny moments, and heartwarming scenes make this one of my top favorites. The art and characters did it more than the comedy and plot. Lastly, regarding releases, volumes came out slowly: Volumes 1 and 2 in 2003, Volume 3 in 2004, Volume 4 in 2005, Volume 5 in 2007, Volume 6 in 2009, Volume 7 in 2013, and Volume 8 in 2017. As of April 2022, no Volume 9 yet. Barasui seems focused on fatherhood lately, so Ichigo might be the last thing on his mind now. We'll see. If you're learning Japanese and intermediate, this work is easy to read. Dialogue is short, using basic words. The fan translation is decent due to straightforward dialogue.
Strawberry Marshmallow (Ichigo Mashimaro) caught my eye purely because of its appealing artwork, so I bought volume 1 without knowing much about the storyline. To my delight, it turned out to be a "slice-of-life" manga, which is exactly the genre I enjoy the most.
The story isn't complex, but it's far from boring. Strawberry Marshmallow shares the same charm as Azumanga Daioh (another favorite of mine, for which I own all four volumes), with its witty humor and sense of sarcasm.
The art is something I particularly appreciate, and Barasui does an excellent job rendering the characters as adorable. Their faces are round, often with pink cheeks. Overall, the artwork is pleasing to look at, with generally correct anatomy and perspective. The only issue is that the art was inconsistent initially, as the author hadn't planned for it to become a series. However, it greatly improves throughout, and the style evolves slightly from the early chapters, which is common in many series.
The characters in Strawberry Marshmallow each have unique and interesting qualities. Chika is your typical young girl, not standing out in many ways. Nobue is the laid-back delinquent older sister of Chika. Miu lacks common sense and frequently blurts out random and odd things. Matsuri is the timid crybaby, while Ana is the English girl who is self-conscious about her last name.
The one potentially questionable aspect of Strawberry Marshmallow is that the author is indeed male. It can be unsettling to see an adult man drawing young female characters in revealing situations (such as panty shots or bath scenes). If you can overlook this "loli factor" (and if you don't know what "lolita" means, you might want to educate yourself), then you're in for an enjoyable experience.